Today we’d like to introduce you to Krystal Mayo.
Krystal, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
As a college student at Prairie View A&M University, my artistic journey began to unfold when I was asked by a greek store to design some paddles after I showed the owner a wooden piece I painted on previously for myself.A couple of my fraternity brothers taught me how to cut/sand wood and turn them into paddles. My success skyrocketed when my sorority asked me to create paddles to sell as a fundraiser at our district convention. My designs were such a big hit that people began to request customized paddles from different schools. Even after I graduated from PVAMU, my customized paddles were still in high demand. Being naturally creative, I expanded my repertoire to include original canvas work, jewelry, wine glasses and designing graduation caps. Graduation caps have become the most popular and most requested item to date. In the early stages of my graduation cap venture, members from both of my sororities asked me to design their graduation caps each semester. This act of support was integral to the exponential growth in my notoriety. Seeing my success and the growing client demand, my sister encouraged me to launch my business KMM Artwork. Now, before one year ends, I am already receiving orders for the next graduation year. I have even had clients across the pond in England as customers. I take my clients’ trust and confidence very seriously. I personally design and paint each cap. My goal has always been to create one-of-a-kind designs for each client, making no two graduation caps alike.
Great, 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?
My journey has been a journey like no other. I have experienced many failures but it is part of life, and most certainly part of my business. We do not often acknowledge it, but failure is also a fundamental element of our success. There are no guidelines/rules on how to become an artist so I have had to create them on my own. Learning how to value my work, learning how to respect other artist’s work, learning how to let my work speak for itself were some of my biggest struggles along the way. My advice for other women who are just getting started in their journey is to handle your self-talk and do not allow it to make you feel worthless especially in the aftermath of failure. In every mistake, there is a potential for growth, cheer loud even for the small victories.
What should we know about KMM Artwork? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
“A Houston artist has been making these stellar achievements memorable for graduates through her popular, viral artwork. Krystal Mayo, owner and founder of KMM Artwork, is taking the fad of grad cap decorating to a new level with portraits that are vibrant in color and picture-perfect.” -Erica Ponder (2019, May 15). Fox 26 News. Retrieved from http://www.fox26houston.com.
Having been featured in publications and media outlets like Teen Vogue, BuzzFeed, Essence and The Shade Room, I have taken my passion for art and have been blessed to share it with people all over the country.
For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
There is power in numbers. When I first started KMM Artwork, there was no female artist visible to me, specifically through social media. It was frustrating at times not being inspired but I continued to stay focused on creating my own lane. There are many female artists that inspire me today thanks to social media. Because of social media, I am able to stay connected with them. We inspire each other because of the social platforms we have available. Female empowerment is steadily rising. Though I know, we still have a long journey ahead of us; I believe that women are continuing to position themselves independently more and more to create their own opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Email: customerservice@kmmartwork.com
- Instagram: @kmmartwork
- Facebook: KMM Artwork
- Twitter: @kmmayo439
Image Credit:
@kmmartwork
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