Meet Tree Lyiness | Creator of Magic

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

Hi Tree, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Well… I may have misplaced that instruction manual. Somewhere between the paint splatters, glitter, and piles of “this might become something amazing” treasures, it seems to have vanished. 😂
Giving up has never really been an option for me. I have spent many years giving my whole heart to jobs, helping build other people’s dreams, only to find myself politely placed on the shelf when I was no longer convenient.
So I made a tiny, but mighty promise to myself: I would finally pour that same magic into my own dreams.
Creating chose me. Or maybe I chose it… either way, we found each other and now we’re stuck together like glue on a craft table. ✨
Not every day is profitable, but every day is mine. Every day I get to make, imagine, wonder, and turn the strange little ideas in my head into something real.
I don’t create because it’s a job. I create because it is the way I breathe, the way I process this wild adventure called life. It is my joy, my therapy, my mischief, my magic.
I believe the universe keeps leaving little breadcrumbs along my path because I answered my calling.
I am not just making art… I am living inside the art.
And honestly? I think the world needs a few more weird dreamers covered in paint, carrying too many supplies, and chasing impossible things. 🧚‍♀️🌱

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I do not believe in putting myself in a creative box… mostly because I would probably decorate the box, turn it into a sculpture, and somehow make a lion out of it.
I am a creator. I love exploring ALL the mediums because every new material teaches me something. I started with acrylic painting (and still absolutely love it), but I also create sculptures, fiber art, sewing pieces, and whatever else decides to wander into my creative playground.
When I first started my journey, I tried making things I thought people wanted to see. Funny enough… those pieces mostly sat there looking pretty and waiting for their forever homes.
The magic happened when I stopped trying to create for everyone else and started creating from my own heart. That’s when the art came alive.
My emotions are in my work. My stories, my struggles, my joy, my healing — they all sneak their way into the pieces. Not everyone will love what I create, and that’s okay. Art isn’t meant to be everyone’s cup of tea… sometimes it’s someone’s cup of “what on earth is this and why do I love it?”
I create to release, to heal, to connect, and hopefully to make someone feel something.
I do make a LOT of lions and lionesses. They are basically my artistic default setting. Some artists have a favorite color… apparently mine is “lion.” So thankfully, artist block doesn’t visit me.
I honestly believe one of my superpowers is turning almost anything into a lion. So far, I have transformed dried paint chips, blue jeans, leather, dried nature, and even snake shed into a pride. (Yes… even snake shed gets a second chance in my world.)
Being an artist and sharing your work requires thick skin. Not everyone understands what comes out of your soul, and sometimes people can be … spicy. But you keep creating. You keep growing. You keep showing up.
I’m not here to make everyone understand my art.
I’m here to make it.
I just want to share my creations with the world, and I believe what is meant for me will find me.
Until then… I’ll be over here covered in paint, surrounded by random materials, turning weird things into lions.

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.
Come spend a day exploring my corner of magic in Atlanta!
Our first stop is my studio/gallery home base, Echo Contemporary Art Gallery. We’re open Wednesday–Saturday from 12:00–5:00 PM. We can wander through the current gallery exhibit, then explore the halls filled with 45 different studio artists creating all kinds of wonderful things.
Of course, we have to visit my studio too! Inside my creative cave you’ll find ALL my newest creations — paintings, sculptures, wearable art, and all the treasures my imagination has been busy making. Everything is set up for you to explore and shop… and this is also where the magic happens because I actually create here too.
The gallery owner, Jessica, lets us artists transform empty studios into temporary installations, so every visit is a adventure. You never quite know what you’ll discover around the next corner. (My favorite kind of place!)
Since we’re right off the Westside BeltLine, we can hop on bikes, or I’ll grab my skates and we can roll around the city collecting inspiration like art goblins.
Eventually all that exploring will make us hungry, and only about a mile away is Souper Jenny — a cozy spot where the menu changes daily based on what’s fresh and in season. This is the kind of food that doesn’t just fill your belly… it gives your soul a hug.
I’d also want to show them Sweetwater Creek State Park — one of my favorite places. The water is my muse, and there is something about being surrounded by nature that makes my brain light up with ideas.
And if Atlanta traffic decides to act like Atlanta traffic, we can always escape to Cascade Springs Nature Preserve — a place where you can almost forget you’re in the city.
I do have a few other magical park spots… but those are secret treasures.
That’s about all I’ve got because if I’m not wandering in the woods collecting inspiration, I’m in my studio creating… or at home sewing something that probably started as a “what if?” and somehow became a thing.
Basically: art, nature, food, and a bit of beautiful chaos. My favorite recipe.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My creative journey started with a little bit of magic, a lot of encouragement, and probably more crayons than any child could reasonably use.
My Granny was the first one who opened the door to crafting, painting, and all the wonderful ways you can turn imagination into something you can hold in your hands.
My Momma Bear was my biggest cheerleader. When I was little and didn’t feel good, she knew the cure was simple: a fresh box of crayons and a brand-new coloring book. (Honestly, still a pretty solid prescription.)
When I became an adult and decided to chase this wild art adventure, she was there again — keeping me fed while I was figuring out how to turn my creations into a life. That kind of support is a treasure you never forget.
Most of what I know about art came from good old-fashioned trial and error… emphasis on the “error” part sometimes. I learned by doing, experimenting, breaking things, fixing things, and occasionally looking at a pile of materials wondering, “What have I created?” only to realize the answer was usually “something amazing.”
I was also lucky enough to spend three years working alongside a sculptor, where I learned so much about large-scale hospitality installations, building big ideas, and the beautiful chaos of creating on a larger-than-life scale.
I am incredibly grateful for every lesson, every mistake, every person who helped me along the way, and every spark that kept the creative fire burning.
Art has always been a little bit of a wild creature in my life… and I’m just happy I followed it into the unknown.

Website: https://www.Lyiness.art

Instagram: @Lyiness