We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Elise Mesner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Elise thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their sales to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details.
Created an ad-less, photo-centric fine art, sustainable green magazine called Aquapricot. Print and digital issues are filled with my personal photography, gallery art and poetry. Partial proceeds from sales are donated to green and refugee movements. I chose these organizations to help the climate and local communities.
Elise, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
My name is Lellopepper (Elise Mesner), I’m a cross-media artist from Detroit and currently based in Los Angeles. I create art using sustainable materials in the realms of photography, sculpture, and fashion to bring awareness to our planet’s needs. I’ve been on the art journey my entire life, it is my way of living and being. From playing outside and making neighborhood potpourri sculptures as a kid — teaching painting classes — photographing vegan cheese for cheese makers, this artist’s life has brought me so much joy and I’m full of gratitude to be able to create for so many years professionally. I’m getting close to celebrating two decades working as a self-managed artist with a small team – I find that client’s like the attention to detail, and that I’m always part of the directing/creative process and discussion. I’ve created recipes, books, textile prints, product/fine art/gallery show photography and the list keeps growing and blooming. I enjoy expanding with technique and staying curious with discovery. I have a big melty heart for culture, fruits, florals, vintage and natural sunny light. I’m most proud of the sweetness that comes from creating for others, this ability to give and to be myself within everything I create.
We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.
Yes, I was living on my own since a young teen in Detroit and thought picking something “safe” for a career path would be the way to go. I worked full-time as a staff accountant/underwriter while going to college full-time for accounting/business — but always kept my art alive as a side hustle — gallery shows on the weekends, traveling to NY/LA/Chicago for gigs. I bought a camera simply to photograph my art pieces that were selling (pre-social media era) and once I bought my first SLR, I couldn’t put it down. I was photographing local bands, weddings, and really caught honey for still-life photography using fruits and unusual pairings. Somehow it all popped together and I found myself moving out to Los Angeles and working as a full-time artist. The global gallery shows, social media, connecting with other artists and art galleries around the world are what I think launched more awareness of my art. When I look back at it all, it’s silly that I was attempting to lead a life crunching numbers in accounting but I see how it’s a useful tool as a small business owner.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Putting my total heart into everything I do for people, connecting and communicating, and overall doing what I love for others and taking on what only feels right.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elisemesner.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lellopepper
Image Credits
Lellopepper – Elise Mesner Photography