Meet MIS, Graphic Artist and Photographer

Melissa Smith who uses the online signature MIS is a multi talented young artist with seemingly boundless energy. She is owner of two yahoo groups "Less Than Traditional Moms" and "Women in Business" as well as a member of countless others.

As a graphic artist MIS generates tags and siggies for herself, her friends and her clients. It is something she greatly enjoys doing and this is evident in the spirit of the work. As I am new to the world of tags and siggies I had several questions about it. MIS explained that tagging is taking graphic art, your own or another artist's, and adding graphic elements to it. Because of the nature of tagging many people often use other work without crediting the artist who created the original graphic. MIS is an advocate for crediting artists and often blows the whistle on other taggers for using art illegally. If you aren't sure if you a tag is legal simply check it to see if it is copyrighted. If the artist has been acknowledged then it is a legal piece.

MIS is also a photographer. She says she discovered this passion at the age of thirteen when visiting the St. Louis Rose Garden with a disposable camera. She fell in love with photography and with flowers. She worked with simple disposable cameras for 3 or 4 years until she graduated to a cheaper model digital and now uses a professional Cannon. Her interests continue to be in flowers, nature and feminine form. She aspires to work with human form in the future and expresses a desire to blend the human figure and natural landscapes.

She finds the human form particularly inspiring and ranges from the classic artist eye to the more erotic. The female form is "gorgeous" and MIS advocates size acceptance and self-love. She hopes to have the opportunity to work with pregnant women in the future as she finds the pregnant female form particularly beautiful.

She actively seeks other artists for inspiration and beauty and enjoys collecting prints and pin ups at garage sales and estate sales. When asked who her favorites are she laughs and says "a lot!" She names Elias Chatzoudis, Keith Garvey, Armando Huerta, Mark Yanko, and Ed Mironuik. In addition to natural form she admires the gothic.

When asked what her thoughts are on artists and politics MIS answers passionately that everyone needs to be involved in politics. "Anybody that is anybody" should pay attention and have an opinion. Asked if she has political artistic works she answers not at the moment. She would love to use her photography to give people a voice. "Nobody wants to see the politicians" she says "I would capture the participants at a protest or a convention, to give the people a voice. People want to be heard."

Recent work also included collaboration with other graphic artists. Essential Designs is a place for clients to seek logos and graphic art that is original and can be used for any and all business purposes. MIS is working with 4 artists to produce these original pieces for very reasonable prices.

When asked what people should know about her and her art MIS answers: "I really, really, take into consideration what they are looking for. I always suggest first to a client that they seek custom design so they can own it and have an original that reflects them and their business. I ask a lot of questions. A lot of questions. That sometimes turns people off and I've actually lost clients because of it but it is necessary to find out what they want. Clients need to know exactly what they are looking for, and I am picky about who I work with. Other artists and clients are representing me and I choose them carefully."

In regards to her photography people should know "it all means something to me. If I don't like it I don't put it up. Everything is a reflection of me. I have a bold bullheaded Taurus personality and my work is bright, bold and a reflection of me." Even her favorite colors she says, pink and orange, reflect that. "If a client wants something more subtle they need to tell me!"

Seeing herself as a photographer is still recently new for MIS. She has her first wedding booked for the last weekend in April and looks forward to more weddings and portrait assignments.

For more information regarding MIS and to see her work please check the following links. She posts new photographs regularly and is working on Essential Designs. Check back often to see what she is up to next!

www.aplacenextdoor.com

www.myessentialdesigns.com

www.m-i-s.deviantart.com or www.mis-takenart.webs.com