XINA PAINTS Custom Paintings & Murals
This week we want to introduce you to another great designer we’ve had the opportunity to work with. Say hello to Christina Assuncao!
- What led you into Design as a career?
I was born a painter. At an early age I was lucky enough to know exactly what I wanted to do. When it came time to choose a career, I immediately fell in love with hand painted prints, and so I went to art school and studied just that.
- What made you decide to venture out on your own and leave the corporate world?
By the time I got into the fashion world, the true art of hand painted prints started to slip away, and in my particular division, everything was digital. My days consisted of sitting in front of a computer. I didn’t feel proud or excited about what I was doing. I knew I had to go back to the time where my hands and clothes were dirty with paint: to a time when I was inspired and challenged by the work I had done, instead of just being grumpy and tired. After four years in fashion I decided to open a studio. I needed to create to be happy, no matter what it took!
- What is the best part about owning your own business?
I love a lot about owning my own business but by far the best thing is the direct correlation between work put in and results. When I was employed by very large corporations, there was no direct result in working hard. Most of the time no one even noticed. If you had a good day vs a bad day, you still received the same paycheck every two weeks. It felt like I was just a small piece of a very large puzzle, and there were many other pieces just like me. As a small business owner, when I work really hard, I am rewarded greatly. The feeling of booking new clients, seeing their faces when a piece is delivered, opening night of my first gallery show- all of it takes extremely hard work but the reward is so great. Knowing that all of the great things happening are because you worked hard: simply amazing! Nothing is better, and I find myself constantly chasing that proud feeling.
- Tell us about your brand and what sets you apart?
Xina Paints is a studio based in Hoboken & NYC that specializes in custom murals and large scale paintings. Everything from the moment you contact the studio to the day your piece is delivered is carefully planned and executed. I want everything about the experience to feel special. One of the greatest things about what I do are the relationships I get to form! Whether you’re a company looking for a mural or an individual looking for a custom piece of artwork, I spend time getting to know my client and the space where the artwork will live. I always start with a one-on-one meeting at the location. To create the perfect piece for someone, I have to know who they are and how they interact in that space. I absolutely love learning about my clients and how I can give them something that they will enjoy living or working with everyday. I only spend about a month with the artwork: the client spends forever with it!
- What art are you working on and what do you have planned for the future?
I’m currently working on a beautiful mix of custom artwork and murals. I had my first pop-up gallery show earlier this year. The nautical themed collection sold out and received a lot of attention and press! I’ve continued painting custom nautical pieces, always featuring my clients beautiful homes, boats, vintage maps of their area, coordinates, etc. I’m working on a bright landscape painting which will be used as a label for a Kombucha company. I’m also working with a local business and the city of Hoboken to create a mural celebrating the city’s great history! I love painting things rooted in history and sentiment. For the future, I exclusively want to create paintings with a purpose. 2016’s motto is, “Big artwork with big impact!
You can find Christina and her work below:
Pat Nugent