Today we’d like to introduce you to Robyn K Mizelle.
Robyn K, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Brief… I’ll do my best!!
I’m a versatile plant-based, yogi, swimming artist whom grew up in the country of Lake City, FL on a farm raising, or rather watching turkeys, chickens, cows, and pigs being raised. I watched a lot as a child. My childhood was the best though. Throughout my childhood, I began playing piano, drums, guitar (not very well, lol), basketball and tennis. After high school, I graduated from FAMU, Florida A&M University with one Bachelors in Journalism, specializing in Broadcast and one Bachelors in Psychology, General Psychology.
I continued working in Tallahassee for two years before moving to Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan. I lived in Japan for seven years, traveling, teaching English Grammar, Conversation, Training Teachers how to teach, and also making promo videos for local companies, doing live painting in various art shows outside Tokyo prefecture, and playing drums with my band, Solmaciti, around Tokyo and Tochigi prefectures.
Throughout my time in Japan, I experienced the March 2011 earthquake. At that time, I lived an hour away from Fukushima and the 5 Nuclear plants that exploded there. I’m thankful I survived.
I returned to The States in February of 2014 to be with my family again and pursue my passion for making the dream of my company a reality. From 2014-2017, I moved around Florida 11 times while working at various TV stations and schools before moving to metro ATL. For some of that time, I lived in my car and on the side of this old weird guy’s trailer in a Gainesville, FL trailer park.
Now, with my company, RkM Art, I provide graphic design, web design, videography, and photography services for my clients. I also hold a full-time position with the City of College Park as Visual Media Specialist/City Photographer. I’ve also been able to expand my musical abilities to include playing the congas, bongos, steel drum and cajòn.
My journey has been crazy and bumpy, but I’m thankful for the lessons and grateful for all the blessings coming my way. I feel magical.
Has it been a smooth road?
No. It has definitely not been a smooth road.
A few of the struggles include living in my car, constantly being denied for jobs because I’m “overqualified,” or getting work that only pays pennies on the dollar. And having family turn their backs on me.
My advice is simple: Love yourself. Be your own cheerleader. Don’t give up. Please, don’t give up. And be careful of the words you choose to speak to yourself. I ensure you, you do not want your own negativity to manifest within your own life over and over again. Break the cycle. Choose love.
I’ve had so many people use me, lie to me, make false claims of investment and help, that my soul has broken an innumerable amount of times. All unnecessary in my human eyes, but my spirit says otherwise. Because of my hard times, I’ve learned to be my own support system. I’ve often been alone. So, I had too. But since I’ve learned how to be my own support, I’ve gotten stronger. It hurts less with each external disappointment because I know how to bounce back quicker.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I specialize in Visual Arts. I am a photog, editor, graphic and web designer. My loves include playing instruments, mainly drums and piano, swimming multiple times a week and practicing daily yoga.
My clients come to me for all of the above-mentioned services. I’ve had clients ask for designs, photoshoots and web sites. But I believe I’m most known for photography. I’m most proud that I’m able to do all these things. I never thought I’d expand my skills into more than one media area. Even though I also worked for newspapers and magazines, I hadn’t really considered at the time that I’d be also designing in the future alongside my videography and editing skills.
I know it’s my skilled versatility amongst the visual & sound arts that sets me apart from others. I paint & sketch as well.
Often it feels as if the media, by and large, is only focused on the obstacles faced by women, but we feel it’s important to also look for the opportunities. In your view, are there opportunities that you see that women are particularly well-positioned for?
I feel that there are opportunities available for women to be well-positioned for, however, those opportunities seem far and few between. I’ve noticed I’ve had to create my own niche. I’ve been looking for a way higher-paying full-time position that I can be well-positioned for, right now, I don’t have the capital I need to expand my company as much as I dream, but I am looking. I feel the opportunities are there and upcoming, but they have been a bit hard to find. I believe creating one’s own niche, is the best way.
Pricing:
- 1 hour photoshoot $90 (no backdrop or light kits set up)
- 2-3 minute video promos or commercials $550 (including 2 hr shoot time)
- graphic design starts at $75 with 2 or more samples of a work provided to the customer (the client may keep the samples for no additional cost)
- web site construction $680
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rkm-art.com
- Email: rkm@rkm-art.com
- Instagram: RobynKei or RkM Art (There’s Japanese writing on my profile)
Image Credit:
The photo of me on the bongos was taken by Mark Angel, The photo of the Fire Chiefs includes 9 of the 10 black fire chiefs in the metro ATL area and the only woman fire chief in the area. It was taken at the MLK Memorial in Atlanta in front of Dr. King and Mrs. King’s gravestones.
The brochure samples are page samples I created for the City of College Park’s Recreation & Cultural Arts quarterly brochure.
The photos, aside from the one taken by Mark Angel are all my original photos.
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