As part of my “new year, new me” resolution, I’ve decided to explore every creative avenue I can possibly experience. This decision stems from an existential crisis I had last summer after realizing my inner child had been begging me to let them create. Unfortunately, like many of us shame-ridden adults, I silenced that voice due to the false perception that making art isn’t worthwhile if I lack the skill to make it “good.”
This year, I’ve decided that instead of succumbing to a self-fulfilling prophecy of losing my creativity at the hands of incessant negative self-talk, I should probably just take matters into my own hands and actively try to strengthen my skillset. By believing I have potential and leaning into curiosity, I hope to encourage myself and invest in more opportunities to be creative.
This project, “In Their Element,” was born here. Dedicated to my inner child, ITE (for short) is a series where I connect with other queer creatives I meet and step into their world as a way of collaborating and learning from those I admire. My goal is not only to push myself out of my comfort zone but, most importantly, to highlight artists who have the courage to share their art and actively contribute to the communities they are a part of.
No. 1 — The Lil Painting Sesh
This experience started back in August when my friend Jojo posted on their Instagram story about hosting a “lil painting sesh” with a group called “Find the Click.” as a longtime fan of Jojo, I had seen clips and photos of similar events they’d attended or hosted, but I hadn’t committed to making the three-hour drive to Miami to attend one myself. This time, with a vague idea of what this series might become, I decided to dm Jojo and propose a collaboration.
After exchanging emails, I sent Jojo and the Find the Click team a wordy proposal that essentially said, “I have a camera and a dream. I’d love to interview you all and share the cool things you’re doing for the creative scene in Miami. May I please get a ticket?” All parties were down—excited, even—and incredibly supportive of helping me get this project started.
Soon enough, the day of the event came, and it was time to get to know Camila, Gaby, and Isabela, co-founders of Find The Click and learn about their contributions to the creative scene in Miami.
What was the inspiration behind starting Find The Click?
The inspiration behind Find the Click was our friendship. We noticed there weren't enough spaces for us and our friends to get together and do what we wanted to do—relax, have fun, and connect through and with art.
So, after starting creative Mondays, we got together with our team and started exactly what we thought Miami was missing.
We always joke that we've managed to make everything happen thanks to the power of friendship. That has definitely helped us, made us stronger, and drawn people in because they see how we connect and what we bring to each other; we draw each other in and inspire each other.
Creative Mondays are donation-based spaces designed to allow creative freedom through arts and crafts. You can hang out, create, and unwind every Monday at Tripping Animals Doral from 7 to 11 pm. Open for anyone who wants to start the week on a creative note (+18).
What role do you think the arts play in your community and how does Find The Click contribute to that?
Art helps us bring people together and be in person—art has the role of uniting people and of communicating whatever is going on in our reality. We think art is very important, and that's why Find the Click seeks to involve people in the art, not only create events for people.
Usually in museums or galleries you see the art, but with Find The Click, we're looking to create the spaces where the audience and the people in the community make and interact with the art. So that's the most important role that it works and it honestly is super important for expression and mental health— we make these spaces so people come and create and they get inspired.
Miami has a huge music scene, a huge art community, a strong latino presence, and a big queer scene. How does find the click draw on all of these influences and merge them into one? How are you adding to that community?
Most young artists and queer artists are looking for these kind of spaces to do their art, to show their art, to promote their own events, just like jojo is doing. Here, she wants to teach a class, but if you go to a museum or if you go to a big institution, which in Miami, there's a lot, it's a lot harder to get the opportunity to get there.
Since we're working with young and queer and diverse communities, we are all collaborating, so we give each other what we need, like that push, that help that we need to make it happen without one of these big institutions or with the help of the ones that are supporting the community.
So that's one way, and the other is just being there for each other, honestly.
So who is the teacher of this this “lil painting sesh”? That would be Jojo, also known as @lillacra—an entirely self-taught artist, born in Venezuela and currently residing in Miami. Since 2020, Jojo has found new ways to support herself through art, starting with painting custom pet portraits and sneakers, and now by hosting events like the "lil painting sesh."
During our interview, she explained that her journey began as a hobby, creating pieces she would rarely show anyone. It wasn’t until high school that she had the opportunity to experiment more publicly through bulletin boards, posters, and other displays. After graduating, she sold her very first painting—a koi fish piece that she decided to recreate in this class.
Jojo opened up about struggling with anxiety and how it impacted their ability to engage in the creative scene—at times leaving them too overwhelmed to attend events or meet other artists in person.
As someone currently facing the same struggle, I was curious to know what motivated them to step out of their comfort zone. Jojo explained that she grew tired of watching others create, and live the experiences she wanted to live while holding herself back. It was time to make a change, so as the new year approached, she made a bucket list of art-related goals she would like to accomplish.
The first goal was to connect with the online community they created but never met in person. This step led them to an event hosted by Find The Click. There, jojo met several creatives in real life, almost instantly feeling seen and supported. That pivotal moment not only expanded their network but also gave them a renewed sense of confidence in sharing their work and opening up to the possibility of collaborating with others.
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