We recently connected with mand have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Michelle thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

Building a new business from scratch isn’t easy… but I am on my third one. I AM a risk taker.

The first business, I got to use my creative skills when I started a sign and printing company in North Texas. A small business with nine employees. I sold it and left the state to start over from scratch… again.

I picked up everything and moved to Northern Wisconsin and started a painting business. Why painting?? I don’t really know, it just sounded like fun. I love getting dirty and working with my hands. It was all women doing big stuff, setting up our own scaffolding and hauling around 5 gallon buckets like no ones business… but I NEEDED more creative work. I sold it to start from scratch… again.

Pre-covid, I started a much more creative business doing furniture and art. When Covid started, so were many other stay at home Mom and Dads. With the quality of my work, I found it hard to compete with their pricing. I was inspired by painted mannequins I saw on social media. So I bought my first mannequin and sculpted and transformed her. Crazy right? It was so well received, I’ve kept doing them. Establishing myself as a mannequin artist has been very difficult but I stuck with it and have started receiving commissions over the past year. I have found a love.

Michelle, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

What makes someone an artist? Am I an artist???
This is something I have grappled with forever. Since I was a young girl, I have loved creating beautiful things but have Soooooo struggled with calling myself an “artist”.
I went to college for art. 4 years of drawing nudes, illustrating, designing pages that make you want to buy a product you don’t really need. Does being professionally trained make me an artist? No
The only criteria to be an artist is…ME! My own mind. My belief in myself. Over the past few years, I have had an epiphany of sorts to pursue my creative needs full time.

Mannequin art is not something you find anywhere. I love making life size, themed works. I push myself to learn new products and themes. I am particularly drawn to mermaids and water themed pieces.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is witnessing my work being positively received. When you’re a creative, you make yourself intensely vulnerable. I put 100 hours or more into a project. They are literally a part of me. I work really hard not to take it personally if you don’t like it, but that’s difficult. Somehow, I am always surprised at how much people DO like my work.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I am driven by LOVE. I mentioned that I had a teammate that did not at all support my creativity. I was guided into a black and white box, which I mistakenly allowed myself to go. Sadly, that ended. I went alone for a long time after that. I worked hard to find my creative spirit again, It would come and go like a light with a short.

Then, along came love, real love! A teammate, who although is not creative, supports and ENCOURAGES my creativity. THIS is what I needed. I’ve had to learn that it’s ok to create all day and that this is meaningful to me and others around me.

Contact Info:

• Website: Chellecreations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelle_creations_/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChelleCreations1/

Image Credits
Michelle Cyr (I do my own photography)