Today we’d like to introduce you to Ija Charles
Hi Ija, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a little girl, I used to draw and create things as self therapy and it brought me a sense of joy and overtime as I drew around my peers and teachers that same Joy was reflected through them with my work. I started selling my work in school around middle in high school and became known for my artistry. My school Westwood high school commissioned me to design the first ever mural I created in the gym area my graduating year of 2015 and once I graduated, I moved to Louisiana where I was a cake decorator, Mardi Gras float painter, and sold my art at festival, such as essence fest. Once I got my footing, I ended up moving back to Columbia, where I started to get a lot of Mural work around the city, which got me national attention to the point that I was able to travel to do Mural’s in other states.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I was the first artist in my family which had made it quite difficult to find my way because it’s literally like walking down the road with no map knowing where you’re headed, but not exactly how to get there so everything has been trial and error and figuring it out as I go, which has been a little difficult, but I’ve always found a way to make it work out.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Muralist by trade and creator at heart in my free time I do mosaics and personal canvas work, but I am most proud of my murals as I have over 300 nationwide over the course of the past seven years, which makes me quite happy to know That I can spread Joy one paint stroke at a time being a visual voice for communities that they can be proud of is something that lights a fire to create, and I can say what sets me apart from others is definitely my ability to paint fast as most of my murals take me one week to three days to complete
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
I don’t have a go to, but I do love slice of life podcast like “Beleaf in fatherhood” and usually when I am working on a mural, I love listening to videos that tell historical facts about the world or animals and nature as there’s so much knowledge to be learned and it just gives me a higher appreciation For the world we live in as I create amongst it as I’m a true believer that God is the ultimate artist
Pricing:
- For indoor murals the starting costs $15 per square foot
- For outdoor murals, the starting cost is $30 per square foot
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ija_monet/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ija.charles.1/
