We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful MJ King. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with MJ below.
Hi MJ , thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
My work ethic was instilled in me at an early age. I grew up in a house of eight- with five brothers and my parents. In order to provide for our family, both of my parents committed themselves to their careers in the medical field. My father has dedicated over forty years of his life, including numerous sleepless nights and round-the-clock phone calls, to ensure his patients received the highest quality of care. Likewise, after several years of stay-at-home childcare, my mother returned to her career as a nurse, providing a foundation of care and support for Hospice patients and their families for over twenty years. Each of them found a way to leverage their meaningful c careers to finance decades of high-quality, private education for my siblings and I. This was not easy for them, but they did what was necessary to enable us to grow up to find success in our own way. To this day, I continue to be amazed by their commitment and sacrifice. Every day, my parents demonstrate what it means to lead by example, and I carry those lessons with me to this day. Through their example, they reinforced the meaning and value of a dollar. They encouraged us to work small jobs from our early teenage years and throughout college so that we, too, can develop the work ethic necessary t o support ourselves independently. To this day, when I go to consider a purchase, I can hear my mom’s voice asking me, “Is it a want or a need?” Now, that saying inspires me in a completely new way. As a self-employed entrepreneur and freelance commission based artist, I also ask, “How many paintings do I have to sell in order to make this purchase?”
Life is much more rewarding and fulfilling when things are earned, and not given. I embrace my business goals, and create plans to overcome the obstacles before the finish line. Once the goals are in place, whether it is a career goal or a personal one, the path to achieve it established. With hard-work and resolve, any goal can be accomplished. For my career, my goal is to be a successful entrepreneur and artist. But what defines success to me? Success means that I can provide a livable income through my paintings and drawings. Success means that I can prove to myself that my dream is possible of being an artist in this modern day world. I will continue to challenge the stigma of the ‘starving artist.’ I am passionate about my business as a commission-based artist. I get to paint and create as a job and living, which fulfills and enriches my soul, much like my parents’ careers in the medical field did for them. I am so thankful that this is my work, and because I love what I do, it is easy to keep the drive and momentum going to attain my goals. Every day is a step forward, and small steps lead to big accomplishments.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is MJ King and I am the owner and artist behind MJ King Art LLC out of Greenville, South Carolina. I am a small business owner and entrepreneur, as a local full-time artist. In addition to my own paintings and artworks, which are displayed and for sale in various locations throughout the upstate, I also create customized pieces for clients. I offer personalized paintings and drawings including personal portraits, house portraits, pet portraits, landscapes, murals and more. Each piece is based off of my clients photos, life experiences, and memories. Whether it is a first home, a special place and location, a four legged friend, or a loved one, each work is a piece of art uniquely inspired by and tailored to the client. Custom-created artworks make for heartfelt and sentimental gifts and decor for you or another, bringing a sense of life, nostalgia, and warmth to the walls.
Now that we are approaching the holiday season personalized art always makes for a truly special gift, as it is catered to an individual and isn’t mass-produced in the store. It can be the key to gift-giving for even the most difficult people to shop for, including those who seemingly ‘have everything.’ One seasonal piece I am excited to bring back this year are my pet portrait ornaments. These holiday ornaments are very popular and come on your choice of a wood or ceramic piece.
I will have some other new special offerings coming this holiday season, so stay tuned to see what is in the works!
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 turnaround time from when the order is placed. I engage with clients throughout the commission process to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. You can find more information on my website under, ‘How It Works’ to learn more.
Interested in adding some new & personalized art to your walls? I’d love to tell your story or your loved ones.
Contact me today!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three things that were the most impactful in my journey as an artist and entrepreneur are my education, experiences, and relationships. Starting with my education, I began developing a passion in high school by taking art courses. I proceeded to go to college at Bowling Green State University and earned my Bachelors in Fine Art with a focus in painting. At BGSU, my passion for art opened up further as new mediums were introduced to me. I fell in love working with and learning about the process of oil painting and encaustic. These were exciting new ways to create and paint and I work in them a lot today. After college, I pursued my Masters in Fine Art, with a focus in painting at Clemson University. There, I was challenged not only at a technical level, but also a conceptual and theoretical level as well.
As for my experiences, through-out my studies opportunities arose for me to travel to various places to see and immerse myself further in the art world. For instance, I was able to go to Chicago, IL and New York City, NY through BGSU to explore the numerous and highly-esteemed galleries there. I was also able to study abroad for a summer term in Florence, Italy. There I learned the techniques of fresco painting and an in-depth and hands-on understanding of Art History. After college, I expanded my experiences through artist residencies. It was through these residencies that I was given the proper time and focus to not only paint for myself, but reflect on what it is I want from these paintings. It gave me the resources to start to challenge myself as an artist, on where I want to be, and how I need to get there.
Lastly, my relationships. My relationships and connections have truly influenced the trajectory of my art career. My first inspiration was my high school art teacher, who guided me and worked with me one on one, encouraging me to continue my studies in art and provided me with educational resources outside of the classroom. Then at BGSU, I had a professor who also took extra time to help me navigate my journey. He gave me the confidence I needed to leap into the career of an artist. It is an uncertain and unstable career choice, so it can be scary knowing you are forging an unconventional path. However, the reward of doing so is immensely liberating and exciting. I am incredibly thankful that he encouraged me and gave me the push I needed. Then of course, is my relationships with family and friends. They have always supported my art career by coming to my gallery openings, seeing where my work is displayed, sharing and reading all the developing news related to my business, and so much more. The fact that they encourage me to pursue this and that they are proud of what I am doing, speaks volumes. I credit my drive and persistence to the fact that I have an abundance of love and support from these people. Without them, I may not have had the courage to launch my own small business as a freelance artist. Specifically within my immediate family, one brother in particular helped provide the business perspective and acumen that really fueled my career. I have seen incredible growth year over year and I am continuing to learn. I can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!
My advice to those who are early in their journey is to learn, to experience, and to connect. Learning doesn’t need to be through educational programs, it can simply be immersing yourself in books on art, art history, techniques, and business. Read all you can get your hands on because the world is developing fast. Business and art are ever-changing, therefore we should be ever-learning. Keep going and open up new doors. Experience the world and the opportunities around you. You don’t need to travel far to explore. Most communities have art centers and programs, local museums, galleries, and so forth. Immerse yourself within your community and not only will you find something inspiring, but you will facilitate valuable relationships and connections. In addition to friends and family, establishing positive relationships in your community is incredibly helpful in the growth of your business and yourself. Local connections can help generate leads, small businesses can link up and create a business relationship that benefits all, and at the very least, you have people who are going through something similar and can help encourage you from a relatable level. I try to go to as many local networking events in the Greenville area for these exact reasons – meet new people, meet prospective business partners, and make new connections – all while gaining more exposure for myself and my business! Just as others may hold the key to the next door for me, I may also have a key to their next door. So get out there and learn, experience, and connect! It’ll amaze you what door opens for you next.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking to connect with and collaborate with all local businesses, pet-related businesses, and realtors. ‘Locals supporting locals,’ has always been important as a small business owner. Individually we are small, but together we are a community and as a community we can succeed and grow. I work with various local businesses in the upstate already, but I am always looking to establish new connections and relationships in the local community.
I named pet-related businesses and realtors specifically because two of my most popular commission pieces are pet portraits and house portraits. For the pet-related businesses, I would love to connect with them and their clients. I offer pet portraits in an array of styles such as a drawing, a painting in oil or watercolor, as an ornament, or even as a tray where you can store their favorite snack and leash. If there are any local businesses in this industry, I would love to work with you and create a mutually beneficial relationship.
As for realtors, house portraits make for one-of-a kind closing gifts to give to their clients. I create these portraits either as a drawing or as a painting in watercolor. Houses are full of meaning, from the house you grew up in, the first house you owned, where you raised or are raising your family: all of these memories are held in a place that became a home. These paintings will bring a nostalgic, unique, & sentimental feeling to their clients walls. If desired I can even take care of all framing as well, leaving one with a gift that is ready to give, that is heartfelt, and worry-free. So, if there are any realtors who are looking to connect, please reach out! Once again, I would love to work with you and also create a mutually beneficial relationship.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://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.
