We recently connected with Autumn Ellis and have shared our conversation below.
Autumn, appreciate you joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I grew up before social media was a thing; so despite being artistically talented, I was never aware that it was something I could turn into a career. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized not only could I make it a career, but I could make it a personal business venture; without the help of a traditional gallery or art agent. I came across artist on Instagram who were not only selling canvases, but making their own prints and other products. From that point on, I decided to pursue art as an artrepreneur. I studied both the skill of painting as well as the business of content creation. Having earned a degree in professional writing and editing, I already has skills in branding, website creation, marketing, and content creation. I began to see art as a way to move out of freelance work and into working solely for myself, while also doing what I’ve always had a passion for.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
As a Black woman, I strive to create a space of representation and self-reflection through all my work. Going to galleries, sitting in high school art class, and walking through museums, I rarely ever saw myself reflected in the works on walls or being taught. On those occasions when I did see people who looked like me, I couldn’t relate to the ways in which they were depicted. When I began reacquainting myself with my artistic side, I did so with the intent of drawing inspiration from the culture I lived in. I’m proud to create images of beautiful Black people, each of which tells its own unique story. It is the highest honor to know that they decorate the homes of people who genuinely appreciate them. My goal in doing that is to offer not only original canvases, but an assortment of affordable, high-quality art prints that serve as an alternative to the mass produced home decor in retail stores.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to contribute to society and my culture. There’s always the choice between keeping your work private or sharing it with the world. While choosing the latter can come with harsh and unwanted criticism, the reward of having someone fall in love with something you created far outweighs the negatives.For me, it is such a humbling experience to have someone truly relate to my work and chose to add it to their home. A person’s home is their sanctuary, so knowing that they value my work enough to bring it into their personal space is truly the most rewarding honor I can receive. I also find it in the ability to create something that did not exist until I made it exist–that is always mind-blowing to me.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
When I was a kid, anytime someone found out I could draw it inevitable ignited the “oh draw me” response. Of course being a kid I usually obliged, and often I’d notice that once the spectacle had worn off my drawing would inevitably end up shove in the back of a desk or locker. I was always the go to resident artist at home too whenever one of my siblings had an art project. At some point I realized that never in these interactions was there any reciprocity, no one helped me with my homework or offered me anything in return for efforts. I began to associate my artistic abilities with being used and eventually I stopped drawing altogether. It took a long time for me to learn that there was in fact value in my talent and that I didn’t have to give it away for nothing in return.
Contact Info:
- Website: autumnjoiellis.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/autumn.joi
- Facebook: facebook.com/autumnjoiartist
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/autumnjoiellis/
- Twitter: twitter.com/autumn_joi