Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Mitchell.
Melissa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I like to say Art found me. I call my purpose a “beautiful accident”. I tell the story of how I was bored at home during the snowstorm of 2014, searching for something to do with my time (since I was frozen into my house). In my quiet time, I heard God say clearly, PAINT. I laughed initially, but I started to doodle on scrap wood, then paper, then eventually canvas. I knew then that I was on to something. I began to share my “Snow story” on social media and people started asking to buy them. Within months, I was selling art all over the country. I began painting on with acrylic paint on paper and wood, then began to use traditional canvas. I branched into painting cloth, leather, shoes, bags, jackets and other wearable art in 2016.
To me, Art became my freedom, far beyond just purpose. It’s a place where I am free to roam, create, and just be. There are no restraints, there is no judgement, there are no boundaries— art is LOVE. I choose art, because God chose me. Out of all the people on this planet, He gave these patterns and color combinations to me. No matter how similar other works may be to mine, they can never compare, because they didn’t come from me.
Another aspect of my “purposeful painting”, has a lot to do with how I have dealt with grieving loss and disappointment. I speak openly about my father’s death in 2010 and just needing life to make sense after that. My father had a larger than life persona and would always urge my sisters and I to live BIG lives. When he passed, I chose to honor him by carving my own path and making sure earth remembered my name when I left. So when God gave me art in 2014, I never looked back.
Since 2014, art has single handedly changed my entire life. I have traveled the world, met my idols, been able to help others, bought a new house, became debt free in a few areas, and have been able to share my stories with so many others. I am so glad I listened to that small still voice that told me to “PAINT”. Art truly gave my life a new meaning.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I don’t think I can pinpoint ONE struggle on my journey, because it has been pretty smooth for the most part. My greatest challenge though has been maximizing my TIME. I am still balancing a 9-5, so I have be mindful of how lost I get in my pieces. One night I was up painting until almost 5 am and had to start getting ready for work a little after 6am. Some days I want to create for hours on end, but I have to be aware of my schedule and timing of it all. When you are building, you have to plan your days accordingly. I only “busy” myself with things that will add to my momentum. As a business owner, you’re best weapon should be discernment. You will know what deserves your time, and what you should pass on.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Abeille Creations story. Tell us more about the business.
I like to call myself an Abstract Creator. I take bold colors, and mix them with sharp lines to create one of a kind pieces. I am a painter, who loves to paint with great passion and expression. I gave birth to the company ABEILLE CREATIONS, out of a need to put all my creativity under one roof. The name Abeille means “Honey Bee” in French and Melissa means “Honey Bee” in Greek in Greek. I wanted to have a name that captured the essence of who I was and my work ethic. Abeille Creations was born in that very moment!
I think what sets me apart is that, my work is highly expressive and emotional. Because art served as a conduit for my freedom and happiness, I always leave a piece of myself into anything I create. My pieces evoke great emotion and compels the viewing to want to know more.
I am most inspired from music, memories, interactions with others, history, love, happiness, you name it. I am most inspired by colors. I love to see a blank canvas transform into something magical.
When I became an artist, I knew that it wouldn’t stop with paint. I am a quintessential creative, with an obsession with expression. Eventually, I decided to combine art and fashion. I have always been one to think outside of the box and be different in terms of my fashion choices, so it was a natural transition to combine my art with what I wore. When I first began painting, I kept saying “man this would be dope as fabric.” Eventually, I decided head wraps would be my first project, and then I began to commit to creating wearable art in every capacity.
One of the highlights of my career was logging on to VOGUE Magazine and seeing Lupita Nyong’o wearing my product. She loved my artistic head wraps so much that she traveled with them. It was SUCH an amazing moment. And second to that moment was opening Essence Magazine to see my art being featured from The My City 4 Ways. I was shown a few times on page 65, December 2017 issue. It was perfect way to end the year.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck. I believe in being prepared for what you’ve prayed for. I am a huge proponent of the Law of Attraction. 98% of the things I’ve been able to manifest, first began with a thought. I tell people all of the time that “thoughts become things”. If you want great things to happen, you must always think higher thoughts. So when people ask me how does it feel to see all of my dreams come true, I tell them, “I saw this coming years ago”. I know the power of prayer, focus, and a connection with a higher being. Once you master self, there is nothing you cannot manifest.
So to me, LUCK is just a way to label answered prayers. We may not know HOW things will happen, we just know that the universe if full of possibilities that it WILL happen.
I want people to know that anything is possible if you have the guts to go after it. You can’t expect God to do the miraculous with your life if you’re unwilling to chase after your dreams daily. I am a living witness that “little is much in the Master’s hand”. You will never know how far you can go, until you start.
Pricing:
- Headwraps range from $44-$55
- Custom Artwork ranges from $200
Contact Info:
- Website: www.melissaAmitchell.com
- Email: melissa@MelissaAMitchell.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/abeillecreations
Image Credit:
Main Image by Andrew Patterson
Others: Shekeidra Booker, Monique Mitchell
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
