Today we’d like to introduce you to Charlecia Joy

Hi Charlecia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

My name is Charlecia Joy, my loved ones call me Joy! My story begins with my early love for art, encouraged by my mother, who supported my creative pursuits and introduced me to art opportunities in South Florida, where I grew up. Despite our Caribbean heritage’s deep appreciation for art, my mother’s support was particularly unique, especially in pursuing art as a career. I was privileged to attend Performing and Visual Arts schools, which helped refine my skills but struggled with career guidance upon graduating high school (and undergrad for that matter). Initially, I studied architecture because I thought it was creative enough to keep my interest and would rear financial stability. I quickly learned that it was not for me, I did not understand the concepts and struggled in the computer design classes. So I switched to set design, which was more imaginative and fulfilling, but silly me, I could not run away from AutoCAD! The summer before graduation, while completing my internship credits I had the chance to work with children and it made me realize my passion for facilitating art alongside creating it. This led me to become an art educator in many different facets, specifically in communities of color in major cities such as Philadelphia and New York City. While teaching art at a high school in the South Bronx I recognized a gap year after year. My students felt unrepresented in the art materials. This frustration and my desire to improve the art world inspired me to create Stapledon Arts.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

As an entrepreneur transitioning from a high school art teacher to founding an art supply company, I aimed to merge my passions of championing representation in the arts and make a tangible impact in art and art education. Although I loved teaching, I believed my impact could extend beyond a single school community. I wanted to inspire and nurture more artists that looked like me through my art supplies. Starting the company, I faced challenges due to my limited understanding of manufacturing and knowledge of developing paint. I made numerous cold calls to paint manufacturers, some of which focused on architectural paints, and was blessed to encounter a few generous individuals who helped point me in the right direction. I’ve learned to be bold, ask questions, and use available information to move forward. This took me deeper into my research, and the more I learned, it seemed the more requirements appeared, adding to the list of hoops to jump through. I often got discouraged and thought what I was building was out of reach. In legitimating and certifying our products, funding started becoming a significant hurdle. While I saved some money before leaving teaching, I was not prepared to face high costs in product development, freight, certifications, and intellectual property protection. Despite fears of running out of funds, being fatigued in meeting the expectations of the art supply industry, I did not give up. I put myself out there and participated in pitch competitions, applied and secured grants, and made risky yet strategic decisions.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I’m the founder of Stapledon Arts, an inclusive art supply company dedicated to championing representation and creativity. Our mission is to provide user-friendly art supplies and education that remove barriers, build confidence, and foster creative expression. We empower artists of all backgrounds and skill levels to authentically reflect the world through their unique perspectives. My journey began at age 4, sparking a lifelong passion for art and teaching. As a New York City public school art teacher in The Bronx, I found fulfillment in teaching a diverse group of students from various communities. However, I noticed a lack of paints that represented their diverse skin tones on the market. This gap inspired our founding product, Melanin Series—a set of 12 inclusive skin tone colors developed in collaboration with students and art educators. Our representation-first approach ensures creators see themselves in their materials, empowering them to express themselves freely. At Stapledon Arts, my team and I aim to educate and empower artists of all ages, from youth, to hobbyists, and professionals. Our products are designed to rekindle the joy of creative expression, offering easy-to-use kits that include everything needed to get started. In addition, with our paint kits we amplify artists’ work, celebrating their identities right on our packaging. Whether you’re an experienced artist or exploring creativity for the first time, Stapledon Arts provides the tools and resources to support your journey.

At Stapledon Arts, we’re all about removing barriers and igniting joy, creativity, and authentic expression, especially for people of color. When we established our pricing, we aimed to ensure it reflected the true value of our products while remaining accessible to our community. Our inclusive art supplies are designed for everyone to create, cherish, and make memories with. This is why we intentionally offer wholesale rates to schools and nonprofit organizations doing the work of providing art education and creative programming, especially in Black and Brown communities. This allows organizations to order in bulk for their arts programming, including in school, after school, and community workshops and arts activities. By providing wholesale rates, we strive to maintain accessibility to our art supplies and promote representation and creativity within communities of color, ensuring that the arts thrive. Nonprofit organizations and schools offering art programming can reach out to us through our website, https://www.stapledonarts.org/wholesale , for more information.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?

I was born in Miami, Florida, to two Caribbean parents. My mother is from Nassau, Bahamas, and my father is from Gonaïves, Haiti. For a short time during primary school, I lived in Nassau, Bahamas, where my mother’s family is from, in a neighborhood called Stapledon Gardens. I enjoyed living there with my grandmother, attending vacation bible school, camps, and indulging in drawing and making art. That’s really where it all started for me. From there, I continued creating art in school when I returned to the U.S. During the rest of my formative years I grew up in Hollywood, FL now known as West Park, FL surrounded by their rich and beautiful cultures. I was the only girl among three boys—my brother and two cousins—and we often played outside, rode bikes, and skated in our backyard. At times I also joined them playing video games, Mario Kart, Mario Tennis, and Mortal Kombat (where I’d mash all the buttons to beat them) were my favorite.

Yet sometimes, as the only girl, that got old so I’d draw in my sketchbooks. Art was my favorite pastime—playing with materials, exploring different colors, and enjoying the vibrancy of creating. I had fun making doodles or challenging myself to create observational drawings; this was how I entertained myself. I did this on my notebooks at school or at church, in the Sunday programs . I also loved music and dancing to Caribbean music at family events, birthday parties, and baby showers. In high school, I played soccer and ran track. In soccer, I played defense and was a team captain; I ran long distance track. My love for art fostered my imagination and observational skills while playing with my boy cousins and participating in organized sports helped me become a team player and a leader.

These experiences shaped me into an art educator and eventually a business owner. In terms of personality, I’ve always been a natural leader—outspoken and unafraid to ask questions that others might shy away from. However, growing up in my Caribbean household, this sometimes got me into trouble, but my inquiries were out of genuine curiosity and a desire to address societal issues or seek change. This curiosity and determination led me to start Stapledon Arts. The traits I developed in childhood—creating, questioning, seeking solutions, and standing up against injustices—are still with me today.

Pricing:

• Melanin Series – Acrylic Paints $25
• Melanin Series – Oil Pastels $15
• Ke Kontan – Paint Kits $20

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.stapledonarts.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stapledonarts/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stapledonartsupplies
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StapledonArts

Image Credits

Voencia Carswell and Jacarrea Garraway