Blog - Léonella

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Artist Spotlight: Cleotha

ART NOV 17, 2025

🕒 6 min read

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As part of my journey of growth and creative exploration, I'm excited to spotlight artists from all disciplines (painters, dancers, musicians, etc) whose work inspires reflection, transformation, and new perspectives.

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Cleotha (Cleo) is a DMV-based artist from Northeast DC who likes to explore using multiple mediums. She works with acrylic paint, paint markers, regular markers, spray paint, and is currently adding in oil paint to her pieces.

She creates from within to highlight what she feels at the time, and most of her pieces will always turn out to be abstract.

I have included my Q&A with Cleo (her words, in her own voice) below in addition to a glimpse of her artwork.

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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in art?

Honestly, I never knew I knew how to draw until I went to art class like once or twice in the 9th grade.

On the day I learned that I knew how to draw, we had to look at an object and draw it exactly how we see it, and from there that’s where it all started in 2009.

When do you think is the first moment you considered yourself an artist or creative?

The first moment I considered myself a creative is in 2011 at 16 years old when I started tattooing. Becoming a tattoo artist wasn’t something I ever pictured for myself; it happened pretty unexpectedly.

One day, a friend and I were challenged to do a tattoo on someone we knew, and I ended up tattooing a star and a moon with a halo around it.

After that, I was hooked. Something about it just clicked; it felt natural to me, even though I continued learning from other artists along the way.

In 2016, I went to a tattoo institute in Miami to get my blood-borne certification, complete a 160-hour apprenticeship, and earn my tattoo license.

I was around 20 years at the time and stayed there for about a month. Over the years, I worked in a few tattoo shops, but I eventually realized that environment wasn’t the best fit for me.

That’s when I decided to become a traveling tattoo artist, bringing my work directly to my clients, and it’s been the right path ever since.

Now, 14 years later, at 31, I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how my creativity continues to evolve.

How do you think your artistic style has evolved over time?

Over time my artistic style evolved to being more free and expressive than overthinking on a piece and trying to be a perfectionist.

I used to overthink every detail and strive for perfection in my paintings, but that often left me frustrated whenever something didn’t turn out exactly how I imagined.

That perfectionism made it hard to stay interested in a piece, if I made a mistake, I’d either want to start over or abandon it completely.

Eventually, I realized I needed to let go of that mindset, and that’s what led me to abstract art.

It gave me the freedom to embrace imperfection and focus more on emotion and expression rather than precision.

What inspires your creative process?

What inspires my creative process is nature, color, emotion, spiritually and overall my intuition. I draw from the energy around me and let my inner feelings guide how each piece takes shape.

What does your day or week as an artist usually consist of, whether you are part-time or full-time ? Walk me through it.

I would like to consider myself a full-time artist, but I am not there yet because I work a 9-5, Monday through Friday.

I'd like to be a full-time artist in the future and eventually that will happen. I have to put more time into my art, and I am close to reaching my goal this year with what I wanted to do as far as doing an event once a month since the beginning of this year.

How has your upbringing shaped your confidence in pursuing your vision as an artist?

Being a self-taught artist has played a big role in shaping my confidence. Every time I share my art and receive genuine feedback or compliments, it reminds me of the impact my work can have on others.

Seeing how people connect with my art and how it makes them feel continues to inspire and affirm my creative journey.

Is there a particular project or piece of work that you are especially proud of? What makes it stand out for you?

I am proud of a lot of my pieces because each piece shows growth from over the years. There’s this piece I created sometime in 2016/2017 it was inspired by SZA.

That piece stood out to me because I see my past self in it.

Talk more about what “Mental Creationz” means to you. What inspired you to lead a Self-Care Art movement?

Mental Creationz was founded on March 1, 2019. Mental Creationz is a self-care art movement dedicated to encouraging creative expression without judgment.

We offer community art experiences and a variety of services—including painting, candle making, body products, and tattoos—all at accessible prices.

Our mission is to inspire self-love, creativity, and connection while giving back to the community that inspires us.

Our rules include: 1. Don’t criticize yourself. 2. Don’t compare your work to anyone else.

What advice would you give to an emerging artist that is trying to market themselves?

My advice would be to create even when you don’t feel like it and don’t overthink it just flow with it.

It’s okay to still be figuring out your signature style it will come to you. Don’t be afraid to get out there and show others what your capable of doing. You got this!

How has social media helped expand the reach of your art?

Social media helps expand the audience of who reaches my art when I consistently post.

What’s a song you’re currently listening to on repeat, and why?

I don’t currently have a song on repeat that I have been listening to. But if I had to choose a song it would be O & FKJ-Omw.

To learn more about Cleo’s journey and her original art, be sure to connect with her on instagram (@cleothemysticalgemini). Be on the lookout for her next project and any events hosted by her and members of the House Art Collective!

*If you're an artist (of any discipline) interested in being featured in this spotlight series, please send an email to inquiries@leonella97.com.

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