Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Mikki Loud. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Mikki, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
I come from a family of generosity. For as far back as I can remember, my parents have done well in giving back to others. Even when it seemed they did not have it to give, there was always just enough to share. As a child, I often wondered why my parents gave so much of themselves, even though those who they helped did not give the same respect. I would get jealous, at times, because their time got split between so many lives. Involuntarily I began to embody the very behavior I had questioned for many years. It became something that spilled over into my art. I developed a great appreciation for affecting other people’s lives with paint and sip classes, volunteering at events to do face painting, and donating to art auctions. As I matured, I began to see exactly why my parents gave so…they gave out of the abundance of their heart, and they did it with cheer. The happiness on other’s faces became the motivation to be a more cheerful giver.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a visual artist, with a major concentration in graphic design, acrylic paint, and chalk pastels. My art is very versatile and catered to the audience, or client, that I am honed in on. I can go from very exaggerated pieces to super precise designs. I can over embellish or keep it simple with ease. I make sure that I show that possibilities are endless with faith and persistence. My motto has been “Faith makes things possible” for a while now, and that faith has taken me into a future I did not envision for myself. I would like to continue to grow my presence in the art world by gaining more consistency. I realize that every journey is not a sprint, and every path doesn’t come with support. I have travelled down this road solo, but I have had seasons of major support. My goal is to gain committed supporters who can help me grow my presence and market my brand. A brand for the people. I consider myself an imagination pool, because I am able to sit and listen to a person’s story and create a visual of that same thought. They pour their thoughts into me and I give back valuable visuals.
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?
The first of the three qualities/skills that has been impactful is my ability to relate. Because I have a very diverse background, I can identify with lots of genres and cultures. I respect diversity, and it allows me to connect with people in a very unique way.
Secondly, I would say my ability to adapt has been a gift to myself and others. From humble beginnings to living lavish, I have gained humility and flexibility, which work well with the expectations and standards of others. This increased my work ethic and drive to stay on task with commission projects. Deadlines, small goals, and stretched range increased people’s trust in my ability to hit the mark. I will add, this has also worked against me in some instances. I have turned down business because of my own boundaries and knowing what my limits are.
Third, my empathy has kept me in a space where I can emotionally connect with others. This increases my ability to invoke certain emotions in order to portray it in an art piece. A simple tear can mean so much more on the canvas when it flows exactly how the emotion was told to you. A mountain can seem more monumental when you know just how small a person felt before they began the climb.
How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?
I would spend my last decade making sure that I have left my mark on the world. Legacy is important, and keeps your name alive even after you’re gone.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mikkiloud
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/@tbhthepodcast9577
