It’s been a while but I’m so excited to bring you another in my favorite series of parents who create, or creators who parent. Today I’m featuring the incredible artist and writer: Daria Peoples-Riley.
Daria’s debut picture book is This Is It (Greenwillow/HarperCollins February 6, 2018), in which a young girl nervous about a ballet audition gets encouragement from her shadow as she dances through the city. It’s a story of gaining confidence and believing in your own abilities, with gorgeous illustrations to match. (Seriously, go to her website. Her pictures are pure joy.)
Daria was kind enough to answer some of my questions about parenting and creating art and how the two co-exist. What she says about children and the family and pursuing your dreams is so practical and yet so meaningful. I love her philosophies about the integration of children into your creativity.
Enjoy! And then go create!
Do you have a “day job,” or a job that is separate from creating your art?
Creating art is my day job. Over the course of five years, I transitioned from teaching full-time to teaching part-time to only creating art.
How old is your child/are your children? Do they have out of home childcare?
My children are 14 and 12. However, I began my creative journey when they were 3 and 1 as a photographer. With every new season of their lives, new doors opened for me.
How do you make space for your own endeavors?
I try to stay spiritually connected to God in all I do. Before my day begins, I pray and seek guidance as to what I can handle for the day. There is usually a push or a feeling that helps me take the right steps in the right direction at the right time during the day. I’m learning not to conform to the expectations of others or look too far ahead. One day at a time is pretty much all I can handle. Everyday looks extremely different.
I’ve had to eliminate a lot of things that zap my time—television, social media, even marketing myself. My joy comes from working and being with people I love, so everything else takes a back seat. I’m not perfect at hearing or listening, but I’m getting better at it. There is always enough time to do the work we’re supposed to do. If I don’t have enough time, I’d most likely admit I’m not spending my time wisely.
I’ve tried really hard as a mother to push back against the idea that my endeavors should be separate from my time with my children. I think it’s healthy for our children to see us at work, and be involved in it. Even young children can learn to respect the idea of a creative space, and learn what they can do beside us while we work. Setting boundaries and guidelines for them when they enter our space teaches them to be respectful of others, and they learn our art practice through observation. And when we are successful, they are a part of our success.
Our children should inspire our work, not take away from it. At different stages in my children’s lives, this has looked very different, but the important thing I had to learn is that I wasn’t being selfish.
Our endeavors shouldn’t stop or be placed on pause as we raise children. The family should evolve together. It’s really the only purpose for family—a supportive team who helps each individual become their best self. We don’t have to choose their dreams over ours. Everyone can thrive and feel supported.
What does your “space” look like?
Ha! My work space is a hot mess 90% of the time. It probably looks like the inside of my head. It’s an extra room in our house. Part of the problem is I’m still learning how I work, and my art practice is constantly changing, so I haven’t done much to it in the last three years. I am extremely grateful to have a place to work every day, but I think a more ideal space is outside of my home or separate from it.
Setting boundaries and guidelines for them when they enter our space teaches them to be respectful of others, and they learn our art practice through observation. And when we are successful, they are a part of our success.
My dream work space would be much bigger, much brighter, probably an art loft in some hippie town, and I could literally throw paint everywhere and play music way too loud. An outdoor space would be great too. I love painting outside, and I’d like to one day work in a space or building shared by other artists. I think my best work space would be working near or alongside other artists, not by myself.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on an illustrated young adult novel, and a couple of picture books. One is a non-fiction picture book about two Harlem Renaissance artists and the other book is about friendship.
What are you reading now?
A lot of non-fiction picture books, and a few YA’s. Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson was the last YA I read. I recommend it for every mother whose daughter wants to build a new legacy for her family, every woman who mentors young women, and every young woman who has a mentor in her life.
What’s the funniest/cutest/weirdest thing your kid has ever done?
I dedicated my first book to my daughter, my first born. The book, after all, was inspired by her. My son was about nine at the time. He brought home a book he made at school, and as he flips open the cover, he says, “Read the dedication, Mommy.” Of course, it was dedicated to me. Then, he says, “I dedicated my book to you, so you should probably dedicate your next book to me. That would be the right thing to do.”
Thank you, Daria! I can’t wait to see where your art goes and look forward to your next project!
Find Daria here:
https://www.instagram.com/dariaspeoples/
https://www.dariapeoples.com/contacts