Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Dinkins.
Lisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a nurturing home, with my Mama and Granny. We didnt have a lot of money, but mama knew how to make shopping an adventure at the thrift stores, and that is where I learned how to express my creativity, putting outfits together and draping crazy fabrics together. It was all fun and games until I shaved stripes on my head like Cyndi Lauper, and Mama packed us up and moved us from California to Arkansas the next week! It was like a scene from a movie on my first day at Southside High School in Ft Smith, Ar. in 1984. The kids separated and stared as I walked by in my black combat boots, long black and white geometric polyester skirt, mans white button down with my crazy off balanced hair.
My parents were both artists and I never understood why they didn’t do what they loved, for a living. I was always entering contests since I was in Kindergarten, but it was the fashion industry that was calling my name. When I was around 10 years old, my dad gave me a T-shirt with artwork he’d designed for the Molokai to Oahu race, and that’s when my dream of creating wearable art began. When my hopes of getting an art scholarship to Parsons School of Design were dashed by failing grades, and I realized I wouldn’t graduate unless I attended summer school, dropping out seemed like my best option. But I was determined to find my way into the fashion industry, even if it was through the back door!
A whole lot of life and art has happened since those early days. I went on to see a dream fulfilled making a living doing what I loved for the next 40 years, and in 2024 I finally went back and earned my high school equivalency diploma, followed by the She Leads Tennessee Woman of Distinction Award for Art & Design in 2025. Now at 56, I’m painting denim jackets, hats and bags, bringing that little girl’s dream of creating wearable art full circle! And I actually walked the red carpet, instead of going through the back door ;
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest struggles were overcoming drug, alcohol, sexual, and physical abuse.
The pain of watching your children struggle, especially from divorce, has been the hardest.
One of my children is presently struggling with addiction. Holidays are especially challenging-
if you look at what you don’t have.
Hardships are never wasted. We get to help someone else, because of what we have been through.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My art career began with painting signs for local businesses, then holiday windows, murals, and eventually teaching paint parties. For nearly 40 years, I made a living doing what I loved.
Then 2020 came, and everything stopped.
For the first time, I couldn’t go out and earn a living through my art. I found myself in a very dark place, realizing just how much of my identity I had wrapped up in what I did.
But God met me there. He began teaching me that my worth wasn’t found in my talent, my accomplishments, or even my ability to provide.
My identity wasn’t in what I did, but in who He says I am.
And that changed everything.
My whole world began to change when I started using my art to support nonprofits. I decided that if I couldn’t sell a painting, I would give it away. What I didn’t realize at the time was that giving my art away would open doors I never could have imagined.
Along the way, I began experiencing visions and discovered something beautiful: I could worship God through painting. Art became more than something I did. It became an expression of my faith and a way to share His love with others.
Today, I’m probably best known for live worship painting, simply because it’s such a public expression of my work. Recently, I had the privilege of painting live on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and at Rocketown in Nashville.
But I find just as much joy in the quieter moments, working from rest in my studio, creating hand-painted denim jackets and other pieces that tell a story.
Whether I’m painting before thousands of people or quietly creating in my studio, my heart is the same: I want my art to point people toward something greater than the art itself.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Pray! Pray when you go to bed at night. Express your gratitude for the day, and ask God to give you ideas, dreams and visions of what He created you to express to the world. You were never supposed to do this out alone.
Do it s l o w. Don’t try to be fast. Confidence and speed come with experience. Just keep creating.
Don’t be afraid to give your work away! Trust your gut. But, also don’t be afraid to charge! Someone once said “I am only asking you for your treasure, in exchange for mine” Everything should be a win-win.
Maybe think twice before sharing those dreams with just anybody. Save your energy. Some dreams are not meant to be shared yet. Sit with them, hold them, let them be just yours. You will know the right time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lisadinkinsdesigns.com
- Instagram: Lisa Dinkins Designs
- Facebook: Lisa Dinkins Designs
