We caught up with the brilliant and insightful MJ King a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

MJ, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I do wish I had started my creative career earlier, but I am thankful for the journey. I have always been working as a freelance and commission based artist. Even when I was in high school I was creating custom paintings for friends and family members. However I had always treated it like a side gig, as opposed to ‘the job’ whether I meant to or not. When I had graduated with my Masters in Fine Art ’16, I had full intentions of being an artist as ‘the job’ and working at a bar to supplement it. It was Covid that caused me to reassess my life and priorities. Although I hate that it took going through Covid for me to realize that art was still a side gig, I am extremely thankful for the awakening.

Since 2020, I have dedicated and focused my energy into learning how to operate my business, how to network and promote it, establish connections and create growth within MJ King Art. Today I am proud to say that MJ King Art is The Job and I am officially an LLC. I am still learning how to navigate this path, but I am excited and inspired to continue this journey of being a freelance and commission based artist with each passing day.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is MJ King and I am the owner and artist behind MJ King Art LLC out of Greenville, South Carolina. I originally became interested in art through the inspiration of Disney movies and books. In fact, I first started drawing and painting by recreating Disney characters in my sketchbooks. As I got older, I furthered my interest in art by taking advance courses. In 2013, I graduated from Bowling Green State University with my Bachelors in Fine Arts with a focus in painting. During my time at BGSU, I was able to study abroad at Studio Arts College International (SACI) in Florence, Italy. This program lasted through the summer of 2012 and I was able to learn the process of fresco painting, along with art history. After earning my BFA at BGSU, I then went on to study for my Masters at Clemson University. This led to earning my Masters in Fine Arts with a focus in painting in 2016.

Amongst my education programs, I also attended a few artist residencies where I was set up in a studio space and was able to focus on my growth as an artist. Some of these residencies include The League Residency at Vytacil, Sparkill, New York (2014) and Azule Residency, Hot Springs, North Carolina (2015).

In 2020, I decided to go into business for myself as a freelance and commission based artist. I offer customized paintings and drawings including portraits, house portraits, pet portraits, landscapes, murals and more. Each piece is based off of my clients photos and memories. Whether it is a first home, a special place, a four legged friend, or a loved one, each is a piece of art uniquely created for and inspired by the client. Custom created artworks make for heartfelt and sentimental gifts and decor for you or another, bringing a sense of life and warmth to the walls.

As the painting or drawing is in process, my clients are receiving step by step updates where they are encouraged to provide their feedback and input on its development. They give final approval before the piece is finished, resulting in a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

I am most proud of not only the growth of my business in 3 years, but also the relationships I establish with my customers. I enjoy the conversations throughout a pieces development. Having them be a part of that process is important and their happiness with the artwork is my priority. My customer reviews are certainly something I am proud of and thankful for. You can read what people are saying at www.mjkingart.com.

If you are interested in learning more about ordering a custom piece of art, it is easy! Just visit www.mjkingart.com to submit your photo(s), choose if you want a painting or drawing, and the desired size. I generally have a 2-3 week turn around time from when the order is placed. You can find more information on my website under, ‘How It Works’ to learn more details.

Interested in adding some new & personalized art to your walls? I’d love to tell your story. Contact Me today!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I primarily use Instagram. In fact, when I make a post on Instagram I have it set up to automatically share to my business Facebook page. From there I share my business Facebook page’s post to my personal page on Facebook as well.

I find that I get more engagement on Instagram; more likes, more leads, and orders, in general. Facebook, I have found, to be useful for when I create a promotional post within local Facebook groups. Here I can usually generate more leads and exposure on this platform by just introducing myself, explaining my business, and providing examples of my portraits, pet portraits and house portraits offered.

To help gain followers, I try to post on social media 1 to 2 times a day, Monday through Friday. In my experience, I have found Saturday mornings are a good time to post in the Facebook groups. In the past I have participated in local giveaways where we encouraged people to follow the business accounts involved to be entered into the giveaway. This was a helpful experience not only in increasing followers and exposure levels, but also connected me with other local artists.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I TRULY love what I do. I get to paint, draw and create for a living! Watching an artwork go from a sketch, to a form, to entering in details and shading, never ceases to amaze me. The process within the layers of development excite and intrigue me. In addition to the process, I find it extremely rewarding when my clients receive their custom artwork. Art enables a person, place, or moment to be preserved in a world that is rapidly moving forward. It’s an honor to tell my clients story and capture the essence of their memories.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mjkingart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mjkingart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjkingart/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mjkingart

Image Credits
Headshot is courtesy of JaToya Lanisha Photography through the Village Launch Program.