By Maia Sapp
Staff Writer
Tezon Mitchell, an LWC art major, works on his current digital art project while lounging in Slider. Photo by Maia Sapp.
For some Lindsey Wilson students, art is a hobby, done occasionally in one's free time. If it's a required elective, art can even be seen as a chore. But for Tezon Mitchell, sophomore art major at LWC, art is a business.
Mitchell has been an artist for as long as he can remember. As a child, he recalls the incoherent random doodles that he began with. While many of us were disheartened by the unattractive scribbles made from our adolescent hands, Mitchell was not discouraged. Slowly his artistic repertoire grew to encompass a variety of different media. Now, Mitchell is adept at digital and physical drawing, painting, graphic design, sculpture, and photography.
In December of 2023, Mitchell made his first physical painting of a mountain range over a lake, which he felt turned out extremely well.
“This was the moment when I realized I had a skill for painting, and that I could develop it further into something great,” Mitchell said.
Since then, Mitchell created more paintings with the goal of improving his skill and developing his own style with each piece. In September of 2024, Mitchell officially began to take commissions for his work.
As a student artist, Mitchell’s business has grown organically.
“People around me have noticed and shown appreciation for my art style enough to request commissions,” he said. In this way, his commissions have been strictly acquired through conversations. People discover Mitchell’s art and want one for themselves, wishing to support him in his endeavors.
Mitchell poses with his newly completed commissioned landscape painting. Photo by Maia Sapp
After being approached by a client for a commission, Mitchell will ask for many details of their personal preferences for the artwork.
"My objective is to make something for them that they love."
“My objective is to make something for them that they love,” he said.
After an initial conversation takes place, Mitchell will sketch out designs, keeping some reference images in mind for additional inspiration.
“It is impossible to plan for everything, and somewhat stressful to try, so there is a point where I have to allow the creativity to flow and begin painting, letting the ideas come together naturally,” he said.
According to Mitchell, this part of the creative process feels risky and informal at times, but necessary in order to achieve a piece of art that Mitchell can be proud of and the client will love.
Currently, Mitchell has been working on designing a business logo as well as creating a website in order to expand and streamline his business. In the future, Mitchell hopes his art business will mature from a side hustle to his future and students at LWC will be able to say we knew him when.
To other students who may be interested in selling their art, Mitchell has advice.
"Doing commissions is intimidating but be confident in yourself and your skills."
“Get your pieces out there in front of people and try to overcome the fear of being judged and seen. Doing commissions is intimidating but be confident in yourself and your skills. So many people give up out of fear or feeling that they aren’t good enough, even when they have the skill and talent to do something amazing.”
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