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

Hi Shaina, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I first started painting just for fun as a hobby to distract myself from what was happening with COVID. After a few pieces I did on canvas I was getting a lot of positive feed back. From there it evolved into me not only selling my work but Displaying my work in homes, restaurants, and stores around California

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think everyone has their unique stories and everyone is a creative being in their own nature. I just think it takes the right circumstances to bring it out. In my case it truly was my first project 1156 a house in bel air that I first show cases my work in. For me it was my friend Rudy’s house. It gave me the ability to realize through art I could overcome my anxieties and be able to use my sometimes difficult emotions to paint something meaningful.

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.
My perfect day is a LA Sunday. First we would wake up go to Abbot Kinney look at the cute stores and grab a juice at Kreation. From there go to the trading post to check out the cute vintage items. After there head to Melrose where they have an amazing farmers market. After a bit of shopping up an appetite I would head to Croft Alley right behind the farmers market where I have few pieces hanging. Would love to end up in Bel Air at the pool with my friends to check out project 1156. Hopefully we’d all end up painting something special to added to the collection. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
One day last June my friend Rudy bought me my first blank canvas. If it weren’t for him asking that I make him something I wouldn’t have known I could paint. So I dedicate this article to him and his home, my first project called 1156.

Instagram: shainalavine

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