Meet Lanya

What’s a small, ordinary thing that brings you a disproportionate amount of joy?
I love when I walk into a clean, organized house that smells good with a few fresh bouquets!!

Morning person or night owl? And how does that show up in your work?
Dare I say, both? My mornings are my prime time for ideas to flow in and for creations to come to life. However, I've had my fair share of late night crank sessions and countless nights where my mind is full of ideas. To the point that I have to write them down in my notes app so I can actually stop thinking and sleep.

What’s your current hyper-fixation?
I just purchased my first home and I'm deep in renovation mode so I'm hyper-fixated on all things interiors. Paint colors, flooring, kitchen finishes, you name it - I'm probably losing sleep trying to make a decision about it. Thank god for Photoshop skills that allow me to mock up my vision!

What does your perfect “no work allowed” day look like?
An early morning walk with my pups + boyfriend Geoff to a coffee shop to sip and hang. Then we'd venture off to get brunch and maybe even slip into a few thrift stores to find our next hidden gem. We'd then head home where I'd spend a few hours working on a painting while sipping on another coffee. The evening would roll around, I'd get dressed up in a fun outfit to go out for dinner + drinks with friends. I'm two dirty martini's deep, we end up hitting up another spot for a nightcap (or two?). After a night fullll of good laughs + drinks we end the day with a cuddle session with the pups!

Coffee order, tea ritual, or something else entirely?
I need coffee to function lol so my coffee ritual in the mornings are very important to me. I LOVE a coffee with some cinnamon, a little bit of maple syrup + some flaky sea salt!

What’s a belief or mindset that’s quietly changed the way you work or live?
Don't ask for permission, ask for forgiveness. I've found that when I usually just do something for someone, there is a very small chance they are upset with me for doing it and instead are so appreciative that someone ended up doing something for them.

What’s something you’ve intentionally unlearned in the last few years?
I would say I'm definitely still in the process of unlearning this, but I’ve let go of the idea of waiting until I feel 100% “ready" to do something. Instead, just starting and being open to the fact that there will be challenges along the way and figuring it out as they come.

What’s your greatest thrifting find of all time?
I found this really cool wavy, sculptural lamp for literally $5 at Goodwill. Whenever I look at it I'm still in shock that I not only found it, but paid so little for it!
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What’s the first thing you scan for when you walk into a thrift or vintage shop?
Anything with a unique shape, finish, or detail always catches my attention first. I honestly will look through every.single.thing. before leaving the store. Oh, and lamps.

What makes something worth bringing home even if it’s a little weird?
I'm a firm believer in getting anything that brings YOU the purest amount of joy. Even if its a little silly or kind of useless, if you saw that thing everyday and it makes you the happiest person, it's worth it. Do I need a seashell butter dish with a tiny knife? No. Did I audibly gasp with joy when I saw it? Yes. Did I take it home? Absolutely.

How do you know when a piece—or a design—is finished?
I always make sure to step away from whatever I'm working on to get fresh eyes back on it after staring for countless hours. Usually when I come back to it I either have a new idea to round out the design or make a few small tweaks to finish it off. This is annoying to say, but I usually just have a feeling when I look at it where I know its complete.

What usually comes first for you: color, texture, feeling, or story?
For my design process, definitely the feeling comes first. Usually when a client is explaining their business, their goals, and how their concept came to be, there is a feeling that comes through the conversation gets the gears in my brain going to start visualizing what their brand will look like.

What separates good design from undeniable design?
Good design get's you by, but undeniable design makes you feel a certain way. To the point where you cant shake that visual out of your head.

What’s a design rule you love to bend or break entirely?
As someone who didn't go to design school I'm probably breaking a lot of rules haha. But if I had to pick, I loveeee bending the rules of type to create some really sick designs.

What era, artist, or aesthetic do you find yourself coming back to again and again?
If I'd had to pick an era, I would say a lot of my art gives a nod to Surrealism. I like to coin my paintings the title of "Surrealist, Realism" because I love to focus on the realness of the subject with color + technique, but bring in the dream-like composition that makes you take it all in and think.
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What’s lighting you up creatively right now?
Going old school and creating with my hands again!! I love seeing the desire for analog in the design world right now with the constant cloud of AI hovering around us. I'm a crafty gal at heart and I'm excited to try some new techniques to blend the physical world with the digital!

Thrifted treasure or brand new?
Oh I'm all for a thrifted treasure!

Neutrals or a surprise pop?
Over neutrals, give me all the surprise pops!

Mood boards or gut instinct?
I trust my gut, she hasn't let me down.

Gallery walls or one statement piece?
Im a maximalist, so definitely a gallery wall. Like literally a wall full of art.

Imperfect patina or pristine finish?
Imperfect patina, because nothing is ever perfect ;)

Morning light or golden hour?
This is tough, but I think I'm leaning more towards golden hour.

Paint, pencil, or pixels?
Definitely PAINT!

Music while creating or silence?
I can't create in silence, it makes me uncomfortable. I have a playlist for pretty much everything.