Meet Julieann Hardy | Entrepreneur and Visual Artist

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

Hi Julieann, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’m not sure I ever decided to pursue a career as an artist, it has always been the only option for me. There is a spark I feel in my mind every time I am creating something. Art is connecting people through self expression, I have always found it hard to express and connect to people in conventional ways. When I can create something it becomes a visual piece of who I am. The reason I feel that I have to express myself is for all the people that are feeling just like me. I want to connect with all the people that feel disconnected or out of place. It is more of a personal mission than a career choice.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a person and an artist, I am just like everyone else. I’m trying my best and doing what comes naturally to me. That being said, my experiences and my outlook on life set me apart from the average person. I always look for the beauty in life, I try to create something of fantasy out of a realistic situation. My art reflects this very often, I create designs that cross the lines of horrific and beautiful with a side of melancholy. I am very excited to be working on new pieces for my Pj clothing line. I have been working on these pieces for a few moths and everything has come together over the past couple of days. I am also planning a photoshoot to announce the clothing line. The photoshoot is themed like a slasher film slumber party. I will be working with photographer, Melody Benson, who is so talented. I am just really excited to be finished all the clothing and can’t wait to see the photoshoot.
To get where I am professionally was not easy, anyone that says it is, is lying. I still have many milestones to reach as a professional artist. I found that I am my biggest enemy and harshest critic. I often get overwhelmed by the milestones and goals that I have yet to reach. When I start feeling this way sometimes it’s easier to give up and say, “well thats never going to happen” and stop trying. I learned how to overcome this by writing down my goals and disciplining my self to stay motivated. Someone once told me that consistency not skill is want makes success. I also am lucky to have a great support system. My friends and family always have my back and pull me up when I’m feeling down. I also learned that no one else is thinking what I am thinking. If I am noticing one little detail about my work that is off, chances are that no one else is picking up on that detail. There is probably a completely different detail that they love or don’t like.
Something that everyone should know about my brand, Sad Eyes, is that it doesn’t represent something depressing… Just kidding, on first glance some people think that I am marketing depression but the meaning behind the name is much more motivating. We all experience and deal with sadness in our own way. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, my goal as an artist is to inspire people to find ways to see beauty in sadness. If we let worry and sadness consume our lives all of the beauty in it will pass by. Whether you’re an artist or an annalist, there are things in your life that give you a spark. Sad Eyes represents always chasing that spark even when life becomes overwhelming.

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.
LA is such a cool and fun place if my best friend was visiting..

First we would go get breakfast at one of my favorite breakfast spots, Norms in West Hollywood. I love their waffles and cotton candy lemonade. Next I would want to take them sight seeing. I love the park under the Hollywood sign we would get lunch at The Beachwood Cafe. I would also take them to The Grove or the Melrose Trading Post. We could hit a concert at night then go out to West Hollywood for night life.

The next day we would probably get a late brunch at Grand Casino on main street in Culver City then drive up the coast to Malibu. We would spend the day at the beach then catch a movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. I’ve always wanted to go.

We would for sure need one day to just chill around my house, I live right by The Grove so I would take them there too, do some shopping then maybe hit Met him at a Bar for happy hour. I would make them dinner that night too, I love to cook for my friends.

There are so many cool places in DTLA too. I would take my friend to Santee Alley and Grand central market. The Broad is also really cool. Lots of great photo-ops along the way. At night I would have to take my friend to Mulholland Drive and to get tacos afterwords.

I would also take my friend to The Academy Museum. I had a great time when I went and the drink menu is awesome. We would probably go to a house party too, theres always something going on over the weekend.

I am not the best at having plans come together but I think we could squeeze this all into a week.

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 want to give credit to my boyfriend, Rashed Alkhlaifat he has brought so much inspiration and light into my life. He has always motivated and picked me up when I hit the ground.

There are many artists I met in college that taught me so much and helped me lay the groundwork for the artist I am today. Many of these people live on the East Coast but I want to thank , Nathaniel R Martin, Johhn Sekula and Mariela Pina especially. They are all very smart and talented people that have always showed me love and support.

I also want to shout out the new friends and artists in LA that have inspired me to become a more rounded and motivated artist. Melody Benson, Paris Holland, Cordelia Billie, Holden Miller and Anonymous Blonde are all amazing artists that have an amazing vision and a strong message. I am so thankful to have met them all and I look forward to being on the ride as their careers take off.

Lastly, I am truly grateful for my family. I am so lucky to have such kind and loving parents and siblings. We did not always have everything growing up but I always had my family. My whole family still lives on the east coast, it’s hard to be away from them but they all support my vision and dreams.

Website: sadeyes.net

Instagram: @sadx.xeyes and @julieann.hardy

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julieann-hardy-186535185/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiW7_IxxTCSXiJmTYo4DNzw

Image Credits
Melody Benson took the photo of me @melodymariah & @melodymariahphotos on IG