Meet Lisa Jayne Porter | Artist, Singer, Dancer, Actor, Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Jayne Porter and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa Jayne, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I never actually started with the intention of creating a business. I got my paints out during the pandemic whilst I was in quarantine and picked up a canvas that I had previously played with and thought that it would be fun to finish it. I’m a professional musician and performer and with live performance shut down, I just really needed a creative outlet and something that could feed my soul. I would say that I was fortunate enough that my business found me. After I finished the piece – ‘Overthinker’ – I put it up on my social media and I had people interested and someone wanted to buy it straight away. It blew up and that was the first spark of thinking that I could be an artist. People started asking me for custom artwork and booking commissions, so I just kept saying yes to opportunities and it took on a life of it’s own. I love it so much. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, and the fact that it’s in the arts just seemed like such a good fit, so I went for it. Figuring it all out as I go and taking everyone that has supported me from the start along with me.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I am a British-Cypriot mixed media artist, I specialize in acrylic, acrylic pour and resin. I create abstract art, portraits, and women artwork. I love using vivid colours, metallics and other mediums to bring my paintings to life. I graduated from Trinity conservatoire of Music and Dance and worked as a performer in the UK and Europe before moving to the USA. I think my background in music and theatre has given me a deeper understanding of creating art for people to experience and how life changing and immersive art can be, in all of its forms.

When working on a commission, one of my main questions to my collectors is about what type of energy they are looking to bring into their space. Adding art to your business or home sets the tone of your space, you spend so much time there and it’s very important to me that we hit the energy right. I can then channel that into the composition and creation of the artwork.

I’m about to drop my first ever set of prints this year and I couldn’t be more thrilled, I’m super excited to see my business grow and I have so many ideas for the future and projects that I have been working away on behind the scenes.
I love being in touch with all the aspects of my business, from initial consultations, to creating original art, my website design, creating content and dropping the art off. I’m now ready to level up, which means many more people can access my artwork worldwide. I can’t wait to see what the future has in store and what other artistic collaborations may come and how else I can positively impact my community.

My goal is to combine my art and music, to eventually have an immersive art experience. I would love a store front where people can come and see my art. In person is always totally different experience. My slogan at Lisa Jayne Porter Art is ‘Where Art Is Limitless’ and that is really important to me. I want my community to feel empowered, to know that they don’t have to stay in one box. That the exploration and expression of art is limitless, no matter what form you choose. We are always evolving everyday therefore how we express ourselves does too. I hope my art and business can always be a reminder for people to go after what they want.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Being from the UK, and visiting Tucson so much before I moved I remember how blown away I was the first time that I saw the mountains. They were insane, I felt like someone had pulled down a fake backdrop, they are truly magical. I love the outdoors so usually my first place to take people is out into the wilderness. Either Sabino Canyon or up to Mount Lemmon, to hike and look out and then surprise them with the giant pizza cookies at the cookie cabin, that’s always a win.

I also love the outside mall La Encantada, we don’t really have malls like that back home in the UK. it’s always a beautiful place to show off because they have the wonderful orange trees and you can grab a drink and check out all the shops. Then stop for lunch at North, which is delicious! Another little favorite spot for food is Mercado San Agustin, so many great places to eat and the Annex is just round the corner. If it’s the right time of year it’s so lovely to sit out.

There are little hidden gems everywhere in Tucson, whether it’s outdoors, art, fun for kids or food. It took me a while to learn them all. I have a little list going now for when my friends and family come but it’s still growing. You definitely have to hit up downtown Tucson for all of the boutiques and eateries. Congress, and convention center for shows and I always take people out for Gelato at Frost, because that’s such a vacation thing to do. And lastly of course old Tucson style experiences that they just wouldn’t have anywhere else.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would say of course my husband, parents, family and friends. My husband would help me to load giant canvases for delivery’s and even install canvases for me too, make me coffees and food for my late night paint sessions, whilst I was working around our schedules and also raising our little boy. And my parents have always cheered for me the loudest, and had a ‘sky’s the limit’ approach, which has made me feel like I could do anything I put my mind too – even being a full-time artist. The support of my inner circle is second to none.

There are so many individuals to shoutout, honestly. All of which have had a hand in supporting my business in someway. A big thank you to all of my first collectors. I would have to give a massive shoutout to Leah Ward, my first ever official collector for taking a chance on buying my first piece of artwork during the pandemic. I remember being so excited and it just lit me up inside; the idea that being an artist could be a real career for me. Thank you Leah! Also, she’s an absolute boss in fitness and real estate so go show her some love. (Instagram: @_leah.ward)

Tucson has shown me so much support! I would love to shout out some small local businesses and other female entrepreneurs that have started their own endevours and supported me or commissioned me to be displayed in their businesses.
Lauren Stidham – Coach, Blueprint to Bloom (Instagram @ blueprinttobloom.)
Corinne Lynch, Salon owner of Revival Hair Salon. (@revivalhairaz).
Tara Hidden, Massage Therapist at Superior Chiropractic. (@tarahiddenmt)
Cynthia Beving, Suite Success (@suitessuccessllc)
Michelle Owens – Artifacts Photography Studio (@Artifactsps_mowens.)
Renee J – Hair & Make up artist (@radiatewithreneej)
Tina Acedo – Glo Skin Studio (@gloskinstudiotucson.)
Derek Lemar Joe – Hype Athletics (@djoe.hype.)
Please go and show some support to all of these local businesses. Thank you all for your continued love and support.

Website: www.lisajayneporterart.com

Instagram: lisajayneporterart

Facebook: lisajayneporterart

Image Credits
Women Working/Pink Dress/Black Dress/ Pink and Blue Beach – Photo Credit: Michelle Owens – Artifacts Photography Studio Wave and triptych photo credit: Lisa Jayne Porter