Eisley: Darling Jane, Cold Emails, and Big Ambitions

Your New Favorite Muse: Eisley & Darling Jane

INTERVIEW BY: EMILY ARAUZA

NOVEMBER 20th, 2025

They say creativity is contagious. But what happens when someone takes that spark and turns it into a whole little universe? Enter Eisley: photographer, writer, stylist, and self-proclaimed obsessive fashion freak. She’s the mastermind behind Darling Jane, a digital playground where emerging artists, writers, and dreamers collide. From selling vintage shoes to curating “darlings” in the art world, Eisley has spent her twenties figuring out how to make passion meet purpose, all while building a community that feels like a hug for your imagination.

So here’s the question: Can one person really create a space where talent, curiosity, and collaboration coexist? Eisley seems to think so. And after talking to her, you just might start thinking about it too.

Eisley: “I’m Eisley and am an advertising student at UT Austin, and I founded Darling Jane over the summer. I’m primarily a photographer but also an amateur writer/stylist and obsessive fashion freak.”

Emily Arauza: “That’s perfect. What are you studying at UT right now? And how did Darling Jane first happen for you? Like, what was the moment it clicked? Also, just so I have it right for the piece, how old are you?”

E: “I’m studying advertising at UT right now, but my primary focus is within art, media, and fashion. So most of the content I’m working on and creating is for editorial. I originally was working on a project for about three years called Bluekeys Magazine (RIP) and felt really fulfilled showcasing local talent, setting up shows and events, and evolving myself in the artistic community. Once Bluekeys died, I felt really empty and wanted to find something that was totally me and my aesthetic, but still highlighted others’ work… so naturally I said, let’s sell vintage shoes… and, of course, that was not fulfilling at all, so I made the switch over the summer to involve writing and showcasing “darlings,” our artists. I’m 20 but am a Sagittarius, so I’ll be 21 very soon.”

EA: “Got you. That actually makes a lot of sense. You’ve always been orbiting art, and you just needed the right container for it. Bluekeys clearly shaped you. When Darling Jane became the new space, what felt different? What made you realize this was the thing that finally reflected you?”

E: “Bluekeys had a big team and a lot of incredible people behind it, but it was more in a magazine/editorial format. I really wanted to step away from the physical print world and focus more on the community elements. The website is set up so you can easily connect with the artist that you are looking for and create a network of people from all over the world. When I first launched the site, I had a ton of people reaching out and wanting to involve themselves, which showed me that this was needed in our community, and that’s when I felt like this was truly me. I also started posting internship/job opportunities/residency call-outs weekly because helping new artists thrive is the only way to make sure our local and global art communities flourish.”

EA: “That’s impressive. What originally sparked Bluekeys for you? I want to understand what the first vision was and what you were trying to build at the beginning.”

E: “Bluekeys was originally started by Miles Ellisor in our early high school days, and I joined the team at the end of sophomore year of high school. Their vision was to uplift smaller artists in the Austin area and promote local bands during our live events! Joining the team and co-running Austin operations totally changed my life and my mission with Darling Jane. It gave me access to a creative world that is really difficult to break into, and because I was given access to the art and media community at an early age, I feel that it’s deeply important to turn around and give that same access to others.”

EA: “Since Bluekeys shaped your perspective so much, how did your experience there influence the way you run Darling Jane now? What lessons or approaches did you carry over? Now, given this, what do you see Darling Jane being in the future? What do you want out of this long term?”

E: “I learned a lot of organizational and managerial skills while working on Bluekeys, but more importantly, I learned the art of a cold email. I would not be where I am today without cold emailing basically everyone I’ve either interviewed, worked for, or collaborated with. It taught me to put myself out there without fear of judgment, and I think that’s something that will always be useful and especially important with Darling Jane. I am so deeply thrilled for the future of DJ; Avery Wilson and Addie Jensen help me run the community and are vital in its success so far! I am just so excited to see our Darlings collaborate with each other and really grow this community to where we can have meet-ups in certain cities and people can rely on one another and ask questions to other established artists. It’s really important to show how many talented artists and writers are out there and who deserve to be given a spotlight and voice in a very “who do you know” industry. We do hope to release more merch, focus on collaborations, and maybe a few live events in the new year…”

EA: “It’s clear you’re really building something that supports artists and creates community, which I absolutely adore and appreciate. How do you decide which projects or collaborations to focus on next? And what’s the ultimate vision you want Darling Jane to reach in the coming years?”

E: “That’s a great question that I don’t have a full answer for. It usually comes to me in the moment of what feels right for Darling Jane. I truly believe that things happen for a reason and opportunities present themselves, so it’s important to always be open to everything and everyone. I’m a Texas girl, so I will always try to work with other Texan creators, but it’s been amazing to see international artists join this community as well. I want Darling Jane to become cyclical with new work, people, and opportunities, and a central hub for new artists to build out their dreams. I’d love to see more age diversity with our Darlings and create more mentorship opportunities as we evolve!”

EA: “That vision of creating a cyclical, supportive community is something I love. With that in mind, who do you draw inspiration from in art, fashion, or media? Are there any people or creators that shape how you approach Darling Jane?”

E: “I have so many references. I am constantly inspired and influenced. Over the summer, I interned for CR Fashion Book, and Carine Roitfeld, who founded the publication, is a huge artistic influence in my life. I also love the stylist Dara and am heavily inspired by Interview Magazine. In the writing world, Joan Didion and Richard Linklater are my biggest influences. But people like David Bowie, Kate Moss, Sofia Coppola, Andy Warhol, Anthony Bourdain, Patti Smith, and a lot more have influenced my aesthetics and artistic style. I love rockstars in their individual fields. I have hundreds of saved posts on Instagram of accounts that I look at for inspiration and ideas; I love being constantly surrounded by talent.”

EA: “I can totally see that. I love Joan Didion too, and I’ve always loved Kate Moss and Sofia Coppola. Has it always been like this for you? Did you grow up loving art and fashion, or was there a moment that really pulled you in and made it feel deeper?”

E: “My parents 100% influenced me creatively. My mom was in the modeling industry and my dad ran clubs in the ’80s and ’90s. Hearing stories about the art scene in the ’80s inspired my love for art, fashion, and media. I was always really interested in movies, music, and fashion, and feel as though that interest gets stronger every day.”

EA: “I absolutely love that. It makes sense why creativity is such a big part of your life. Was there a specific moment or project growing up where you realized you wanted to turn that love for art, fashion, and media into something you could actually build and share with others?”

E: “My parents’ really good friend Kenneth brought me to The Menil, a museum in Houston. We had a full art day where we later went to an art supply store. It felt like the first time that art was accessible and exciting. I got to see these incredible pieces and then got the opportunity to do it myself. It taught me that the art world was more accessible than I had imagined from my perceptions based off of movies and exclusive museums.”

EA: “That sounds like such a pivoting moment. I can see how that would make art feel exciting and accessible. Along your journey with Darling Jane and everything you’ve been building, has anyone given you a piece of advice that really stuck with you or shaped the way you approach things?”

E: “‘Embarrassment is a social construct built to limit our full potential, and what lies on the other side is freedom.’”

EA: “I love that perspective—thinking of embarrassment as a boundary you can push past. Who shared that with you, and how has it shaped the way you take risks or approach your work?”

E: “An old friend said it to me, and it put a lot into perspective personally and professionally. I feel like it gave me permission to do and say things I’d be self-conscious of before, but being an artist is about putting yourself out there in the face of uncertainty and scrutiny, and it’s good to put things into perspective in that way.”

EA: “I love your ideologies and the way you think and present your ideas. It’s really inspiring, and I see so much of myself in how you approach things. For a final question, what’s one piece of advice you’d want to share with others, whether it’s about art, creativity, or just life in general?”

E: “Awe, wow, thank you so much! I have so much I’d like to say, but to be straight to the point: ‘Never be afraid to ask questions, and always be curious.’ I think it applies to art but also life. I think as people, and especially women, we stop ourselves because we don’t know how to do certain things or feel dumb for not knowing. Constantly learning, growing, and exposing ourselves to newness is so deeply important to success.”