Today we’d like to introduce you to La Tosha Holmes.
La Tosha, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
When most people think about art, they image something from Picasso or Leonardo da Vinci. When I envision my life, I see it as a blank canvas that can be alter or changed with a few brush strokes and a variety of beautiful colors. As I have grown, I have realized that we are all artist that have the ability to create our own canvas and become an artist of our own life. At the age of 7 years old and dealing with multiple hospitals stays due to chronic asthma. The care I received was the reason for my interesting tin the health care field. That’s where my love for the need to help others began.
I began my nursing journey at the age of 26 years old as a register nurse. I developed my first canvas of colors when I embarked on the journey though nursing school. By the age of 27, I gave birth to my first daughter Alayia. My daughter’s presence in this world pushed me to want to accomplish more in life. At the age of 29 years old I had graduated with my Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, TX. As I pushed through life struggles and events, I being developing a natural talent of motivating and inspiring others to achieve more in their lives. I became a mentor to many in my professional life as well as my social life. In 2015 at the age of 35, I received my Master’s in Nursing as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. I felt this was by far my greatest accomplishment. Tragedy struck my life on July 23, 2017; when I lost my unborn child’s father to gun violence. So now my beautiful canvas and life have faded to black at this point. I struggled to believe that all color has a purpose in our lives.
After pushing though several months of pain, I then gave birth to my 2nd daughter Infiniti and began to live in life again. My canvas had regained its colors with more meaning and power behind them. I am the proud owner of T&T Exotic Bulldawgz and co-owner of T&D Beloved Beauty Bar. I recently co-founded an organization called P.U.S.H Foundation that focus on inspiring women to push through life obstacles. In my spire time, I am a clinical instructor for nursing students at University of St. Thomas. I’m also practicing as a pediatric nurse practitioner at a private practice clinic in Houston, TX. My full-time job is being a mother to my two beautiful daughters and teaching them about life progressions. My ambition in life is to inspire and motivate others. The passion behind my ambition is much greater then my individual dreams of being successful. I believe accomplishing this will be by far my greatest masterpiece yet.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I am the own T&T Exotic Bulldawgz. Which entails me owning and caring for six English bulldogs and 1 micro-bully. This business has been a part of my life for the last 2 ½ years. The business was started by my significant other Clarence Humphrey to rejuvenate supplemental income for our family. After his passing a year ago, I vowed to push to live out his dream with keeping the business alive.
My sister and I are the founders of T&D Beloved Beauty Bar. As a co-owner and microblading artist in the business our mission is to make women feel beautiful and fall in love with their selves every day. The business has been up and operating since July 2017 and continue to grow. T&D Beloved Beauty Bar offers eyelash extensions and microblading of the eyebrows, with many other services coming soon in 2019.
P.U.S.H Foundation was recently started in November 2018 to inspire, motivate, and empower women to push through life challenges. P.U.S.H stands for Pushing Us & Sharing Hope. As co-founder of P.U.S.H Foundation my personal mission is to advocate for women and girls whom have not yet gained the strength or voice to do so for their selves. Our 1st annual event is the “three Mile Legacy Walk” that will take place every year on the 3rd Sunday of December. The “Legacy Walk” was formed to honor the legacy of those who has lost their lives to tragedy, disease or violence. P.U.S.H Foundation will also be awarding college scholarships to minority females.
Tray’s Way Foundation is a sub entity under P.U.S.H Foundation. Tray’s Way Foundation was established in October 2017. As the founder of Tray’s Way Foundation, I wanted to focus on the young minority males and provide assistance. Tray’s Way was created in honor of my soul mate Clarence “Tray” Humphrey legacy. His life was ended on July 23,2017 due to gun violence. The foundation will award scholarships for higher education to minority males.
Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
Social media to me has changed the way our society thinks, lives and learns. As someone who is involved in social media, I do feel that it is a platform for advocating what every it is you are passion about. I feel that we as individuals put too much emphasis on the information that is distributed throughout social media. Most people in today’s society rely on social media news more than national and local news stations. I also believe that social media is detrimental if used incorrectly. Social media has become a great asset for advertisement and without it many artists dreams could remain as a slight pray that doesn’t make it passed their own individual canvas.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The community can support the P.U.S.H Foundation as well as Tray’s Way though donates, volunteering and mentorship. The community can also learn more about my organizations and my other businesses though my social media accounts such as snapchat, Facebook and Instagram.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://push-foundation.org/
- Phone: 8323011856
- Email: latoshaholmes@hotmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/la.t.mason?__tn__=%2CdlC-R-R&eid=ARCcLHogKKErDidp9iv0xf6x7Z89vKwxndL3rsDnn8jqKWTZuKs3zNMlgLZZEZrNuazl_hqZMNzvlE9s&hc_ref=ARRqHM2L52bpbPVEtaH2kqAJbUQiI_UTPG3tbSHN1eXjFm09T4v5Bj3t6J27SsZoNzQ
Image Credit:
Sara Ramirez
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