Meet Falon Clayton | Artist and Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Falon Clayton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Falon, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I think that a lot of outsiders don’t understand that being an artist and a content creator is an actual business. It is not just selfies and playing on the internet, or painting all day. I have to run it like a business, with business systems that are effective and efficient. I have to know my numbers in order to be successful.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is coastal bohemian abstract, and speaks to whimsical nostalgia with a unique color palette pleasing to the eye. Most of my originals are created on very large scale canvases. Each piece is loaded with texture through the use of unique and unexpected natural elements found along the coast. I love to mix mediums usually consisting of acrylic, oil, charcoal, and pastels. I am proud of the works I’ve created so far, and excited to finally have print options available on my website.

I am completely self-taught and determined to continue growing my visual arts and media skills through diligent research and practice. I have been painting since I can remember, and working at design and art professionally for 20 years. It wasn’t until I met my husband, that I expanded my part-time hobby to become a business. Now I get to do what I love full-time. It isn’t always easy. With any business, there are seemingly unsurmountable challenges that you have to work through. But when you love what you do, it doesn’t feel like work. It’s a journey you get to enjoy every step of the way.

As an artist, I not only love to create art on canvas, but I also love to create art digitally. One aspect to my business is creating promotional content for national brands. I feel like I’m living the dream.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The beauty of the coastline all along Southern California is an absolutely must-see. Any visitor coming to Southern California better prepare for at least a week’s worth of drives up the coast line to take in all the beauty. I’d start as south as it gets at my hometown, Coronado. We’d pop-in to the Hotel Del, sun bathe in the soft sand, shop the Ferry Landing, then grab a bite at Miguel’s or Lil Piggy’s. Next, we’d drive north to La Jolla to see all the sea lions and all the beautiful coast line has to offer. San Juan Capistrano would be next so we can see the beautiful historic district and dine with live music at the delicious Trevor’s on the Tracks. Next, we’d drive a little north to Laguna Beach and visit a few secret coves that are totally Instagram worthy and make you feel like you’re not even in the city. We’d dine at Carmelita’s or the Ranch for an early dinner and then drive up the coast a tad to watch sunset at Corona Del Mar. We’d move along from there and take them a bit inland to one of my husband and mine favorite places, Old Town Orange. There are so many restaurants to choose from and the Orange Circle has such an amazing home feel with the best antiquing you can find. You see the same people, no one is a stranger in Old Town Orange. The next day, we’d head North to LA next to see the gorgeous unique beach towns of Hermosa, Manhattan Beach, Santa Monica, and Malibu, all of which have their own feel, vibrancy, food, and beach life. It is much too hard to decide where to take visitors if they’re not here for long, I absolutely love where I live.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to dedicate my shoutout to my husband, Paul. He has been a huge support to this business. He has believed in me, encouraged me, worked tirelessly building my canvas frames even before I had a single sale, he does the behind-the-scenes work of crunching numbers, and a lot of the not-so-glamorous administrative work. He is my biggest cheerleader and fan, and I could not have even created this business without him.

Website: www.falonbrianne.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/falonbrianne.art

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulandfalon

Image Credits
Lauren Michael