We caught up with the brilliant and insightful M’Lynn Suwinski a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
M’Lynn , appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
At age seventeen, I was given the opportunity to create a commission for a preview of the movie “Solo” at the Sandy Megaplex in Sandy, Utah. Of course, I was over the top excited. My long time friend, Camille Grimshaw recommended me to the organizer. I was in line at Petsmart when she called me to ask if I might be interested. Of course, I agreed; nervous and unsure of what to expect. I had only ever paid to chalk, never been paid to do so. I showed up, after completing another chalk piece that weekend in Bountiful Utah, to complete my first ever chalk commission! I was excited, nervous, and not sure who to find to give me information on my project. Finally, I locate the individual I have been conversing with via email. I introduce myself and he instantly replies “are you kidding me? How old are you?” Since creating in a professional manner, I have encountered many issues concerning my age. It’s as if you must be a certain age to be professional. Some of us simply got an early start. I’ve been creating various forms of art for my entire life, chalking competitively for nearly a decade, and professionally creating for five years. All the while, pouring my entire existence into it all.
Although minority offended, the determination to show this man my perfectly professional and capable skills fueled my day. This same feeling fuels me to this day. I enjoy showing up and kicking absolute ass, doing what I do best, surprising those who fail to take me seriously.
I finished the piece within five hours (the quickest piece I had done to date), proud, blue chalk everywhere, and feeling amazing. Passerby’s attending the movie preview absolutely loved it. I was still elated to receive payment to do what I love to do more than anything in the world! How could life get any better than this? I was in a whole new league.
I made $75 dollars. The seemingly smallest opportunities can be the jumping off point for everything. This taught me to take every possible opportunity thrown my way and make the absolute most of it.
Now, I am 21. I travel the world, competing in chalk festivals and creating custom commissions. I am well on my way for a professional, financially stable, full time passion as my career. For some time, I avoided sharing my age. I now realize it’s nothing to hide, rather to view as a great accomplishment to be where I am now and a look into a brighter future.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hello, my name is M’Lynn Suwinski! I’ve created art in many forms for my entire life, getting into large scale chalk art nearly a decade ago. I had attended a festival (Utah Foster Care Chalk Art Festival) in the Gateway mall in downtown Salt Lake City for many years. I was enamored, and I mean absolutely enamored with the beautiful works of art on the pavement. My silver digital camera clicking every step, trying to document each piece in it’s magnificent beauty. I would run home and create a piece in my backyard with my box of ever so precious Crayola chalk. Soon, I was able to compete in this same event myself. I had no idea how far this would take me or nearly how much I would love it.
I knew by the end of the festival that I was in love with this medium. I could not wait for next year. Gradually, I started to attend more festivals, all the while growing this deep passion for chalk. I loved getting lost in the process, I loved that everything made sense. There was little thought, simply action. I was in flow, blissful and full of joy. The normal irritations of life didn’t bother me, I barely noticed the heat, the bloody and raw fingertips, or the aches from sitting on the ground for days.
As I entered my adult years, I began applying for out of state festivals. I chalked in Marietta, Georgia at Chalktoberfest for my first out of state experience. It was incredible, the event paid for travel and board expenses, provided individualized bags of notes, chalk, the works! We were given two t shirts, one to wear each day to announce our standing as artists in the event. This was the first event I had been a part of where chalk artists were the main focus. I had been all too familiar with being the afterthought of an event.
Within a year, my experience took off- each event I caught myself appreciating how grateful I was, wondering how I managed to wind up where I was at, and how no experience could top it. I continued to surprise myself, taking more opportunities and getting involved in events I couldn’t even think of in former years. As a teenager, I thought getting a paid gig of 75 dollars might as well be the moon, there was no way it could get better than that. I began navigating life as a full-time college student, juggling various jobs, all the while pursuing art. Life quickly turned into school from sun up to sundown for three days, rushing to the airport, to doing homework in the airport at 4 am, set to chalk in six hours. I thrived on the instability and was fueled by my desire to pursue art full time.
Within the year of Chalktoberfest, my experiences quickly escalated into two festivals in Florida, one in Georgia, one in Arizona, seven in Utah, all with the final of an international festival in Germany. One second I was nervously reading the acceptance email from Chalktoberfest, before I knew it, I was walking the streets of Wilhelmshaven, Germany with the most skilled and well known chalk artists in the world.
I am absolutely amazed at where I am at, each year bringing more heights I had no idea were possible. I’m incredibly grateful to have my acting passion as my career. For a long time, I was told art is an unrealistic, an unsustainable career. I’ve learned if you put effort and consistency into something, it has no other option but to grow. Of course, there are challenging times. There are times I wonder if I should be going the traditional route of applying my hard earned four year degree into some practical job, seemingly like the rest of the world. Sometimes I feel absolutely crazy for pursuing this path. I’m learning there are doubts and challenges no matter what road we take, I would rather tackle those within the realm of my upmost passion. Life is what you make of it, and I’m in the business of making it a really good one.
Currently, I work primarily in Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah, although I do travel a bit of everywhere (commonly occurring states including Utah, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and always open to more!). I am open to custom commissions year round in chalk and paint murals as well as nearly any medium in more traditionally sized pieces of art. I want nothing more than to live my life pursuing my passion and bringing art to the world. I am a very personable individual and pride myself in my ability to adapt to any situation. I love working with people around the world to create something beautiful out of nothing. Please reach out with any questions, concerns, inquiries or simply to say hey! I would love to get to know you!
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
For many of us, from a very early age, we are shown the traditional blueprint of life. Grow up, earn a college education, get married and have children. I expected my life to go as followed. I figured by the time I graduated college I would know my career path, have someone to settle down with, and finally feel like I wanted to have children. While this is a great and fulfilling path for many, it wasn’t mine. I do believe society as a whole is moving in the right directions when it comes to assisting the development of creatives. We’re growing outside of the norm, breaking out of the traditional career path. Indeed, it is becoming more acceptable to freelance, express yourself, and overall forge a pathway that fits best for you.
One of the best things society and its individuals can do is to fully support creatives in any way possible. This can mean:
-Paying a fair price for services/products. Clients are paying for years we developed our craft without payment. Many traditional jobs offer a few weeks of paid training prior to starting the job. In my experience, creating takes years, if not a lifetime of unpaid training to finally reach the level of earning a livable wage.
-Treat their craft as a legitimate job rather than discounting it for being outside of the societal norms. We are all on unique and wonderful pathways, each with their own challenges. The best thing society can do is celebrate each individual in their own uniqueness.
-Change the language around creatives. While working on a commission, t’s a common thing to hear “what’s your real job?”
It’s difficult for many to see artists/creatives as professional, successful individuals. As if coloring outside the lines dooms you to a life of juggling multiple jobs, eating ramen for every meal, and constantly being pinched for pennies.
-Spread the word. Just as you recommend a restaurant to a friend, recommend an artist. The beautiful thing about creation is that it takes place in unsuspecting and unwarranted locations. There is a need for creatives everywhere.
In my ideal world, we move to a cultural mindset where pursuing any path is not “normal.” Each individual is taken seriously and respected for what they choose to present as their purpose. Each member of society would feel valued and fulfilled.
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?
Creatives are swimming upstream. We are forging paths often separate from the norms of society and individuals close to us. The trajectory of life is uncertain, finances are unstable and unknown. Often we feel as if we are going through this journey alone. Constantly we are told this is unrealistic, reckless, and unwise. My best advice to a fellow creative would be to find other creatives you are inspired by and admire. We are such a wonderful community who can help others grow. Having someone to look up to, to ask questions of, and to overall be a presence in your journey is critical. My advice for a non-creative is to have patience and grace with those of us trying to forge our own paths and support in any way possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sunshinechalkart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunshinechalkart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunshinechalkart/
Image Credits
A. Mackenzie White