Rexburg artist and mom of three builds and develops her creativity in and outside of her home.
Twyla Mahelona is the city of Rexburg’s art specialist but found her passion for art during college.
“I’m so nerdy, so nerdy my whole life. So, sciences, biology, that whole end of things was just right up my alley,” Mahelona said. “When we were in college, my husband asked me to go to a community art class because he was having a guy’s night … I was like, ‘This is so dumb; I can’t even draw a stick figure.’”
Mahelona said she ended up going to the art class where they worked on watercolor trees. She said she was “terrible at it” but she had fun, and it sparked joy in her. She then went home and made a list of pros and cons of switching her major and course in life.
“We made a pros and cons list, like pros of being a doctor and pros of being an artist, and of course it’s like three pages versus like two bullet points,” Mahelona said. “Definitely not much going in the artist category, but I just had so much joy, and it felt like home. And so, my husband was like, ‘You know what, one of us should be having fun, let’s let it be you.’”
Since graduating Mahelona has done murals in homes, communities, schools and different businesses and is now collaborating with the Idaho Falls Zoo and making a sculpture using watercolor paper and watercolor pulp.
She has also dabbled in other mediums of art including clothing and home fixtures.
Mahelona said she would love to see people try different creative endeavors that may scare them because they may have a talent or passion, they are able to grow in and come to love, like she did.
“Let’s just have fun,” Mahelona said. “And as long as you have that joy, like I said like whatever skills you need, they’re just going to fall into place.”
To listen to the full interview with Twyla Mahelona, you can visit BYU-Idaho Radio's Podcast on Spotify or Soundcloud.