the murmurs of the heart is ignored
What inspires your creative process?
A lot of my inspiration is drawn from books, films and music. Particularly horror and dark short fiction are my favorites, especially writers like Franz Kafka and Thomas Ligotti, where ambiguity and unease linger rather than resolve.
Though some of the saddest books I’ve read are actually nonfiction about the natural world which shape how I think about loss as something quiet, gradual, and collective.
Film plays a huge role in how I think about pacing, atmosphere, and duration. I watch a new film almost every day, often gravitating toward slow or contemplative cinema where very little happens on the surface, but tension builds through repetition, silence, or time passing.
Watching films this way influences how I structure my own work, how long something lasts, when nothing happens, and how mood can be carried without explanation.
Music is also essential to my creative process. I’m almost always listening to music while working, and it helps set the emotional temperature of a piece. Sound often becomes a way for me to stay connected to feeling while making, guiding my rhythm, focus, and intuition at every stage of the process.
compass to somewhere
What does your day or week as an artist usually consist of, whether you are part-time or full-time ? Walk me through it.
Currently I am a part-time artist. My typical day usually consists of starting the day with hot tea or coffee while listening to some music before I go to my day job. During breaks, I sketch or read.
After work, I use the rest of the day to continue working on my art or handling art-related tasks intermittently using errands or daily chores as breaks in between. I always make sure to include social times especially with my partner.
I try to squeeze in more reading time or practicing playing the bass at any point. I end my day with dinner and a movie or two. Depending on the next day’s plans, I’ll most likely stay up late with some more tea and continue
to work on my art until I’m too tired.
friendship inn
How has your upbringing shaped your confidence in pursuing your vision as an artist?
I’m very grateful for the support I had growing up. My decisions were never questioned, and I was given the creative freedom to explore art without judgment, which really helped build my
confidence as an artist
At the same time, I grew up with very limited financial resources, which made it difficult to access materials and opportunities. That lack of resources shaped how I worked and affected my mindset well into adulthood, often limiting what I felt I could create. Still, having that early encouragement gave me the confidence to keep pursuing my vision despite those challenges.
it's never enough
Is there a particular project or piece of work that you are especially proud of? What makes it stand out for you?
One piece I’m especially proud of is “it’s never enough”, which I made in 2023. It’s a broken plate with a fork and spoon all constructed from frankensteined scrap metal, with the phrase “it’s never enough” revealed on the surface of the plate.
This piece stands out to me because it was one of the first times I successfully applied several newly learned skills to execute my vision exactly as I intended, and I was able to make it entirely at no cost.
To create the text, I designed a laser-cut stencil on adhesive paper, applied it to the rusted metal, and sandblasted the surface to reveal the words. I absolutely loved every step of the process.
I like your viewpoint on how isolation can be a catalyst for introspection and self-realization. Can you discuss why that theme is so integral to your work of art?
I’m interested in how personal experiences can be translated into forms that feel intimate yet widely relatable. Isolation, for me, becomes a catalyst for introspection; a space where emotions, memories, and unresolved questions surface without distraction.
In my work, solitude isn’t portrayed as purely negative; it’s a condition that allows for reflection, slowness, and a
deeper awareness of the self.
By materializing these private moments through objects, sound, or duration, I aim to create spaces where viewers can recognize their own experiences of loneliness, waiting, or quiet transformation.
The work functions as a kind of shared solitude, where individual introspection opens into collective recognition.
can we stay like this
What advice would you give to an emerging artist that is trying to market themselves?
My biggest advice would be to make more art friends. Your friends are your connections and your support system. Having other like-minded people that share your passion will always encourage you, and you get the opportunity to have someone else’s opinion or critique that you value.
My friends and I are always helping each other, if we have something to lend, whether it’s
tools, software access, or sharing information about art opportunities we’ve found.
It’s important that these relationships are reciprocal; not just about gaining opportunities, but about showing up for one another, exchanging resources, and offering genuine support. Building a strong community like this allows everyone’s work to grow by people who genuinely care about it.
dreams of a dead dreamer
How has social media helped expand the reach of your art?
I’m not the greatest at marketing myself on social media, and I don’t get a lot of traction, but it’s still been valuable to me. Social media allows me to share my work with friends and peers who support what I’m making, and that sense of encouragement matters.
It’s also become a way to document my process and ideas over time, and occasionally my work reaches someone new in an unexpected way. Rather than focusing on growth or metrics, I see social media as a space to share what I’m creating and stay connected to my artistic community.
blue november
What’s a song you’re currently listening to on repeat, and why?
Scream of the Butterfly by Acid Bath. I always have their demo album playing, and this song is one of my favorites. The melody and bassline feel hypnotic, almost meditative, and the song paints a vivid, emotional story as it unfolds.
It carries a deep sense of melancholy, and that atmosphere closely aligns with how I imagine my work existing: quiet, heavy, and emotionally immersive.
To learn more about Cyd’s journey and their original art, be sure to connect with them on
instagram (@tainted.hands) and give their lovely website cydmuri.com a visit! Be on the lookout for their next project!
*If you're an artist (of any discipline) interested in being featured in this spotlight series, please send an email to inquiries@leonella97.com.
Léonella © 2025
