Today we’d like to introduce you to Eryion Williams.
Hi Eryion, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Like many people, I used to doodle a bit here and there before I started painting and drawing consistently. I struggle with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and depression and have been since high school. I started therapy at the end of 2017 and during 2018, we were trying to brainstorm different things that I could do to give my brain a break from the overthinking and I remembered doing a paint with me at church once and I was like “well I liked that and it was very relaxing,” so I went to Michael’s, bought some cheap paint and canvases and I haven’t stopped since. Over time my art has become a form of therapy for me. I use it to express whatever emotions I’m feeling and also to create a peaceful world when I don’t feel that peace within myself. As I have grown, so has my art and I love that I get to share that journey with people online and more recently, in person. I started doing art shows in 2022 and that’s something I never thought I would be able to do. One of my triggers for my panic attacks are large crowds so I was perfectly content with just showing my work online, but I wanted to challenge myself and prove to myself that I could do it. I started my art page to not only share my journey with mental illness and art but to show others that they are not alone. I know how it feels to not want to get out of bed and to not want to exist or to overthink every single thing, but I also know that there’s hope no matter what we’re going through. I always encourage people to find their peace and hold on to it and for me, that was art. Although I still struggle today with mental illness, I’m grateful that God has used me and my art as a vessel to show others that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel!
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 definitely has not been a smooth road, but I like to think that things would be pretty boring if everything went perfectly. I have spent money on samples for art merch that did not come out right, have had panic attacks before art shows, had product drops that were flops, and all the other ups and downs that come with having your own business including dealing with social media algorithms that do not show posts to my online community. Through all these though, I have learned so much. There were times where I wanted to give up, but I reminded myself that I’m not just doing this for me. It feels amazing when I get to help others who struggle with mental health because I was transparent about it on a reel or TikTok or when someone has questions about a piece that I had done. I have also connected with so many great artists that I have looked up to which has been so fun. The community that has been created on my page is so supportive and I would take all the downs if it means I help one person. I would say that the positives definitely outweigh the obstacles.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an artist that specializes in acrylic paint and digital art in Procreate. I have tried other mediums like watercolor, gouache, charcoal, and color pencils, but acrylic is just a medium that I have grown comfortable with. It dries very fast which is great with the limited space I have in my room and with digital art, I can take my iPad anywhere so that is a big plus. I am also a student so working with fast-drying and easily portable mediums are great for me because it is more efficient for my lifestyle. I would say that I am known for my eyes. There is always an eye in my paintings: if it isn’t on a face, it’s on a clock or a flower. Eyes are the first thing that I learned to draw, and I feel like you can tell a lot by a person’s eyes plus I just love painting them! I have also been told that the majority of the subjects in my paintings look like me which I find hilarious because I use different references for each piece. When it comes to my art, I am most proud of the fact that I didn’t give up and that I pushed myself to do art shows. When you deal with anxiety, it can be very debilitating and I’m just happy that I have a support system in place to encourage me when I feel like I can’t do it. I am also a naturally introverted person so doing art shows has pushed me out of my shell and I’ve met some amazing people. The energy at the shows is just unmatched!
I believe that my art allows people to get lost in the details. Whatever emotions I feel while creating a piece will be felt by others once it is finished. I like to take people on the journey with me because most times, I start out with an idea and the meaning comes as I’m painting instead of the other way around. I add certain details because I want to pour all of my feelings onto a canvas, and I believe that people can see and feel that.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
Currently, I only take a few commissions because I am in school and I also want the customer to love it if it’s not my area of expertise, I am happy to refer them to someone who is a better fit. I do have a website (artsijai.com) where I sell prints, originals, tote bags, journals, stickers, and so much more. Follow my Instagram and TikTok @artsijai to keep up with new pieces, new merch, and I also have a little bit of mental health help and encouragement sprinkled into those pages. If there are any questions, collaboration ideas, anything at all, people can email me at [email protected] or DM me on Instagram.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.artsijai.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/artsijai
- Twitter: twitter.com/artsijai
Image Credits
@the.eye.visuals
