Today we’d like to introduce you to Mackenzie Jones.
Hi Mackenzie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I started painting as a form of therapy my sophomore year of college. I was really lost. I had mainly drawn when I was younger and would get so frustrated because it didn’t look realistic enough. So, fast forward to college me I thought abstract painting would be a great idea because no one could tell me it looked bad, not even myself. The aesthetic at first wasn’t deeply resonating with me, but it brought me so much joy I kept painting. I could see the potential. Like a glimmer of hope. Canvases were expensive, so I started playing around with the idea of using discarded cardboard. Fast forward a year into experimenting with cardboard, I successfully figured out a way to use the cardboard as a canvas. I created a textural paste that covered the cardboard and sealed it without warping. That was the day it clicked. I knew this was where I was meant to be and what I was meant to be doing. I painted one piece and cold emailed it to my favorite influencer at the time. I poured my heart out and told her we could make anything we dreamt of. From there, I continued growing my audience, pitching myself to anyone who resonated and grew to where I am today.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No road is perfect, but I am an optimist to the core. All of my struggles, mental breakdowns, and “failures” were really pivotal points that changed the direction of how I run my business and how I paint. Truthfully, I don’t believe anything is a failure. You get to define that experience how you would like. Your business, the people, and your work is trying to tell you something when it doesn’t work. You have to listen, let go, and pivot. Every single rough patch helped grow my business stronger and helped me become more resilient and sure that this is what I am meant to be doing in this phase of my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a sustainable, multi-disciplinary, and independent artist. I blend concepts that come from architectural design, organic material, sustainability, and painting to create one-of-a-kind, textural, abstract artwork for my clients. My work is comprised of discarded cardboard, ethically sourced wood, and different textural pastes that I have created. What I am most known for is the customization and textural aspect of my work. I really work with my clients closely to translate exactly what they need. My degree is in interior design, so with that background knowledge, I can go above and beyond in guiding them to feel confident with every aspect of the piece and the decor in the room. I pave a way for design, sustainability, and art to intersect, which I think is really rare coming from the artist’s perspective.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Two lessons: believing in your own worth and listening to what your audience/customer is saying. If you don’t believe your work is deserving, neither will your client. On the other hand, no matter how much you love an idea, if your customer doesn’t respond well, you have to know it’s not the right time for that idea. It’s a balance of confidence, authenticity, and valuing your customer’s voice.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Bymackenzie.com
- Instagram: By_mackenzie
Image Credits
Mackenzie Jones
