Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Mizuno.
Hi Alicia, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m a 26 years old part-time multimedia artist and full-time Facilities Administrator based out of DFW. I went to the University of North Texas and graduated with a degree in Metal Smithing and Jewelry Design. Though my degree took a more craft direction, I tend to focus more on the fine arts like drawing and painting outside of my everyday job and school. I’ve been drawing for pretty much my entire life, only starting to really take up painting once I got to Junior High. After focusing on drawing and painting well into college, I decided to really start branching out by learning ceramics, bookmaking, metalsmithing and fiber work. My work now tends to include a lot of darker imagery and is generally juxtaposed by brighter florals when it’s my own choice of subjects. However, I’ve done several commissions ranging from pet portraiture to comic style illustration to digital drawings for logos and am always open for new ones. A new challenge is always welcome. I only recently started to steadily make smaller graphic designs to sell via Society6 under my username Wickedbeings as digital art is my newest area of interest. Otherwise, you can find all my other art on Instagram and Facebook under Wickedbeings Art. Currently, I do all work out of my home studio with my cats Achilles and Pandora always close by and my husband Josh cheering me on in the background as well as giving me ideas and constructive criticism when I’m having an artist block.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No. While I’ve always had support to do my art and pursue it, it was never really a thought that it could be a career choice for me. I’ve struggled a lot with trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with my life and where art fits into it for me. It’s always been a hobby and more so something for me to just let my imagination run wild. I’ve only within the last five years really started to focus on it more as a possible career choice and set up a studio in my home within this past year. I still have a bit of imposter syndrome and feelings of inadequacy about my art but my support system has been great with encouragement and I know I can accomplish whatever I work towards in life.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work as a Facilities Administrator as my full-time job, which is basically a title that’s says I make sure the office stays up and running at all times and doesn’t burn to the ground. Ha. In all seriousness though, it involves me basically being a jack of all trades since I have to know things about insurance, ergonomics, construction, ordering, vendors, security systems and more. I came into this job not knowing a majority of what I do now but hard work goes a long way, I guess. I think this same aspect rolls over into my artistic life to as well. I like to do a bit of everything since it’s what keeps things interesting for me. But with that being said, I’m most known for my drawings and paintings by those who are in my life. It’s what I’d probably call my specialty as well if I were to choose. Right now, I’m still most proud of a painting I completed in September of 2020. It’s on a canvas I built back in college but never could figure out what to do with. It’s a canvas stretched over a 4 ft by 4 ft frame that has gone through so many transitions. I finally, with the help of my husband, came up with the final product and it now hangs in our living room. It features two clawed hands in front of a golden amulet with rubies adorning it. A death’s head hawkmoth is in the forefront of everything. It’s a bit Silence of the Lambs but it makes me happy with the level of technique I was able to get in the hands.
I’d say what sets me apart from most people is not only my willingness to branch out in what I do but my ability to pick up new techniques quickly and my continued strive to improve those. I wouldn’t consider myself a master at everything but definitely someone to keep an eye out for.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Not that I can think of. I guess that I’m a bit of an introverted homebody so making connections and friends in the “art world” is a bit hard for me to accomplish a lot of the time. Marketing myself just isn’t really my forte.
Pricing:
- $50 minimum for all fine art comissions
Contact Info:
- Email: wickedbeingsart@gmail.com
- Website: Society6.com/wickedbeings
- Instagram: Instagram.com/wickedbeingsart
- Facebook: Facebook.com/wickedbeingsart
Image Credits
Photo with my husband is by Kacie Packer out of Little Elm
