Today we’d like to introduce you to Mia Phoenix.
Hi Mia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey began after dropping out of art school. I was always a creative soul as a child. Somewhere along the way, my vision got clouded from everything I was taught and told. I lost sight of my own inner truth. The artist within me was starved of inspiration; she didn’t know who she was or where she was going.
I was only 21 at the time and had my whole life ahead of me. Art was the last thing my asian immigrant parents wanted me to pursue, so I knew I had to leave home. Yoga and astrology were my biggest passions at the time; I thought I wanted to become a yoga instructor.
I moved to Hawaii by myself to work on an organic fruit farm on the westside of Oahu. I lived in a tent in an art village for a month, and got to paint my first mural there. I had only planned to stay for a month or two, but spontaneously decided to book a one-way to Maui after. I fell in love with the magical healing mana of the island after spending hours on hours, barefoot in the rich soil of the earth. The connection I made by rooting with the land deeply nurtured my soul & healed my inner child. It was the first time I ever felt at home, in this human body.
I didn’t know what I was searching for at the time, but I accidentally embarked on a voyage of a lifetime. Those 7 years I got to spend in beautiful Hawaii has brought me back to my childhood joy in the end. My forgotten dreams of being a full-time artist came true by the time I left the island last year. Everything came full circle. All because I chose to follow my heart and listen to the voice of my inner child.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been a lot of ups & downs, trial and error. That’s honestly what I love the most about my path as am artist–never knowing what potential unlocks when I paint. It definitely is a spiritual practice for me. Being creative is being uncomfortable with the unknown. You never know how the vision you have in your head will manifest on canvas. You never know the magic you are capable of, until it suddenly appears right before you.
I feel like I’m constantly in the experimental phase of creation, since I decided to pursue art full time in 2020. After quitting my job at a vegan cafe on Maui during Covid, I decided to commit to painting full time.
I lived off my savings & unemployment funds for a year, and forced myself to paint everyday, even when I didn’t ‘feel like it.’ That’s also when I started my Etsy Shop: MiaPhoenixArt. I still had many creative blocks at the time, and couldn’t find my own flow. It wasn’t long before I ran out of funds, and needed to find a day job to pay the bills.
That’s when I landed at my favorite job ever. I got to learn the art of henna/jagua at a cute little shop right by the ocean, where I got to watch the whales breach during the wintertime. It felt like a dream. I got to draw on people for a living and got paid for being me. I realize I only got to open that door, because I made a vow to myself and committed to being a full-time artist.
I left Maui after the Lahaina fires last year, which burned the entire town to ashes. It felt like a resurrection to say the least. My heart was ripped open again, to show me a clearer path. I am forever grateful for all the gifts & life lessons I received from Maui. Now I’m back on the mainland with family, and finally landed in my first art studio.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
All of my artwork is inspired by my own healing journey and love for Mother Nature & her supernatural beauty. I am deeply inspired by my life-changing experience in Hawaii, especially the relationship I have with the ocean. That Divine Feminine healing essence is what I want to share with others through my art. As a Scorpio Sun, born under a Taurus Full Moon, I am a lover of beauty and the magic of transformation.
I love painting cosmic & surrealistic dreamworlds, which is influenced by my passion for astrology. I believe our connection to nature is one of the most profound connections we can cultivate with God. The ocean is forever my muse! I also make mermaid-inspired jewelry with crystals & treasures from the ocean. You can check out my second Etsy Shop for handmade jewelry: IndigoSolTribe ♡
I am also a devoted yogi of 13+ years. My own spiritual journey is an infinite source of inspiration to me. My art has a spiritual message behind each piece. I truly believe art has the power to anchor in higher frequencies in our home. That’s why I love painting celestial dreamscapes. To me, it is a sacred portal formed by our pure imagination, where we can step into a higher dimensional world at any time.
How do you think about happiness?
I love magical art, connecting with nature, synchronicity, witnessing love in infinite forms, meeting genuine beautiful souls. The stars, sunlight dancing on the ocean like glitter, rainbows, flowers, butterflies, sparkly crystals & pretty iridescent things from the ocean. Cats and dolphins are my favorite animals 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MiaPhoenixArt
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mia.phoenix.art
- Twitter: http://x.com/miaofsirius
- Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/indigosoltribe
Image Credits
Mia Phoenix
