We were lucky to catch up with Michelle Perkett recently and have shared our conversation below.

Michelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve always drawn and painted but when I finally decided to go back to school and finish my art degree in 2000, I learned what I wanted to do as an artist and found my style. I had such a clear direction of where I wanted my art business to go.

When I was in art school there was no social media yet so when I finally did get online with my art, that sped up the learning process for me on so many levels.

I was able to market to more people and marketing became fun since I always dreaded it before. I also discovered online art classes from professional artists who were doing what I wanted to do and what I learned about the business of art from them was invaluable.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I create colorful and whimsical inspirational art. I’ve always been an illustrator but I would call myself a mixed media artist now.

For years I worked in watercolor and ink but transitioned into digital media and was involved in the greeting card business and also licensed my black and white designs as digital and rubber stamps for almost 10 years.

I eventually opened my Etsy shop and and sold my stamps and original artwork.

In 2019 I started a line of inspirational floral art prints with hand lettered scripture verses and in 2021 I began painting what I call my Jesus Girls, colorful, whimsical girls with scripture verses that represent the love of God in all of us.

Most recently I’ve started working in my art journals and teaching classes on Skillshare and started a YouTube channel focusing on my Jesus Girls, art journaling techniques and the problems I overcome during each painting.

My classes and videos showcase my mixed media art, I love helping my students learn to grow creatively, to use whatever supplies they have to create something beautiful and have fun in the process.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I’ve had so many setbacks during the years of my business. I remember one in 2007. My rep was marketing some of my earlier work at a trade show and after it was over no orders came through my fax machine. I was devastated and didn’t paint for three months.

One day I happened to be at the library and found a children’s book by an illustrator that I loved and was so inspired I went home and began drawing and painting non-stop and had a new fresh line ready soon after.

As time went by I realized the rep company, as wonderful as they were, was not the right fit for my artwork and I began marketing on my own and have been ever since.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

What is most rewarding for me as an artist is when someone sends me an email to thank me and tell me how much they love my art.

I’ve had people write me letters, especially during Covid, telling me how much my art made them happy and uplifted them during the most difficult time in their lives. I can’t think of anything more wonderful than that.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.Instagram.com/michelle_perkett
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/@michelleperkettstudio/featured
• Other: Skillshare: https://www.skillshare.com/en/r/user/michelleperkett?gr_tch_ref=on