We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mia Lake Marshall a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Mia Lake, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

As a child, my family and my community were very supportive of my interest in visual arts, In fact, there were musicians, visual artists, teachers and poets living all around me. One of my favorite neighbors would always be working on some giant “thing” that I later found out was called a sculpture. His backyard was right across from ours so I usually could see what he was up to. Mr. Goodwin would often invite me over to see the progress and talk about art. He and my father, who dabbled in photography, were both big influences on me. I don’t think I ever aspired to become anything other than an artist. I know that once I entered high school that aspiration only intensified. I grew up on a healthy dose of youth art in school, art class at the local art center and wherever my mom could find an art class. I was also fortunate to visit the Andrew Wyeth Collection in our neighboring city museum every year as a teen. I don’t think I ever aspired to become anything other than an artist. I know that once I entered high school that aspiration only intensified. I later found that i enjoyed teaching others about art so that’s how I ended up doing a brief stint in art education.

Mia Lake, 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 Mia Lake Marshall of Mia MarshallArts and I am a professional painter and a proud Southern artist. As an artist, I am interested in paintings that capture the spirt of the every day lives of the people I recall from my memories, from my actual life and from history. My work is not limited by just figurative painting, as i will often venture into abstract, mixed media or collage if I feel the subject matter dictates the need. I grew up in a household with a family and community that were fully supportive of my interest in visual arts. My mother was a teacher and my father was an attorney who loved photography. they both loved and supported the arts. I was always confident that I could become an artist because I was exposed to the arts and I actually knew working artists, and art educators. As an adult, I married, raised a family and after a long process, finished my degree and started teaching high school art. I suffered stroke that forced me into an early retirement from teaching. Although that happened, I am blessed that I still have the ability to paint. Through it all, I have maintained a focus on painting personally, volunteering with arts organizations and museums, teaching art and painting professionally. Over the past twenty years, I started a mobile paint party business, a private art lesson business as well as professional art commissions and exhibitions.
When I think about the the thing that sets me apart as an artist, it’s that I focus on all things Southern–down to even the most ordinary things… When I first went away to college as a teen, I wanted to hide that I was from South Carolina. Now, it’s one of the things I’m most proud of. I want to show it in my art. I want little girls and boys to really look at my art and see themselves represented and be proud. In other instances, I want them to question the status quo. In every case, I want to change the lens and shift the point of view to a Southern aesthetic.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Forget all that crap about Low art and High art. You don’t need a major gallery to sell your art. You don’t need to only cater to just high end clients. you don’t need to just cater to low end clients. Just create.

I remember in art school and in college, my professors preached about the virtues of getting signed with major art galleries in big cities. For context, I was at Savannah College of Art and Design in the late 80’s. My art professors were still praising other students for getting signed with a major galleries in New Orleans when I attended Southeastern Louisiana University in the early 2000’s. The internet was not as big a marketplace back then. (I hope its better now because no one really focused on next steps for professional artists.) Now the internet has made everyone global. I am global. I am accessible through the internet. Galleries and Museums still matter, but in the meantime, let’s create, spread some joy, sell some art.

In the 90’s when I met the amazing artist, Elizabeth Catlett, and I remember reading about her being a artist of the Black Arts Movement and the Mexican Muralist Movement, a political activist, painting with Romare Bearden, Samella Lewis, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, One of her core principles: was that art must be as physically accessible and as publicly available as possible to everyday people. Even though some of her sculpture commanded top prices, she was committed to providing prints that were more accessible. So let that be a lesson. Make art accessible.

I once thought I would “ruin” my serious brand by selling an image of a painting on a mug. Doesn’t the Museum of Modern Art do that? For a while, I listened to that rule and now I know better. I’ve seen an increase in sales and interest in my website.
So to recap, artists just need to create. Unlearn that silly rule. Sell that original. Sell that print. Sell your merchandise. Make your art accessible.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing that non-creatives may struggle to understand about this creative journey is the amount of time and effort it takes to bring an idea to life. Creativity is not just a sudden burst of inspiration; it often requires a lot of experimentation, trial and error, and refining of ideas. Non creatives may not get that. They may underestimate the time, energy, and dedication needed to turn an idea into a tangible creation.

Additionally, non creatives may not understand the emotional investment that comes with being a creative. That’s why when Erkyah Badu opens her song up with the warning, “Now keep in mind I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my sh*t,” I can relate. Our work is often a form of self expression, so criticism or rejection can be deeply personal. It’s important for non creatives to recognize and appreciate the unique challenges and vulnerabilities that come with pursuing a creative path.
Another aspect is the constant need to feel inspired, and the need to tap into your imagination. That does not strike me as a daily task for a non creative person. Furthermore, non creatives may not fully understand how much of a risk you take when you reveal your work to the public. Every idea will be not be a success. You willingly put yourself in situations where failure is possible. However, creatives may view the negative outcome as an opportunity for growth and innovation.

Lastly, I wonder if non creatives understand the deep fulfillment of creating something meaningful ? I wonder if they know the feeling of seeing the art through another person’s eyes and watching the meaning change? It’s a beautiful thing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mmarshallarts.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/mia.marshallarts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/miasartstore