Today we’d like to introduce you to Justine Mangum.
Hi Justine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My passion for art started when I was a little girl and was further solidified when I was an art student at a performing arts high school. My parents made sure to surround me with Black creatives to show me a world in which I wanted to live and create in. I learned about talented Black artists, musicians, and television shows. It enriched my life and led me to focus on building my craft as an artist. I loved creating art through simple lines, textures, and bold colors. At the same time, I combined my love for fashion and started my journey in creating fashion illustrations!
Fast forward to 2020, I was unhappy with working my corporate job and wanted to bring creativity back into the forefront of my life. My then-boyfriend and now husband suggested for me to simply start drawing again. Needless to say, that’s exactly what I did and the rest was history. I created Winnie Weston in a time when I felt like my least creative self. I named my company Winnie Weston in honor of my best friend and beloved Grandpa Carl Weston Winfield, also lovingly known as “Winnie” who passed away in January 2020. He was the best of the best with the kindest of a kind hearts.
For me, Winnie Weston gives me the audacity to create a space that showcases the beauty and resilience of being Black, especially being a Black woman. The main mission for my art is to make people feel beautiful, seen, empowered, and most importantly, loved.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has definitely had its challenges along the way. When leaving my corporate job to become a full-time artist and business owner in itself has its own challenges because it’s hard leaving what you know is certain to go into uncertain territory. When being an artist entering into the business world, It’s a struggle trying to quickly learn the ins and outs of running a successful business such as sales taxes, marketing, etc. However, God has been able to carry me through the tough moments when growing my business. My faith and my family have been my saving grace.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My Black-owned illustration company, Winnie Weston, is known to using bold colors, fashionable patterns, and expressive characters to capture Black women from a place of power and style while encouraging people to use their voices to create change. I create fashion illustrations and own an online shop that sells art prints, apparel, tote bags, and coffee mugs.
In addition, I partner with brands such as Adobe, Complex Networks, Ulta Beauty, Henry Masks, LiveTinted, Popsugar x Sunchips, My Black Is Beautiful (Procter & Gamble), Zenni Optical, First Aid Beauty, and Dark & Lovely (L’Oreal) to create illustrations for campaigns.
How do you think about happiness?
My family and my art make me happy! I love my husband, my family and how much they inspire me. I am so grateful for their love. I love the moments where my family and I are together, laughing and having a good time.
My art makes me happy! Creating and bringing my ideas to life excite me! I love using bold colors and building characters that showcase the beauty of the Black community. I get lost in my art oftentimes because it’s my happy place. It makes the little girl in me happy to know that her love for art still makes her happy!
Pricing:
- Art Prints Price: $30 -$72
- Apparel Price: $30 -$38
- Coffee Mugs Price: $20 -$25
- Tote Bags: $27
Contact Info:
- Website: www.winnieweston.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winnie.weston/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winnie.westonllc
- Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@winnie.weston?_t=8XDkfcsQVqA&_r=1
Image Credits
Image Credit: Justine Mangum
