Today we’d like to introduce you to Briana Leandre.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was always innately artistic. There were several different times in my childhood when my mom would remind me of the glimmers of creativity she saw in me.
My mom was stationed at Camp Zama, Japan, for several years during her service in the United States Army. Naturally, I became obsessed with everything Hello Kitty as a child. My mom still reminds me of the time she walked into our living room to find my Hello Kitty “masterpiece” made entirely of dimes laid out on the carpeted floor. I had taken all of the dimes from our change container and meticulously arranged them into the shape of Hello Kitty’s face and bow.
Although I was creative and recognized for my art in adolescence, I never once considered growing up to be an artist. Not once. I grew up quiet, introspective, and keenly interested in science and how things worked. And this was the path I followed into adulthood, at least until December 2020, when I started my first piece as an “artist.”
All my life, I let everything else overshadow my interest in art and creation. If I’m honest with myself, I know a significant part of that was rooted in fear and a lack of confidence. I didn’t believe in my ability or my potential. When I did find the time to draw, I always stuck to what I knew—pencil and paper. Nothing more.
I was always intrigued by the artwork I’d see featuring all the hues of the rainbow, created using colored pencils, paints, pastels, and more. But I couldn’t do that. I operated in black and white. How could I possibly create something using more than one color? Not only would I have to consider the various values of graphite I put on paper, but I’d also be introducing numerous colors, each with its own tints and shades. The possibilities were overwhelming. Ultimately, I succumbed to my fear and took a 10-year hiatus from art to focus on becoming a young, “successful” adult.
Fast forward to December 2020. Here I was, 29 years old, nine months pregnant, married to my soulmate, and progressing through my corporate engineering career. Yet, I knew I owed it to my Creator, to myself, and to those who believed in me to finally take the step toward nurturing my God-given talent.
My first child, Nehemiah, still unborn at the time, helped me realize that. During my maternity leave, I needed to try. I needed to become a confident role model for this new little light of mine. This was when I decided to explore color through painting and lean into my creative calling by forming my art business, ArtbyBML LLC.
Today, I am not only focused on producing beautiful artwork but also on encouraging others to embrace their gifts, creating memorable experiences, and contributing to a thriving creative community. Through collaborations, community engagement, and immersive art experiences, I seek to create opportunities for people to connect with art and with one another in meaningful ways. What began as a personal journey to overcome fear and embrace my own creativity has evolved into a mission to help others discover the confidence, connection, and joy that art can bring.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has not been smooth, but it has been a journey of growth, reflection, and discovery.
One challenge I faced right out of the gate was lacking the knowledge needed to establish and operate a small business. Without knowing what resources were available, I had to do a significant amount of research and made several mistakes along the way.
I’ve learned that being a talented artist and knowing how to run a successful art business are two very different things. Developing both skill sets has required patience and a willingness to learn through trial and error.
Another challenge was developing confidence in an entirely new arena. Although I was determined to pursue my creative passion, my self-doubt didn’t simply disappear. It continued to present challenges that I had to work through. This was something I had to chip away at over time, which only came from taking steps forward and trusting God despite the discomfort.
There were many times when I didn’t “know” if I could pull off what was in front of me such as painting live for the first time in front of 200+ attendees, teaching my first painting class, and taking on opportunities that pushed me beyond my comfort zone. But each time I came out on the other side, whether unscathed or with a lesson learned, I gained a little more confidence in myself and my abilities.
I don’t believe my self-doubt will ever completely disappear. However, I’ve learned that courage isn’t the absence of fear. For me, it’s choosing to move forward despite being afraid, trusting God to guide me through the process.
We’ve been impressed with ArtbyBML LLC, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
ArtbyBML LLC is a Houston-based creative art business that I founded in 2021 as a multidisciplinary visual artist. Through ArtbyBML, I create artwork and artistic experiences that inspire, empower, and bring people together.
My business offers a variety of creative products and services, including original paintings, fine art prints, murals, live event painting, and hand-painted banners. I also host paint-and-sip experiences, private painting parties, corporate team-building events, and interactive community art activations. Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all experience, I emphasize personalization, working with clients to develop artwork and experiences that reflect their unique vision, occasion, or community.
My background in engineering and project management sets me apart. While art allows me to express my creativity, my professional background has also shaped the way I approach my business. I’m naturally detail-oriented and enjoy the process of taking an idea from concept to execution. This combination of creativity, planning, and problem-solving allows me to approach projects from a unique perspective.
I’m proud that ArtbyBML has grown beyond my return to creativity into a platform for artistic expression, shared experiences, and community engagement. I’m excited to continue exploring what that looks like and finding new ways to use art to connect with and inspire others.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
For someone who is just starting out, I have three key messages of advice:
For our youth, explore your creative passions and experiment while you are young! Your youth is the best time to explore and nurture your areas of interest. Becoming an adult comes with new expectations, pressures, priorities, and distractions. All of these things and self-doubt led me to leave a calling on my life dormant for over a decade. While starting young is not the only means to succeeding creatively, getting a head start helps develop a solid foundation and sense of direction before additional factors come into play. There are also many emotional, psychological, and developmental benefits of creative expression for our youth.
At any age, I suggest you get out of your own way! You will hinder your own progress sooner than any perceived obstacle out there – every single time. Getting out of your own way means being okay with messing up – the most important and effective part of the learning process. It means not counting yourself out. It means not ruminating on every decision indefinitely and just acting. It means pushing through the discomfort and recognizing that you have everything to lose if you just sit still. As one of my valued mentors would say, “Do it scared!”.
Tap in to a community of individuals who are on varying levels of the same journey as you. Being on a path that is not well-defined is not easy. Navigating the art industry as a self-taught artist has been a complex but rewarding journey. This year, I found community support, access to opportunities, and mentorship through the Black Houston Creatives Network, of which I am a Founding Member and Advisor.
Pricing:
- ArtbyBML Pricing Overview: Pricing varies depending on the type of artwork, service, or creative experience. Our goal is to provide quality artwork and memorable experiences while accommodating different creative visions, event needs, and budgets. Original artwork and fine art print pricing is provided directly on my website.
- Murals & Large-Scale Artwork: Mural pricing is customized based on the dimensions, design complexity, surface conditions, location, and installation requirements. Each project is evaluated individually to provide an accurate quote.
- Live Event Painting: Live painting services are available for weddings, galas, fundraisers, corporate events, and other special occasions. Pricing varies based on the event duration, canvas size, painting complexity, travel requirements, and whether the completed artwork will be retained by the client or auctioned as part of a fundraising initiative.
- Paint & Sip Experiences and Private Painting Parties: Pricing is generally based on the number of participants, canvas size, painting design, materials, and event requirements. I offer customized experiences for birthdays, celebrations, social gatherings, and private events, with options tailored to the occasion and desired experience.
- Corporate Team-Building & Community Art Activations: These experiences are customized based on the number of participants, project scope, materials, facilitation needs, and event logistics. Offerings can range from guided group painting sessions to large-scale collaborative artwork designed to encourage creativity, engagement, and connection.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artbybmlllc.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/artbybml
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/artbybml
- Other: Digital Business Card: https://popl.co/profile/Ow8cBjyI/dash
