MEET THE ARTIST: MICKAYLA PENCE

Here’s Her bio if you’re bored enough to read it

Mickayla’s journey as an artist has in no way been a linear, generic, cookie cutter experience - in fact, it’s been a downright thrill ride! Her passion to create art over the span of her life has been ever persistent since a young age with a fascination in a multitude of creative realms. Some have joked that she is a jack of all trades, and a master of them all! Of her many medias, she currently has a hyper fixation on creating one-of-a-kind mixed media jewelry while also juggling her 12 year career as a makeup artist in the film and television industry.

Although she prides herself as a West Virginian now, she actually spent her childhood growing up in the suburbs of Toledo, OH where she had a super annoying midwestern accent. Begrudgingly, she moved to the mountains at the rebellious age of 15 to expand her father’s resume and be closer to family living in Greenbrier County.

In 2011, she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Graphic Design from Marshall University in Huntington, WV. Soon after graduating college, she moved to New York City where she swiftly realized that staring at a computer screen under the hum of fluorescent lights as a graphic designer for soul sucking corporate America was not for her. In an effort to discover new jobs, she combed the gigs section on Craigslist for new work opportunities. While scouring the millions of listings, she stumbled across an open casting call for a major feature film. After auditioning, she went on to work as a background actor on Warner Bros “Run All Night” starring Liam Neeson. While on set, she watched the makeup artist behind the scenes creating movie magic. In that moment, she made the life changing decision to go back to school to learn about professional makeup artistry, body painting, and special FX. She enrolled in the prestigious Make Up For Ever Academy NY where she learned from world renowned artists and instructors about the unique craft over an intensely informative six month course.

Upon graduating top of her class from the Master’s Artistry Program, she was honored to earn a position as an ambassador for the Make Up For Ever brand - demoing at trade shows and schools both across the United States and internationally.

For many years, she lived and worked in the bustling grind of NYC spending an obscene amount of hours/days/months/years on set making movies, working with celebrities, and eating a lot of BBQ chips from craft services. After establishing herself with a rolodex of clients and contacts, she made the decision to revisit her roots and move back to the mountains of wild and wonderful WV while continuing to travel the world as a successful makeup artist.

In 2020, when the entire movie industry shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself in a state of contradiction - worried about the trajectory of her livelihood while also feeling at peace with being able to finally slow down and smell the flowers.

Instead of hopelessly twiddling her thumbs, she began to bend wire with them around gemstones. This shift back to the breathtaking wonders of the Appalachian Mountains provided just the inspiration she needed to transition her hobby of jewelry making into a blossoming new career. As an artist, she is both humbled and entranced by the beauty of our natural world. Her jewelry collections range widely using collaging methods with magazine clippings, photographs, real pressed flowers, butterfly wings, gemstones, precious metals, and eco resin. No two pieces are ever alike and she prides herself in making truly one-of-a-kind pieces.

Since becoming a jeweler, she has elevated her craft to not only fabricate mixed media wearable art, but also taught herself to silversmith finer works that have been featured in several gallery exhibitions. She has been notably published in several publications including: Belle Armoire Jewelry, Voyage Raleigh, YNST Magazine, Voyage Denver, and many more. In 2023 she was selected as a fellow for the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts Creative Entrepreneur Fellowship which opened her up to invaluable networks and opportunities within the state and beyond.

Today, she still works as a makeup artist for movies, television, and commercials, but is a bit more particular with which productions she works on since the pandemic. When she’s not on set heading her department, she spends her time metal smithing, snuggling her devious tuxedo cat, Carl, and continuously finding inspiration while foraging in picturesque Appalachia.

The end.

Thanks for taking the time to read her novel.

*Note - ALL butterflies used in the making of Mick’s Media Jewelry have passed via natural causes; either found or purchased from reputable conservatories. Please do not kill butterflies or any living thing – remember, they have families too.*