By Stina Aleah What McDonald’s Money Really Means There was a time when McDonald’s wasn’t casual. It wasn’t expected. And it wasn’t something you could just have . McDonald’s Money is not just about fast food, it’s about the moment a child realizes that something small can feel like everything. A few dollars held weight. It meant yes. It meant today is different . But this painting doesn’t live in childhood alone. It lives in what happens after . From “We Have Food at Home

There’s a sentence most of us have heard at least once growing up: “We have food at home.” At the time, it never felt like love. It felt like watching something you really wanted pass you by. But this painting isn’t about what that phrase sounded like then. It ’s about what it means now . A Childhood Memory So Many of Us Share We Have Food at Home is created from a very specific moment, one that somehow belongs to so many of us at the same time. Remember the car ride, and t

A Story About Care, Nostalgia, and the Childhood I Carried Some memories live quietly in the body. They aren’t always the big moments we expect to remember either. They’re smaller. Softer. Often ordinary. But when we grow older, we begin to understand the love that lived inside them. “Please Don’t Bump the Ends” is one of those memories. This oil painting is part of my series The Childhood I Carried , a body of work that explores the overlooked moments of childhood like the

Cleveland muralist and fine artist Stina Aleah shares a meaningful full-circle moment when a collector connected deeply with her artwork during a Graffiti HeArt fundraiser, highlighting the emotional power of art.

Stepping into 2026 feels like stepping into a new chapter of my creative journey. One where my voice gets clearer, my art gets bolder, and my purpose comes into full focus. 2026 isn’t just about creating new work; it’s about becoming a new version of myself as an artist, and a storyteller. 2026 is asking me to rise, expand, and own every part of who I am. ✨ I'm Becoming an Artist Who Creates Without Hesitation This year, my creativity has a new kind of courage behind it. My

I don’t think I realized how much of myself I had been holding together with grit and prayer until 2025 cracked me open in ways I didn’t see coming. This year asked me to face myself, my artistry, my motherhood, my purpose; without the mask, without the version of me that knew how to perform strength on command. And what I learned… whew. It reshaped the way I show up, not just as an artist, but as a woman, a mother, and a soul trying to live in alignment with what God has tru

Why Symbolism Matters in Art Every masterpiece begins with more than paint. it begins with intention . Whether it’s a circle representing unity or a deep crimson capturing passion, every artistic choice speaks a silent language. Understanding this language transforms your work from something viewers admire to something they feel deeply . It ’s this emotion that turns your art into connection; a visual conversation between your soul and theirs . Step 1: Start With Emotion Bef

A Journey of Art, Family, and Inspiration There’s something magical about having your child see you paint, they don’t just watch; they become a part of the process. When I first picked up a paintbrush, I had no idea that my little boy, Sol, would end up being one of my biggest inspirations. And so, this blog is a little love letter to that journey. I want to share how he’s shaped my work, how family moments have found their way into my murals and paintings, and how those quie

When I first learned about Zainab , a nurse from rural Sierra Leone, I was deeply moved. Her story represents everything that inspires my work as an artist; resilience, service, and the unspoken strength of women who carry communities on their shoulders. Through my recent collaboration with CARE.org and their global Who Cares? Campaign , I had the honor of creating a painting that celebrates Zainab’s story and the vital role care workers play around the world. This project r

As a Cleveland artist who thrives on public art murals, commissioned pieces, and personal collections, my creative process is a journey that varies with each project’s soul. In this post, I want to share how I approach different types of work, from community murals that tell a neighborhood’s story to personal commissions and my own introspective pieces. My Community Mural Process: Connecting with the Heart of Community When I dive into a public art mural, especially here in C