Meet Lori Mitchell

We were lucky to catch up with Lori Mitchell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lori, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
I tend to be a glass half full kind of person. My mom was always a very positive thinker and she passed that on to her three daughters. She was a single mom and things were extremely difficult but she always had the attitude that together, we could do anything. She was a clothes designer and artist and she used her creative skills to solve all kinds of problems. She proved over and over that there was always a way and we managed to get through some tough times. I look back at those triumphs whenever I start to feel discouraged. I went to college based on the idea that I would find a way to pay for it and I did. I graduated from Art Center College of Design, even when the tuition was seemingly completely out of my reach. I also ended up going on the Oprah show with my first book that I wrote and illustrated, Different Just Like Me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I have been an illustrator since I graduated from Art Center College of Design in 1986. I have illustrated 10 books and have done every kind of illustration you can think of. I am moving into doing more fine art in museums and galleries and I have been doing public art in the form of murals. You can see one of my murals at Warwick’s, the oldest family owned bookstore in the United States. It’s 20 portraits of the authors that have been to the store.

I taught Drawing and Composition at Palomar College for 15 years and I now teach at the Athenaeum Art and Music Library. I teach via Zoom and love the flexibility. I have several students that are in different states and even one in a different country.
You can see my work at the Flowerpot Cafe in La Jolla. I drew the coffee shop over the years and as they moved from one spot to their current location. I love sketching people and dogs that are out in the world enjoying their day.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three skills or qualities that have had the most impact would be a good understanding of drawing, optimism and flexibility. I have been drawing since I was about two years old. I am always learning how to see better by drawing and I make it a regular practice. The next is optimism. Sometimes I don’t feel optimistic but I remind myself that there’s some kind of plan and things usually turn out for the best. I think of the quote, “It will all be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” And last, just being flexible and swaying with the breezes that blow. Find the opportunity in what IS. Look at what presents itself and find a way to go with that flow.

As far as advice, I would say that as an artist no one does any of it alone. Find people that are doing what you want to do and see if they will talk to you. Take classes. I have been drawing for years and years and I can still learn more, I can still benefit from classes and practice. My number one tip would be, if you don’t know how to do something you want to do, find someone that does know.

I had one of my students that I had in class over several years tell me she was “self taught.” There’s no shame in admitting that you take classes. We all learn from one another and why not accelerate your learning by jumping in and learning from those that you admire. Why struggle on your own or try to reinvent the wheel? Also, learn about the business of art, not just about the practice of art

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
I am very happy to say I have had the perfect clients, for the most part. I have had the good fortune to have worked for some really wonderful people. They let me do what I do and they do not try to micro -manage the artwork. They like my work and they trust that I will do a good job and they don’t turn over the decision making process to a committee of people that know nothing about art. One client even said I wasn’t charging enough and asked that I re-submit the bill! That’s the kind of client that I love working for.

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