I Wanted More with Alana Kay

In this episode of 'Not Made To Be Subtle,' Caytie Langford features Alana Kay Latiolais, the visionary artist and designer. Through candid conversations and personal anecdotes, Alana reveals her relentless pursuit of expansion and innovation. She shares her journey from corporate career woman to stay-at-home mom to a budding artist to the evolution of her brand, Alana Kay Art. Navigating the challenges of self-doubt and societal expectations while staying true to her vision, Alana inspires with her resilience and determination. With insights into the power of color psychology and the development of her signature color quiz, Alana empowers listeners to embrace vibrancy and authenticity in their lives. Join the conversation as Alana continues to redefine success on her terms, fueled by unwavering belief and a commitment to bring more color into a world that can often be pretty drab. You only get one life, and Alana Kay wants you to embrace the idea of Living Colorfully! 

00:00 Introduction: Igniting the Flame Within

02:28 The Journey of Alana Kay Art

11:11 Unveiling the Messy Middle

16:08 The Power of Self-Belief

19:52 The Transformation of Alana Kay

20:58 The Struggles and Triumphs of Entrepreneurship

21:52 The Importance of Self-Presentation

24:42 The Power of Positive Affirmations

28:24 Challenging Societal Expectations

29:27 Embracing Your Passions

29:51 The Birth of Alana Kay Art

30:34 From Art to Fashion

32:17 Challenging the Fashion Norms

33:17 The Journey to Creating Unique Products

41:18 The Power of Color

41:47 The Color Quiz and Its Impact

52:01 The Importance of Taking the First Step

55:33 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Let's Connect!

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Transcript

0:05

Welcome to Not Made to Be Subtle, the podcast that will ignite the flame within women just like you. The place where we're gonna reject the ordinary, embrace audacity, and step into our unapologetic boldness. I'm Caytie Langford, real estate investor, motivational speaker, champion of women, and your guide on this journey. In a world where societal expectations often tell women, we've gotta calm down, be quiet, be more subtle, we are here to say absolutely not. No more. No, this podcast, this is gonna be your place, your sanctuary for unfiltered conversations with badass women who dared to ask, is this it? And then decided to go after more. I've spent decades empowering women from corporate America, nonprofits, and now in the real estate industry. my mission in life is to inspire, motivate, and impact the lives of women. Join me as we explore stories of courage. Resilience and transformation, but we're not here to just inspire you. No. We are here to propel you into that badass version of yourself that lies within you. You see, not made to be subtle is gonna be the place where we are going to absolutely celebrate the wins, but we are also going to talk about the messy middle. That place that sucks when we're right in it, but it's the place where real growth happens. I'm Caytie Langford. I've been through my fair share of wins, and I certainly have been in the messy middle. Together we're gonna dive into riveting stories. We're gonna have unfiltered conversations, and we're gonna give you actionable advice that will transform you into the unstoppable force that you were created to be. So stay tuned for this episode of Not Made to Be Subtle because you, you, my friend, you were never made to be subtle.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 2:28

Today is a super special episode for me because of a super incredible woman in my life. Today we're delving into the story of Alana Kay Art, founded by one of my nearest and dearest, the visionary artist and designer multi hyphenate talented woman, Alana Kay Latiolais. In her work, she goes by Alana Kay. I'm one of her nearest, so I just call her Alana. But it doesn't matter, because you're gonna find her story incredible. Starting from do it yourself projects in the driveway of her house to the vibrant world of women's apparel and home decor, Alana Kay is a color evangelist. She is bold. She is out there. She is bright. And most importantly she takes her mesmerizing paintings, just like the one behind me, and transforms them into moods and backgrounds, to things you can wear, feel, touch, and be a part of your world. She puts a smile on your face. And today we're going to be exploring Alana's journey. She had that nudge back when she was a teenager into art. But of course, like so many of us, she was told, stay away from that. So she went back to those societal norms, and then, after many twists and turns along her path, she discovered what she was meant to do. From her cosmetology license, to defying expectations as a stay at home mom, we'll uncover the story. The spark that led her to this unique vision that only she can have. Alana is the perfect example of not made to be subtle, and I cannot wait to invite you into this incredible conversation. Alana, welcome and good morning.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 4:22

Hello. Thank you for having me.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 4:25

Yeah, thank you for being here. I have my badass painting that you painted for me. I've got my Alana Kay mug. for those of our audience, our community who don't know, we have been friends for over a decade now and it is safe to say That when we met, we were two completely different people.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 4:50

we were. It's kind of cool to see the transformation that we both did. Because we didn't know that when we met, we were just doing our thing. Yeah.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 5:03

leadership class through the Junior League of Dallas. We are both go getters, all about taking ourselves to the next level. But when we met, you were a stay at home mom. And now you are building Your art Empire, How did you get from stay at home mom who at the time had no idea where you were going with a toddler no less To oh my gosh, you're about to be on one of the biggest Networks for your brand and I won't ruin the surprise but Tell us first of all, what was it like to be a stay at home mom and specifically when you were in that place What were you thinking? What were you feeling? And what did you think your future was gonna look like?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 5:54

So when I was in college and maybe even it started in high school, I was like, Oh gosh, if I could just meet the man of my dreams, he's obviously going to be very wealthy and I'm certain that when I have children, I'm going to hire a nanny and it was children plural, right? Cause that's what you do. You have like 2. 3 or whatever the number is. And you're going to stay home, but you won't actually stay home because the nanny will take care of the kids and you will go out and do amazing, impactful things in the community. And that will be my life. And that's really, what I thought I was supposed to do. Of course I went to college and got a degree. So I was like, I need to do something with this career. And I did and got a really, hard to get job in a corporate retail. And then I met the future husband and got married, and he did have a very good job. Shortly after we got married, though, I had to put all of my career stuff on the back burner to start traveling with him. So that was even before I had my son. So that was interesting, right? It started early, me having to do that shift of being focused on his career and not my own. Did that, ended up having one kid and I hated being pregnant, but you can't say that to anyone because then you're a terrible person. So I felt isolated in that way as soon as I got pregnant. And then, when I became a stay at home mom, I didn't enjoy it. I was like, oh, this, I'm going to these play dates and I'm And I was in these mom groups and all they do is talk about their kids. And they have kids my age, but yet they're pregnant again already. And don't they remember what this was like? How could they possibly do this again? I just was in these rooms with people that they're not bad people and they're not making bad choices and it's everybody can, go their own path. But I just felt strange. I felt, Like I didn't belong. I felt like I wanted to be having different conversations than that And I wanted more I wanted more out of my stay at home mom experience Which really led me to treat my junior league career a real job that I just didn't get paid for

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 8:12

I just want to also say one thing. You had left the location. You had moved cities. And it wasn't just that you couldn't go back to your like you chose to stay at home. It was, you had physically moved for your husband's career. So you were in a new city, and at that time you didn't know how long you would be there, but it wasn't supposed to be forever, right?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 8:38

so we were supposed to be there for a year and

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 8:41

And how long were you there?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 8:42

they're almost five. Yeah, that was really difficult. Because you know, if you think you're going to be somewhere for just a year, I was like I don't really want to get back into growing another career because I'll be ripped out of that and taken back to Dallas. And so that's, what made it all really tricky was that I never knew when we were moving. And so it was, oh, don't get too involved with this or don't settle too much into something because you're going to leave again. And even after we got back to Dallas, it was that too, It was, okay, well we don't know where we're going because he's now looking for jobs somewhere else. So don't start a career again. So it was like this really weird place that I'm certain, is divine and was meant to be all along. It ended up being like what my kiddo needed was for me to be around. But Also, it probably forced me to sit in a place of struggle, which then caused me to have an aha moment when I started that path back to creativity. Because creativity's always been something I've loved, I've always been in art classes instead of band, I've always, had projects around the house, right? Like I'm always painting and creating something. It was no surprise when I came home and was like, okay I just spent a lot of money on the most expensive art medium you can possibly purchase I've never done it before but here we go and it's a hundred and ten degrees outside, but we're gonna do it outside This is gonna be awesome. And my husband was looking at me like What is she doing now? Like here we go again. What

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 10:23

Here we go again.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 10:25

So that's how it happened and I just did something because I wanted to create a desk that I could, work at and do my junior league stuff and my side hustle stuff that I was working on. And I just wanted it to be different. I didn't want it to be a brown table like everything else, I wanted it to inspire me and make me happy when I sit down to do some work. That's how it happened, and then I put it on social media, and then people started asking me, including you, can you do a painting for me? And I was like, I mean, I still have some resin, and because I'm always doing crafty things, I had canvases laying around, so I was like, sure. That's how that kind of unfolded.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 11:11

Before we jump into where you're at today, I want to go back to those messy middle years. Because, you and I have had thousands of hours of conversations where we both have felt stuck, or we felt like it's not happening fast enough. Obviously that happens every day when you own your own business, right? There are the ups and the downs the roller coaster of being an entrepreneur but even before You poured your first painting even before you did that very first desk You spent not just weeks not just months you spent years what people would consider the messy middle. Those hard times where you were questioning, where you were thinking, is this it? Is this what my life is going to be? Am I, am, junior league is great and I'm with all these amazing women, but like am I just destined to be a stay at home mom and be a volunteer? And there was something in you that kept saying, keep going, keep going, keep going. But I want to hear, and this is the reason why I think our community shows up to hear these stories, so many other stories we just gloss over, we're like, it sucked, and now it's great, right? What were those things you were saying to yourself? What were those questions you were asking? And how in the hell did you figure out that you just had to keep going?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 12:51

Yeah, that's loaded. All of that is loaded because I'm

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 12:55

It is.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 12:56

One of my superpowers is dissociation, Caytie. So

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 13:00

I bet you talked to your therapist about that.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 13:02

I talked to my therapist about that a lot. So when I do experience like rough patches and I get through them, I then put them in a box and put them on a shelf and then we don't have to visit that anymore. First of all, because I wasn't loving the stay at home mom stuff, I was constantly beating myself up about you're a bad

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 13:21

Mmm.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 13:22

You're not, doing what's right for your kid. I wasn't one of those sit on the floor, play with your kid kind of moms. I was, I wanted to do other things. I was experimenting in the kitchen cooking. I was, just trying anything to like stimulate excitement and creativity in my brain. And I didn't see that in, just being focused on my son. so that made me feel less than, and I also felt isolated because I felt like I couldn't tell anyone that. Because moms do they kind of die to self. Once they become a mom and they lose their identity a lot of times and I knew that I didn't want to do that. So I was battling that. So that was like a huge internal struggle for me. At the same time, I felt like my husband really wanted me to be a stay at home mom. That was good for him. it made sure that all of our house stuff got managed. I was available to do all the things for our kiddo and our dog and he didn't have to worry about that. So I really feel like he liked it. So then that created tension with between he and I and I would get so frustrated with him. And I felt like he wasn't supporting me when I would have these ideas or paths that I wanted to pursue, and although he'd say, yeah, do it. I didn't feel like he really believed number one, that I would be good at it. And number two, that I really believed he didn't want me to do those things. That was hard, which ultimately developed a lot of resentment, which then, you know, it was difficult for our marriage around 2019 2020 and, And then more, like, life stuff occurred. So it just got, it got really, really bad before it got good. And that was even after I started Alana Kay Art, It was still sticky and icky. Because when I made the decision that this was going to be something, I didn't just like, okay, I'll see how this can go in the beginning. I was like, Oh no, I'm now an artist and I'm going to create a website and, and, and, and, and, and, and I'm going to do these things. And my brain had just been sitting for so long and it just went so that also created tension, that created tension in not only in my marriage, it created tension in my friendship. Because my friends, including you were looking at me like, what the hell are you doing? Like, you know, I understand the art, but I don't understand the other part of it. And so honestly, I was, I felt isolated in a lot of places. And I think that because I'm very stubborn and I am very competitive and I, to a fault, believe that I have to prove myself to everyone and I have to be the best at everything I do, and that's what kept me going, that's what like pushed me even harder was, okay, fine, you don't believe in me? I'm gonna prove it, watch this. So it was, it came from a negative place, probably more than a positive place, but that was kind of, What kept me going?

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 16:46

It's interesting because there's a reason why carrots and sticks work. You either Are the that person that, that keeps going because of the reward, or you're the person that, that needs the stick and keeps going. And I think in a lot of ways that was it for you and how people doubted you and even the things that you were saying to yourself were. Instrumental in making sure that you kept going and it's true, I remember Reaching out to you and being like, oh my gosh, this coffee table is amazing. Can you do something for me? And that's how this painting, which sits in my office, which people comment on all the time came to be. And I do, I remember thinking, okay, she's going to go do this, right? She's going to do this, but you have taken it to a whole nother level. And I am the first person that will say, I have absolutely thought you were insane, crazy. And here's the reason why I think it's really important for other women to hear this One is, from my experience as an executive coach, I know my training tells me it doesn't matter what I see for someone else, it only matters what they see for themselves. And so, I know that, and yet at the same time, just like other people in all of our worlds do, is that when they see us doing something that they think is scary, that they think is hard, that they think is out of the norm, they bring their own doubts to your front door. They bring their own baggage, life through their lens, to your front door, and they set it down. And what happens is, it's not because I didn't believe in you, it's because I don't want you to get hurt. I don't want you to fail, right? Like all those things when you love another human, you just don't want that for them, right? And so it's crazy but I want to back up just one minute because I think a true turning point for you and I think for any woman who is out there who's thinking of a pivot, the shift, the twist, When this happened to you, it not only impacted your life, it impacted my life in many ways. When someone said to you, you are an artist, and you decided, you consciously made the decision, so listen up ladies, if you're sitting there going, I can't do it, who am I? Am I worthy? You consciously made the decision to say, I am an artist, and you told people.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 19:31

Yeah.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 19:32

And I want to hear about that, ooh I just got goosebumps all over my body I want to hear about that decision and how that, what could be a small thing, right, people think is a small thing, really changed the trajectory of how you saw yourself and how you allowed other people to view you as well.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 19:52

Yeah. So that was a really pivotal moment, but I think I only was able to stop. And before I answered that question, it was like, somebody asked me, are you an artist?

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 20:05

Mm hmm.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 20:07

Before I answered it, there were many times in my life leading up to that moment that taught me that I needed to, A, believe in myself before anybody else would believe it, and B, how you present yourself is how someone's going to accept you. And

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 20:29

Ooh, say that again, because everyone needs to hear that.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 20:33

how you present yourself. is how others are going to accept you. So if I would have answered that question, I don't know, maybe I'm considering it. Well, they maybe wouldn't have bought a painting from me. But I knew that I believed in myself and I took myself seriously. Did I know what I was doing? Absolutely not. Do I have an art degree? I absolutely do not. Had I been to an art class that I paid for and left with a certificate that said, Congratulations, you know how to do this. No way. So I just was like, I'm making a website to be an artist. So how I answer this question is really important. And so I said, yes, I am. But I think what we forget is that we all have moments from our entire lives that we've had to make those kinds of choices, right? So I used to be really, really shy. Like deathly ill kind of shy. Like I wouldn't go in places by myself because it would physically cause me to want to vomit or break down and cry, run away, like the whole thing. And so, I really wanted to be popular and I wanted people to like me and I wanted to have friends and I wanted to be well known. I lived in a really tiny town so everybody already knew who I was. So that was a really weird thing. But I really wanted to be a cheerleader, but I knew that I did not tumble. I did not have gymnastics training. I was not a dancer. But I was like, it's Friday night lights town. I want to be a cheerleader. But how am I going to get up in front of crowds every week and do a pep rally? That is terrifying. And so I was like, well, you're just going to do it. You're just going to do it. And so I did, and I put myself in that position. But then from doing that, I then put myself in that position every year to try out year after year for six years in a row. Terrified every single year. Terrified at every single pep rally. All these people are staring at me. I did absolutely fall on my face, literally tripped and fell on the gym floor two times throughout my cheerleading career. Talk about humiliating. But then it went on to, I said, well, I'm going to do a pageant, which means I have to get in a swimsuit on stage in front of people and I have to

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 22:56

Can we show that picture? Cause we have

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 22:59

we do have that picture. I'm

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 23:00

It's a fabulous picture. Listen, if you're young, take a picture of yourself in a swimsuit because one day you're gonna be like, Man, I was smokin hot.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 23:09

daily. I think y'all should take pictures of yourselves daily until you're like 35. But yeah, like it just, it's a muscle, right? I know you talk a lot about the confidence muscle and building that muscle, but this is similarly yoked, it's like putting yourself in positions that you honestly have no business being in. But who's to say that other than you? You're the only person standing in your way of saying, Oh, I can't be a cheerleader. Well, sure you can. Go do it. Or I can't be, a women's apparel buyer for the largest retailer in the country. Well, sure you can. If that's what you want to do, go do it. So I think it's important to know that you've had moments like that. Who's to say we should be wives or mothers or any of those things? There is no manual or training for that. Okay. But so many of us do it and we say, okay, yeah, I'm a mom. Well, you didn't go to school for that either. So go and do the things and say you are the thing. I remember one of the side hustles I had taught me to have an elevator pitch. Within a few seconds, somebody needed to know your name. And what you do and that you're good at it, basically. And so, that is what you're saying any time that you say you are something. You're telling somebody who you are and that you are that thing so that they believe in you. So you have to say it confidently and you have to believe it. Now, it doesn't mean I believed it when I said it. I had to go then look in the mirror and say it over and over and over and over. And Finally, I said it enough that I was like, okay, I am that.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 24:52

Because One of the things that you're really great at is curating your social media. I mean, let's be real, okay? Let's address the elephant in the room. People see you, you're tall, you're thin, you're beautiful, you have great hair, you wear bright clothing, you are not a wallflower. You're not subtle at all, not made to be subtle. And so people believe that they already know you before they do. They believe you're super extroverted. As one of your best friends I know that you're not. People believe, oh, she's beautiful, so it's always come easy for her. People believe, oh, she has probably gotten more chances in life, and so She just knows that she's an artist and a designer and what you just said was, it is a muscle that you have to cultivate. That no one else can do for you. It's like working out, right? If people could pay people to get thin and be fit, you can pay somebody to get thin. I don't think you can pay somebody to get fit. You have to do the work to get fit. And You just reminded all of us that we have to do the work to own the things about ourselves, right? I have a picture right here on my desk that says who I am. And I read it to myself. And there are times that I cringe. I'm like, ooh, am I really that? You know that one of my goals is to speak in front of 10, 000 people. That scares the crap out of me to say out loud. It does. But every time I say it, it gets easier. Every time I say, I am a speaker and I stand on stages and I am allowed to share my story and be who I am, it gets easier. And if you don't make the decision to step into that it will never happen. It's not like the UPS driver is coming to deliver you your success. The UPS driver is not like, Here you go, you called Amazon, here it is. It's work. It's work.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 27:09

It really is. I mean, if people knew what went on in my head every day and the, How terrible I speak to myself and the self doubt and disbelief that I have, it's pretty crazy.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 27:22

And also, the work you do to change that narrative as

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 27:28

I was gonna say I was just on a session yesterday and that's why so much of that is like top of mind. Cause we're working on that. We are working on the negativity and disbelief in self. So like I caught myself twice yesterday. Talking about the big network project coming up and I was saying yeah, when this all happens, if, wait, when it's successful, I literally stopped myself mid word on if two times yesterday to flip it to when this is successful, Because my automatic like bend is to doubt it.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 28:10

That's huge for you. That's huge. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of you. And I think the thing is, is that there are a lot of other women, you and I have obviously talked about this that we do beat ourselves up, right? I have really started questioning and have done this for years, why do we as women, right? Because men are like, of course I can do it. Of course it can happen for me. And there's a lot. And I know, listen, even as a coach, I maybe have fallen into this trap. There is a lot out there that these messages that are sent to women every single day. from madison avenue from Advertising you aren't thin enough. You're not tall enough. You're not blonde enough. You're not Smart enough. You're not rich enough. You don't drive the right car. You don't live in the right neighborhood You need to do this you need to do right you need to be smart and you need to be a vixen you need to you know, be financially savvy and know how to give a blowjob. You need to be in the boardroom and you need to, be the caregiver and be a great cook. Like all these messages that come in. I was talking to a girlfriend the other day and she's like, I don't really like to cook. And I'm like, cool. Then let it go. Stop trying to force yourself to be, I love to cook. It's exciting for me. It is a release for me. But if you don't like it, stop trying to force yourself to love something like that, right? And just taking these messages and saying, you know what? I am worthy. You know what? I do believe in my dreams. So let's talk for a minute. Because you're not just an artist. When you first started Alana Kay Art, there were many of us, including myself, who thought you were going to do these beautiful paintings, and that was going to be it. And you had a vision for something so much bigger. And I know that I've, I actually know your elevator pitch because I've been to I've been to market with you as your extroverted friend. And welcome people into the booth to be able to sell your stuff. But I want you to tell us a little bit about like, how did you decide to take your art and transform it into something so much greater than something just hanging on the wall

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:34

as a child I would make outfits out of like Blankets, you know like crocheted old timey blankets that your

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:43

Yeah. Oh

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:45

big clippy hair bows that are back in style now, which

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:49

They're so back in style. Yeah. Yes.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:53

bow I don't know, like it was nuts. I remember

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:56

Yeah.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 30:57

anyways, I would take those bows and I'd like clip the crochet and make a dress and stuff like that. But then that transformed into my grandma taught me to sew, but I never really had patience to do patterns and like really sew something according to instructions. And, it would always cause me to alter. clothing like, okay, maybe I don't like this belt that comes with this dress. So I'm going to switch it out or I think that this needs to be shorter. So I'm going to cut it off and hem it up or I'm going to wear this a totally different way than anybody thinks that it should be. So that's how it kind of started. But then I got my merchandising degree and went and worked for, JCPenney as an assistant buyer for women's apparel and inventory analyst for women's apparel. So in doing that I Had to do a whole lot more spreadsheets than I ever Wanted to do in my life Yeah, I was like when do we get to touch the clothes or maybe just pick them out Could we do that more in a week than these reports? And so although I could do the spreadsheets and I could do the analysis and I am good at that, it's not what like lit me up. But one thing I noticed during that time, and I don't know if anyone else remembers this but me, but I had this shirt in high school and it was like this throwback, like a seventies kind of a print fabric. And then transitioning into college and beyond. I saw that fabric used two or three or 10 more times over the course of six years by different brands, different companies. And they put it into different silhouettes, different styles of clothing. And I was so annoyed by that. I was like, why are we all wearing the same thing? Why does everything have to look the same? I do not want to look like anyone else. If I have that shirt by this brand in that print, why did this brand have to go make a different style shirt in that same fabric? And so that kind of just really irritated me. And I didn't see the path at the time. I was like, I think I could make a killer, clothing brand. But I was like, I don't see the path to that. No clue how I would do that. So it would never really like. became like a dream per se, it was just there. And so when I started photographing the paintings to put on my website, right? So I'm going to be an artist. I have to photograph the art and I have to put it online. Otherwise, how is anyone going to find me? How are they going to know what I do? So as I start photographing it, when you do that, you crop in and you take all the edges off and then it becomes just Just an image of the art and in doing that, I was like, this looks like a piece of fabric. How will I get it onto clothing? I always want things no one else has. And I was like, and this is fabric that no one else would have, but me because I created the painting by hand. And so I was like, this is exciting. But I really did not have any connections. I mean, I had been out of JCPenney and that world for 10 years,

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 34:27

yeah, yeah,

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 34:28

maybe

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 34:29

at least a decade. Yeah,

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 34:33

I had not, not a person that I could call. And so I took to Google and I was like, how do you turn your artwork into fabric? How do you print your artwork onto clothing? And so at that time, a lot of these websites came up, right? Zazzle and Society6 and Art of Wear and that kind of thing. So they had silhouettes and body styles and products that you could print your art on. That's actually how I started. Within three months of me doing my first painting, I had ordered leggings that I printed my artwork on. But when I would get these products in, I was like, well, this isn't exactly how I would do this. I can't change the waistband with these people. I can't change the inseam. I can't change the fabric. I can't change any of that with them. And like little detail things that, on a coffee mug, I want the artwork to go all the way up, all the way down. All the way around. I don't want gaps anywhere. I want it to look high end and finished out and a really good quality product. And I just couldn't get that with the cookie cutter options that were out there. So I had to find manufacturers, myself, I found all of my manufacturers myself. They are all overseas, other countries around the world. And I have sourced everything and I've done every bit of product development and research. It is a really expensive process. It is so painful yet so rewarding. When you receive in those samples and they're correct, it's like you birthed a child. It's like, Oh my gosh, I created that. I made that. Look at it. That's really my passion is creating product. And so when people say, why don't you just do the art, right? Cause the product side gets really hard and that's where all the money investment is. I've got so much money sitting in inventory right now. It's crazy. And for art, yeah, you paint some stuff periodically for yourself that nobody's bought yet, but for the most part, you're not putting a ton of money out before you, have money coming in. But that's boring to me. The art life cycle is slow. It's not every day or every week or every month even that somebody needs a substantial size painting that would be enough to make a career of something. So to me, the product side was how I could do one painting one time and I could get that artwork. And then that art could live on in other products. So if someone couldn't afford to buy the painting or they didn't buy it soon enough before it was gone, okay, they love that pattern, that print. They can now own it in a dress and they can get that same emotion and that same feeling from the artwork when they wear the dress or when they hold the cocktail glass or when the, any of the things. So to me, it's how I gave life. It's how the life of the art lives on, and can go to more people beyond just the art collector.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 37:48

It's so wonderful for me to just relive these things with you because I have been on the journey with you. I've been on the phone with you when a shipment gets in or when you're like, Oh my gosh, samples are here or stuck on a boat or, we've been sitting next to you when you're WhatsAppping somebody across the globe in the middle of the night. One of the things that is striking me now, I knew this, but I think it's really important to honor this in you, is that your ability to just not give up, your ability to just say, there's a way and I will find it, is something One, that can be cultivated, but two, is so freaking admirable in you. And you just mentioned your cocktail glasses, which is one of your most successful products. They're absolutely stunning. I know I've given them as gifts. We were at Christmas and my mom pulls out her Alana Kay art glasses, and she's like, oh my gosh, I have my Alana Kay! People are obsessed with these, and you had a manufacturer for them, and this is just a small story of how your stick to it ness, your ability to just keep going, I think it is real. The manufacturer stopped doing it, and then you searched for how long until you found another manufacturer?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 39:16

three years.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 39:18

Three years. Three years and at one point you were like, oh, I'm not gonna find anybody and then you're like, okay maybe I will and you just kept going and now you have them again, and they're stunning and they're beautiful and you know again somebody can own a piece of your art for Like nothing compared to what your art actually costs and it's beautiful and I know mine are displayed in our home on our bar cart and even like for me, who's totally alcohol free now, like I put, sparkling water and things like that. Any who, that ability to say, I'm going to do it, even if it takes three years. You just do it. And that's one of the special stories for me about Alana Kay Art and about your journey. Yes, you have all of these big ideas. Yes you have a vision that maybe not everyone can see, but you can see it. And so you just keep going with it. And there might be some people who think, oh, you're an overnight success, right? And I know the truth, you have worked your ass off to get every single thing that you've ever gotten, You have not stopped. One of the cool things that has come out of this is that not only are you, associating yourself with incredible brands you just designed a football for the freaking national championship game. For college football. Alana's not, like, a huge football fan. Her weekend does not revolve around football like mine typically does.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 40:59

pairing,

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 40:59

It is! It is! But it's so amazing, and 450 people are receiving these balls who go to the game. And it's fantastic. You're elevating your brand and you're connecting with all these other brands that are almost good, good housekeeping seal of approvals. But one of the things that you take really seriously is this idea about color. And why color is so important. And for most of the women who are listening, I would venture to guess that they have more black in their closet than they care to admit. And you have said, Ooh, no, like let's not do that. But you've even taken it a step further. You have partnered with someone who is an expert in color and created this color quiz. And I want you to talk a little bit, not just about the color quiz, but what does color actually do in our life? And why has that become so freaking important to you personally?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 42:04

Yeah, so I'm a big idea person and I have this like grand vision that it has been hard for me to. Put into words because I am very impatient. And if you guys don't get it, I don't have time to explain it to you. Okay. that's like just my personality. But that's not good when you own a brand, right? You gotta explain things to people so they understand it. But it causes me to move quickly. And so when I started my art I'm just drawn to color and these bold, vibrant colors, like they look so good together and they pop off a page and. I was seeing it and I was feeling it and I was experiencing it. It came at a time when I personally started dressing much more colorfully, which has kind of been a progression because I used to be a hairstylist, which hairstylists are notorious for wearing All black.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 42:56

All black. Everyone at my salon.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 42:58

you can get hair color all over it. It's a safe bet. It's easy. It's a uniform without being a uniform. So I used to wear all black. And it's just, when I started, the very first thing I started doing was wearing bright red lipstick. MAC lipstick, Lady Danger color, was the first thing that I experimented with. And I'm telling you, when I did it, people responded to me different at events, at restaurants, in meetings. It just was different. And I was like, oh, I'm gonna Do more of that and then it was hot pink lipstick and then it was a bright red shirt And then it was a bright red shirt with hot pink pants and then you know, it was just like this progression that's happened but The reason why I kept doing it is because of the response I kept getting from the people I would interact with now. I'm not a scientist I don't know the facts or figures or anything behind that but I knew that I was feeling something and experiencing something So fast forward yes, I've declared myself a color evangelist. I absolutely believe that when you put something on of mine that is colorful, you will be number one, you will get compliments, which will be a dopamine hit for you, That you will want to chase, right? It becomes a muscle. Wearing

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 44:25

A natural dopamine hit.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 44:28

dopamine hit is wearing color and letting people respond to you different and it will be positive. I promise it will be positive. So I met a woman named Stacy Danford several years ago through a mutual friend and she is a neuroscientist. And what's interesting about that is that, what you envision to be a neuroscientist is like lab coat and Straight laced and all the things, well, this lady is bright and bold and fun and out there. And I was immediately drawn to her because of her use of color in her social media. So we have fostered a friendship over the years I didn't know it at first, but over time I was like, There's something here. There's something here. I don't know what it is. Couple that with, when I started my website years ago, I asked the web developer. I was like, I really want a quiz of some sort on my website. But at the time, it would have caused like a lot of expensive build out, customization. They didn't have these like quiz apps that you could just add to your website back then. And that was what, only six years ago. So I was like, eh, I'll scrap it. I'll put it on the back burner. So in an aha moment one day, I was like, a color quiz could do a color quiz. How are we going to do this color quiz? So then Stacey and I were talking one day and she was like, well, I can absolutely help you with that. So Stacey and I built out this color quiz, Color Your Moods quiz that you can take every single day, multiple times a day. I don't know about you, but my mood changes frequently. So what you need in the morning may not be what you need in the evening. So you take this quiz and we have broken it out into and I think it's only eight questions, so it's super easy.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 46:26

Yeah, it's super quick. I've taken it multiple

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 46:29

Yeah. Really quick. It's something you can go do every day before you start your day. And it'll tell you what color category you need to put more of in your day. Or a period of time for you for then. Okay, so go take the quiz. We break it out into four categories. So it's pink and reds, yellows and oranges, teals and greens, and blues and purples. And Stacy knows the actual science behind when you see or are around. or have on your person these colors, it is actually affecting your brain uniquely for you because some of us respond differently to different colors, but for the generally each color affects us all in the same way. Teals and greens are actually calming and soothing where people think blues are that way, but blues are actually about confidence. And reds are, love and also confidence and power. Pinks are very feminine and flirty. And yellows and oranges, fun fact, after many of you have taken this quiz now over a few months, yellows and oranges are the colors that we all need the most of. Did you know that?

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 47:48

Interesting.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 47:49

I was kind of

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 47:50

It's That's funny. I can see that, right? Just because if you think about especially clothing, right? We're definitely in a pink mood. It's funny because people are like, oh you have Barbie pink. I'm like, no bitch I've been wearing pink long before that. But I look at my house. It is decorated in a lot of blue. I have red in my closet I have pink. I have purple. I don't have a lot of yellow and oranges because it's not a color that I can wear it actually like looks bad on me But, I will tell you, when I was launching this podcast and asking people for their ideas on the cover art, the yellow one won. That's why it's yellow. And, it's crazy about this quiz, because I'm, I love an assessment. I love a quiz. I've taken hundreds of them when it comes to my personality, my strengths, I'm certified in some of them, the whole thing. And so I thought, oh, it would give me the same thing every time. It doesn't. It is shocking and it truly works. I remember the one of the first or maybe the second time I took it and it said I needed yellow and orange and I was like No, I thought it was telling me to wear yellow and orange and I was like I remember texting you I thought oh wait, I'm not wearing yellow but that day I tried to like use yellow and put yellow and it does it's been, yeah, it's fascinating to me.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 49:20

mean the quiz is really about helping people be the best version of themselves, right? Taking some control back of our moods and how we. We spiral, right? When we get in a sad mood or a bad mood we sometimes we can get stuck there and we, maybe we can't get in with our therapist soon enough or maybe we can't, take more medication than we're already taking, right? But we're still feeling this like negative way. We are empowering people to take some control back of what you can do to affect your mood right then in the moment. So if yellow is what you need, go outside. I'm not saying look at the sun, that's not advised, but go

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 50:07

And wear sunscreen.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 50:08

And wear sunscreen. And the sun is yellow and it does emit a warm glow outside. So even just that simple thing or putting lemons in your water. Or, it's little stuff. So, exciting stuff is, right? Because the quiz is the first part. The quiz is the first part. We already have in the works two other things, which is a book that will expand from four color categories into eight. And then we will explain more about how these colors can change those moods. And then we also are giving you five unique ways on every single mood on how you can add these things into your day. So it, it could be the socks you wear. It could be the color you paint your wall. It could be the meal you cook or order. It could really anything but we're going to detail that out. So I don't have a date on that, but it will be this year. But then also we're developing a tool like a handheld. where you could say, I want to be feminine and positive and confident today. And so you'll flip to that and it will show you the colors that you need to put in your day. So I don't know when that will come out either, but hopefully this year.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 51:25

Well, luckily for our community, you're not going anywhere in my life, so we will absolutely let them know. I love this. I love this so much. And it's crazy because as someone who didn't really believe in all of these things before, as someone who just said, Oh, Alana's gonna paint art, right? You don't even paint, you pour. It's so awesome to see your evolution and to see the ability that you have to just keep going. So I want to end with one thing and I know we have 27, 000 other things we could talk about and so maybe we'll have you back because one thing we didn't get to is How important it is to have certain people in your life So if you're willing I want to have another conversation with you about that Because I think it's so important for the women who are listening as you think about these big goals and big dreams, these big developments that are really happening for yourself, for your business and your brand. What advice do you have? What would you say to a woman who's sitting at the edge of, I can't do this. I'm not worthy. Who am I to say? Who's saying that to herself and is also listening to other people who are saying to her, You need to be more subtle. You need to calm down. You need to be less of who you are. What would you say to that woman that could help her get in the game of her life in 2024?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 53:06

Yeah. So two things jump out at me when you ask that question. So number one is talked about it a little bit earlier and that is no one's going to really understand your vision like you do. And so I would actually encourage people not to tell people what it is they want to go do or what the first step is or whatever. Don't give away your vision because just like you said, Caytie, people are going to. bring their doubts and their fears and that will talk you out of it. So I would encourage you to do the first thing. Just make a little bit of progress and see what happens. Because, and you and I have talked many, many times about, yeah, I'm going to do this thing and it may not work, but it's going to lead me to the next thing. And I think that's really important to start doing. But then additionally in, it's hard sometimes to make that, take that first step because you're so overwhelmed with all of the things that you need to do or that will need to be done. And so you paralyze yourself. And then you don't end up doing anything because you're trying to do too many things all at once. So I would just say, do the first thing. Do the first thing. And just see what happens. Like, what's the worst that could happen if you do one thing? You learn something new. Maybe you met someone new. You experienced something new. You got to go to a new place. You, that's all worthy. Those are the two things. Like, hold it close to the vest. But definitely take the first step and don't worry about the rest of the steps.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 55:02

That is brilliant advice, and specifically the first piece of the advice, don't tell everybody everything you know is advice that you have given me multiple times because We all know I love to make an announcement about something. And, and it really is important to keep some of those things to yourself until that vision becomes so great and your belief in it becomes so great that no one can knock you off of your path. I just want to say that you inspire me every single day because you know your path. You don't always know the twists and turns that it's going to take, but you know where you want to go. You are open. You believe that people and resources and ideas will continuously come to you. And as someone who's been, sitting in a front row seat of your journey, I have watched you take steps where you were terrified and nervous and anxious, and then the next thing appeared, the next person appeared, the money appeared, the opportunity appeared, and so as your friend, I just want you to know how freaking proud of you I am, and as a fellow woman, I just want to remind you that you are a badass, and The sky is the limit for you and I think that so many people, so many women are going to hear your story and get to take your color quiz and have their life impacted. Thank you so much for being not made to be subtle and thank you also, thank you also for not being subtle, right? Because you're like, it's funny when I was thinking through the I was pushing, pushing, pushing for what was going to be the title of this podcast. And it actually came to me when I set it down and let it go. But you were one of the first people, because I know that people have told you over and over in your life, Calm down. Be less. And you're the quintessential no, I'm not made to be less. I'm made to be more. I'm made to do something big and great. And So thank you so much. I can't wait.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:18

Thanks for

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:18

Can't wait to see where you're going.

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:20

of exciting things this year.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:23

mean, from your mouth to God's ears for both of us, right?

alanakay_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:27

Yep.

caytie-langford--she-her-_1_01-05-2024_101045: 57:29

Well, thank you, Alana. And if you liked this episode, if you learned something for yourself, if you thought of one other woman that needs to hear about Alana's journey, about how she continues to take steps every single day, I want you to share this with that woman because she needs you to be a reminder for her. that she can keep going

57:53

thank you for joining us on today's episode of Not Made to Be Subtle. I would love for you to hit that like button hit subscribe and please give us your feedback by leaving a comment. Your feedback is the fuel that helps us in our mission to bring you content that you love, that you want, and that you crave. Remember. You are never alone on your path. We are here for you as you go about your day, carry this unapologetic boldness within you. And until next time, I want you to stay fierce, stay badass and always remember that you, you, my dear, were not made to be subtle.