We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mitchell Walters. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mitchell below.

Hi Mitchell, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I recently launched The Signature Collection by Mitchell Fine Art in collaboration with Covered Wallpaper, a highly curated, online wallpaper shop. Working closely with Elizabeth Ford and Ashley Allen has been a dream. We share a passion for beautiful wallpaper and interior design, and we wanted to create a line of wallcoverings where Fine Art meets Design. The collaboration includes five designs in my signature black and white color palette, and the modern wallpaper collections adds the perfect polished finish to any space. From modern line feminine figures to dancing botanicals, the entire collection is stunning!

Mitchell, 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?

I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and my family truly cultivated my love of creativity. I watched my grandmother gracefully transition from an opera singer to a watercolor artist when she lost her singing voice. I still have paintings I made as a child as I worked alongside my grandmother in her studio. My dad is an attorney but has incredible drawing skills, and I was always in awe of how his pictures came alive on paper. Lastly, my mom has an incredible sense of style and passed along a passion for fashion and design.

When I graduated from college, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. I landed a job at Calvin Klein Collection and was completely fascinated by the beauty of each garment. The structure, fabrics and style were unlike anything I had ever seen (or worn) and my days at Calvin Klein continue to inspire my art today.

Following my job in New York, I became the Director of Marketing at The Washington Design Center in Washington, DC. I worked closely with talented interior designers, architects and magazine editors, which only fueled my passion for design.

I always enjoyed drawing and painting, but I was too self-conscious to show anyone my work. I picked up a pencil every few years and sketched faces or gowns, but quickly stuffed my sketch books back into my closet. After I
welcomed my first three children, I found myself unwinding at night with a paintbrush and a bottle of ink. I slowly started showing my art to family and friends, and to my delight and surprise, Mitchell Fine Art bloomed into a business!

I am drawn to black and white and love creating paintings that show movement and evoke emotions. I am inspired by fashion, nature and my faith. Whether I am painting a modern line feminine figure or a detailed botanical, I enjoy using precise brushstrokes to create pieces of art that I hope leave a lasting impression.

I am so excited to announce my new collaboration with Covered Wallpaper. The Signature Collection by Mitchell Fine Art includes 5 gorgeous wall coverings in my signature black and white palette. For many years, I have had interior designers and collectors suggest that I start a wallpaper line, and with Covered Wallpaper, we have turned my original art into stunning coverings for your homes.

I worked closely with the wonderful team at Covered Wallpaper to create Black Orchid, a lovely grasscloth, and four beautiful wallpapers – Luxe Fern, Nude No. 26, Nude No. 7 and Olive Branch. Each wallpaper was created from an original painting and designed to enhance the beauty of your home.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey through the art world continues to have highs and lows, as with anything in life. I have been rejected and ignored by galleries and art shows, and was recently told that as an artist, I am “too ahead of my time.” I think the most important thing for me to remember is that I began creating because I love it. Painting brings me a sense of great joy and calm, and not everyone is going to like or even appreciate my work. Rejection makes me that much more grateful for the opportunities that do come my way, and it is always an honor when someone buys one of my pieces. My greatest hope is that my art will bring joy to a collector each and every time they see the painting.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

As a child and young adult, I did well in school. I worked hard and assumed I would graduate from college, attend graduate school and become a lawyer or a doctor. Those professions seemed like the safe, responsible path to pursue. I remember studying for the LSAT and talking to my dad, who told me he didn’t think I would be happy working as a lawyer. I was shocked but I listened. I had been itching to move to New York City, so I began applying for internships. I landed an unpaid internship at Calvin Klein Collection, and within a week had been offered a job. Being around extremely hardworking and creative, talented people lit a fire in me and my jobs in fashion and interior design allowed me to feel like myself. It has been quite a journey to becoming an artist, but I am so thankful for every bumpy step along the way!

I think listening to yourself and the people who love you is so important. Following a path of creativity has been so important to me. It’s not always easy or fun, but at the end of the day, creating art brings me great joy. I hope everyone can find something in their life that brings them joy, whether its working as a surgeon, a chef, teaching children, serving others or designing clothes!

Contact Info:      

• Website: fineartbymitchell.com
• Instagram: @Mitchellfineart