Meet Melissa Walling | Artist, Designer & Creative Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Melissa Walling and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Melissa, how do you think about risk?
I think taking risks may come naturally to some but taking calculated risks is a skill anyone can develop with time and a certain level of confidence. Society often paints risky behavior in a negative light, but there are many achievements in life that can only be reached by stepping outside one’s comfort zones. At the beginning of my business journey, the prospect of putting myself out there and facing potential rejection felt incredibly overwhelming, particularly in the subjective realm of art. This fear led to a fair amount of feet dragging on my part. Getting past these initial challenges (and social media anxiety) marked a turning point in my mindset, and each step that followed has become easier. I feel more prepared and confident about tackling the next risk to reach where I aspire to be.

So, I’d say my willingness to take risks has evolved and played a huge role in proving to myself what I am capable of and has encouraged me to keep striving toward my goals. I know that not every risk will pay off, but avoiding them would be a bigger setback than not trying.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Pursuing my own art business has been a long-held dream of mine. It is the culmination of my fine arts background, years of experience in graphic design, and a history of painting cards and art for family and friends. After the birth of my second daughter, I knew getting back into painting and creating was something I needed to do for myself. Once I began producing work again, and my passion to create was rekindled, I decided to establish a business around it. I have been an artist for over a decade, but I am rather new to the business side of things, which has had its challenges. One major challenge has been finding the time it takes to keep everything running smoothly and in the right direction, including balancing the everyday requirements of raising a family with those of my business aspirations. Building this business has not only served as a great creative outlet but also as a continual learning process, requiring a daily commitment to make my dream a reality.

From the beginning of my business venture, I knew I wanted to create paintings and incorporate these original artworks into different products. It was also important that all finished products and designs be something I created from start to finish. Utilizing my technical skills, I have transformed my original works into greeting cards, calendars, stationary, and have transferred my paintings onto various items. Through this process, and plenty of trial and error, I have grown as an artist and entrepreneur. I stay busy creating and working on new ideas, and my sources of inspiration have become more diverse. I plan to expand my style of paintings and develop exciting new products that will showcase my art. I am passionate about making artwork accessible to everyone. Beyond framing artwork, I believe in transforming art into practical, beautiful, and fun usable items for everyone to enjoy. My work can be found online and at various market booths throughout the year, and I also sell my work at a few local stores in Northeast Ohio, with plans to make my art available to a wider audience.

I am very excited about what’s to come in 2024! I wrote a children’s picture book that I am currently illustrating and will be releasing later this year. This story started as a vague idea when my first daughter was a baby nearly six years ago and, through my reignited passion to create, was completed last year. Author and illustrator of children’s books is a new venture for me, and I can’t wait to hold the final book in my hands and share it with you all! This year will also be the first that I offer to do commissioned work, and I am looking forward to working with clients to create custom pieces.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are a lot of great local places in the Cleveland area. A couple restaurants that I would have to take a friend to for brunch or dinner are Heart Of Gold or Johnny Mangos for great food and cocktails. If we were shopping, perusing at City Goods would be a must, they have a wide variety of impressive small businesses. Another great shop is The Rift Shop, one of my locations. It is a well known shop with over 60 artisans and makers to check out. For some evening fun a cool spot to enjoy food, drinks and entertainment is the Music Box Supper Club.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would first like to recognize my parents for my upbringing in an entrepreneurial environment. They ran their own photography business when I was a child, which provided first-hand insight into the highs and lows of independently managing a small business.This influence became more ingrained in me than I initially realized. While I didn’t initially set out to become an entrepreneur, I have realized that honing my various skill sets has the potential to create numerous business opportunities to explore.

I am extremely grateful to my family and friends who have consistently encouraged and supported me along my journey. I am not sure where I would be without them cheering me on, coming to my market displays, and following my progress on my studio Instagram.

And, of course, I must also acknowledge my husband and daughters, as they are a constant source of inspiration that drives me to work hard and strive to be the best version of myself. It is important to me that my daughters witness my effort and determination to achieve my goals, even when progress may seem slow, and I thank my husband for his hands-on help and support.

Website: www.jupiterandjunestudio.com

Instagram: @jupiterandjunestudio

Other: Stores Jupiter and June Studio can be found in: The Rift Shop- Olmsted Falls, Ohio Harbor Gardens- Ashtabula Harbor, Ohio. Business email: jupiterandjunestudio@gmail.com

Image Credits
Jim Brettell