Today we’d like to introduce you to Michelle Ley.
Hi Michelle, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in a very small, primarily white country town. I can’t say I had many friends growing up as it was quite a racist area and being a mixed kid, everybody shunned me. I spent most of my childhood alone or with my brothers. I took an interest in art at a very young age; the youngest I can remember was probably 5. I would get in trouble for doodling on my desk and one day my parents finally gave me a sketchbook because they were tired of getting phone calls from the school. Ever since then I’ve been sketching, painting, sculpting, tattooing, designing clothes, crafting, etc. I try to get my hands on whatever I can as I’ve always loved learning new things. My mom was a seamstress so I learned a lot of things from her. All of my other skills have been self-taught. I used to doubt myself as an artist too, it wasn’t until I got to high school and one of my art teachers took an interest in me that I actually started believing in myself. I still struggle with it till this day. I’m learning new things every day about art and being an artist and it’s helping me grow as an individual as well as creatively.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I tend to be suspicious of things if they are running too smoothly. My life from the time I was born until now has been a constant uphill challenge. Although my parents bought me sketchbooks, they never really believed in me as an artist. Their dream for me was to go to college and get a nice cushiony 9-5 job and work there until retirement. When I rebelled, they sort of rebelled against me? Also being one of the only colored kids an in all-white town was a hell most people couldn’t imagine and I wouldn’t wish upon anyone. The racism was never-ending. My neighbors flew rebel flags on their porch, if I wore my curly hair down to school guys would spit in it. My only outlet was my art. And even then, everyone seemed to always say something negative about it. I would hide it from just about everyone saving my twin brother. I think without him I would be lost. He’s been my best friend and biggest supporter since we were born. He’s actually an artist too in his own right. Money seems to be the biggest issue. Working a full-time job while paying for school while also paying for a place to live and everything that comes along with it leaves me a literal starving artist. I sacrifice so many things just to buy supplies. I really like to work with objects that I randomly find for free because it helps jolt my creative thoughts and gives me a sense of humility.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I currently work as a bartender and phlebotomist. On the weekdays you can find me at Carter Bloodcare taking blood donations from the amazing donors to help save lives and it is a very rewarding job. On the weekends I bartend in deep Ellum at Upstairs Circus; it is a DIY studio mixed with a bar. So, you walk in, create a project of your interest and drink along the way. I absolutely love it just as much as I love my healthcare career. I’ve always worked as a bartender and mixing creativity with it just fulfills me in a way I can’t quite explain. I love both jobs with my entire being and I wouldn’t trade either of them for anything. A bit unconventional I know, but I would say nothing about me or my life has ever been laid out within the norms of society.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
So, if I’m not working or creating something artistic you can catch me at the boxing gym. I love to fight. I do Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muy Thai kickboxing, and boxing. My twin brother got me into it at a very young age and we’ve been training together our whole lives; he’s much better than me but hey, I just let him think that. I also love to play basketball and played throughout my childhood and high school career. I also graduated at 17 with an Associate’s degree. I currently hold a certification in phlebotomy and am also completing my bachelor’s degree in business and working towards my license in real estate. I never wanted to listen to my parents and just do one thing my whole life; the way I see it, I only have one life and I wanna take the chance to do everything I can while I’m here.
Contact Info:
- Email: leymichelle23@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @savvy_shell
- Twitter: @shellthesiren
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCqdgCYIrUJbgENZD1zEIeuw
- Other: https://linktr.ee/savvyshell
