Today we’d like to introduce you to Juleah Everglade
Hi Juleah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I graduated from the University of North Georgia in December 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Art Marketing, a unique combination of art and business. To be honest, 2021 wasn’t an easy year to graduate—post-COVID and all that uncertainty.
I’ve been teaching art since 2016, starting at just 17 while in high school and saving up for a car. I worked at local paint studios, but by my last year of college, many of them had closed their doors. By the time I graduated, I had transitioned into being fully self-employed, relying on my own art commissions, jewelry, and private paint classes to make ends meet. As I applied to grad programs, residencies, and jobs, nothing quite clicked—after all, 2021 was not exactly the best time to be entering the job market, with many people losing jobs instead of finding new ones.
After a year of exploring odd jobs and navigating the uncertainty of post-graduation life, I found inspiration for my small business in a photography project I created in college called Southern Misfits. The name and mission of my business stem from the concept of challenging what it traditionally means to be a Southerner. It represents the opposite of being a “misfit”—someone who doesn’t quite fit the stereotypical mold or traditional values of the South.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The journey has certainly not been smooth—what good things ever are? Teaching came naturally to me, but I definitely felt under-qualified when I first started at 17. The instructors I worked with at the time definitely noticed that, and I had to really work my way up from the bottom. It felt like an active fight the whole time of me trying to prove myself and simply become better. In the beginning, I was put down a lot and my abilities were doubted , but that only fueled my determination to grow.
Now, I’m confident in the experience and skills I offer. I truly believe I can solve any problem a student might face. Over the years, I’ve simultaneously built my personal art career, which has steadily grown and helped me become not only a proficient instructor to students of all ages and backgrounds, but also a well-rounded artist and a seasoned businesswoman.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Southern Misfit Studio, also known as “The Mobile Art Studio of the South,” specializes in building community through creative events by bringing the art-making experience directly to you. We don’t have a fixed location—we’re a pop-up studio that can set up anywhere! While we primarily serve the Atlanta and Metro Atlanta areas, we’ve also had the opportunity of hosting events out of state, which is always a fun adventure that we would love to do more of!
We’re best known for our Paint Your Pet classes, where you send us a photo of your pet, and we pre-sketch it for you to paint with our expert guidance during the class. Another favorite is our Craft-ernoon events, where we explore various creative mediums and trendy crafts, including clay, beading, jewelry-making, glass painting, knitting, collage, fabrics, and more.
What truly sets us apart is the unique, curated content of each event—distinctly different from the typical Paint and Sip experience you may associate with the early 2010s. Our events bring something fresh and creative to the 2-hour paint class scene, and with nearly 10 years of experience teaching these types of classes, I’m able to confidently host a wide range of events, ensuring that every participant leaves with more art knowledge and a greater sense of creativity than when they arrived.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can easily fill out a booking form online, message us on instagram, or email us!
Simply follow this link for the booking form: https://southernmisfitstudios.com/booking, or sign up for one of our public classes under the “CLASSES” tab. We offer new public classes each month to ensure greater accessibility for those who may not be able to book us for a private event.
Pricing:
- Canvas Events $35 per person
- Paint Your Pet Events $45 per person
- Paint A Portrait $55 per person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://southernmisfitstudios.com/
- Instagram: @southernmisfitstudios
Image Credits
Madie Ice Photography
Chil & Co.
