We recently connected with Sharday Michelle and have shared our conversation below.
Sharday, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Through faith in God, my supportive family, and my inspirational teachers. I was always enamored with color since watching Disney’s Fantasia as an infant, which impacted me at an early age. The combination and movement of colors highly impacted my selection of colors I choose to this day.
When I was two years old my beloved Aunt Lisa gave me a paint set. This is where my love for art began. Designing dresses and drawings for my classmates in middle school, having so many orders I could barely keep up. I wanted to be a fashion designer so my parents encouraged me to take art class while attending high school. That class with my art teacher, Cindy Egizio is where my love for art truly began to grow further with her encouragement and patience. I still had a lot to learn and thus my challenge to overcome it began. I was discouraged by a family friend saying I should go towards another career after seeing my art. I quit drawing feeling that I wasn’t good enough, but I felt empty. God began showing me signs this was my purpose through a specific sermon that resonated with me, as well as having images of artwork appearing in my mind. So I decided to try again. No other experience reignited that passion and emotion the way this did. In that moment, I recognized it was my true calling. I knew then this was my purpose.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I am focused on both a freelance career, as well as finding a graphic design position. My new website www.shardaymichellestudios.com is selling prints, and soon merchandise including stickers, mugs, and clothing. Feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] for inquires, updates, or even as a fellow artist who wants to collaborate.
I do a wide variety of custom artwork in mediums of painting, graphic design, and collage. I also do branding design for companies including logos, packaging, merchandise design, and graphic elements for websites/social media.
My work focuses on healing and evoking emotion, creating art for the soul. My art is very original, detailed, and colorful with a whimsical otherworldly look. God gives me my ideas and guides me on what to create, without Him there would be no ShardayMichelleStudios.
My biggest art installation was working for The Historic Clayborn Temple Church with Anasa Troutman! I worked on three stained glass windows depicting the story of the “I AM A MAN” march where Martin Luther King spoke. Collaborating with artist Lonnie Robinson and Pearl River Stained Glass Company. It was a very humbling experience that I hold dear to my heart.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first skill was relearning the basics. Instead of going straight to college I took a year of personal study, sketching repetitively on areas I struggled and creating a portfolio for my college application. This helped me get accepted on the spot with a scholarship at Memphis College of Art.
The second skill was learning collage art. Which is cutting and layering images together. It widened my horizons, inspired my paintings, and all art mediums the most. It opened my eyes to a new way of designing compositions and creating worlds that were abstract, yet realistic. Giving a look into a different world.
The third skill is Color Theory. Which was my most instinctual skill that I began to learn in college. Color evokes feeling and creates visual impact. It is often the first element that draws people to my work.
My advice to those early in their journey is PATIENCE! Art takes time to master. Try new things! What you think you may not like may end up being where your passion is. Don’t be afraid of mistakes, a main part of art is problem solving. Some mistakes become happy ones or your main style. Have an inspiration notebook/binder with artist research, reference images, and write down stories you want to tell. My biggest advice is don’t be afraid of rejection! What is for you is for you! A NO doesn’t mean give up, it means to keep looking for that YES!
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I think it depends on what route the artist is headed. If you’re just selling your own artwork it may be better to go all in on your strengths.
If you are planning to work an art related position in the business side, I say definitely be more well rounded! Companies these days are changing and want more from an artist, especially in graphic design. It makes you open to apply to more positions, and makes you seem more skilled. Companies ask for someone that’s constantly learning new trends and programs.
As for me personally, I am a product of being more well rounded. I took every medium I learned and applied it to my art. Making a unique blend to improve my art, as well as being able to offer more styles. When I felt uninspired, trying new things helped reignite my passion!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.shardaymichellestudios.com
- Instagram: shardaymichelle
- Facebook: Sharday Michelle Art
- Linkedin: Sharday Hawkins
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