This month’s featured artist, Christina Parrish, creates larger than life custom artwork for her clients by transforming their space with murals that bring their vision to life.
How would you describe your work?
Most of my murals are brightly colored and posterized imagery coupled with hand lettering. Most imagery is decided on by clients, and I just put my creative twist on their requests!
What influences your art most?
I am an art educator in the public school system. I began muraling six years ago to start beautifying places in the school system that may otherwise feel institutional, and create a sense of community surrounding that art. The school system continues to influence my work. I constantly look at walls and think of ways that I can make the school system better for both students and educators alike.
How have you evolved, personally, as an artist?
I have definitely become more confident in my skills, abilities, and processes surrounding muraling. After I moved from Georgia to North Carolina, I founded my LLC and began figuring out the processes involved in running a creative business based on visual art. Though growing creatively is something that I will continue to pursue with every opportunity, I place a lot of pride in figuring out how to place value on being an artist.
What do you enjoy most about creating custom murals?
I simply enjoy listening to clients’ visions about their businesses, and then making their vision a reality. I enjoy watching clients’ reactions as murals are being installed, and their reaction when their murals are complete. I also enjoy watching customers enjoy the murals that my clients commission!
How do you carve out time to be creative outside of your client work?
Because I am an educator for the public school system, my client work is usually the time that I carve out to be creative. In addition to murals, I also accept pet portrait commissions, and the combination of the two usually consumes most of my time. I am always on the lookout for more walls to paint, and I frequently take pictures of walls that I want to paint, and create mockups just for me!
What are you working on that excites you right now?
I have a few sign painting jobs lined up for new businesses, but I am currently working on a mockup to create a mural for my own classroom! It’s seldom that I create something for myself, and I’m excited to create a mural for my own teaching environment.
What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with fellow artists?
Your creativity is valuable! Charge your worth.
If you are interested in learning more about Christina Parrish you can follow her on Instagram @christina.parrish.art as well as find her work online at www.christinaparrishart.com. You can also check out her work locally at Bar Nola, Kernersville Brewing Company, Cake and All Things Yummy, and Truist Stadium (WS Dash).
