Today we’d like to introduce you to Ja-Nessia Prince.
Ja-Nessia, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in Edna, Tx and came to Houston in 2013 for college. I finished my bachelors in 2017 and my masters this past May. During the senior year of my undergrad, I had an off-campus with a close friend. She would paint for just expression. From watching her, I always felt like this would be a great way to add a new form of meditation to my practice. So, I started just “doodling” on canvases. Surprisingly, I took to the craft quickly and grew to absolutely love it. In the meantime, I had started to copper wrap crystals for myself and friends. Fast-forwarding to the summer of 2017, due to the contract of my old job, I knew I would need to make a few coins on the side so I decided to launch this grassroots business on Instagram. A few paintings later, additions to the creations that are offered, and countless time perfecting my craft here I am still building and bring joy to the lives of many.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Becoming the woman I am today has had its challenges. It can be rough finding your path through college, finding ways to express yourself, and finding ways to monetize those expressions. However, I think the first and one of the most important pieces of advice I can give is that it really all starts with your energy around the process. Going through college is definitely an endurance game. We all learn in different ways. So, in my case, I feel the more I tailored my study and student habits, in general, to my personal habits, I saw growth. With starting my business, I realized the more I thought about, worked in the manner and talked about my products as though they were worthy of reciprocation, the more I have seen those opportunities open. I guess to put a more concrete term on this I would use elements of the Law of Attraction. However, it was also about preparing myself. Whether it was making sure I had supplies on hand, sketching out how I wanted my vending space to look, learning how to keep my books and work on budgets. In all this was putting me in the energy to overcome my obstacles. As this energy moved around, I started to see many doors open for me and more opportunities come way. So, overall, my advice would be to try and keep a positive mindset around all your projects. You have to see the value in yourself before that can be expected to be reciprocated. Make the most of opportunities big and small. Trust that you will get to your goal and enjoy the growth process of the journey.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I would just simply call myself a creative, which is more encompassing because I wear a couple of hats so to speak. I create paintings with acrylic. These are normally symbolic of spirituality and/or around the Black experience. Secondly, I create jewelry. I have a wide array of items I can craft, but I am mostly known for waist beads and copper wrapping jewelry. Waistbeads are some of my favorite things to create is because the smiles I receive from women once their waists have been adorned are priceless. Many areas of society push so much judge towards what a women’s waistline should look like, and see women realize beauty comes in many forms, and many times waist beads have been the guide to that. I am also a Reiki Level 1 practitioner. So, I also create space for people around this healing system. Lastly, I am a co-host on the podcast Generation Why. This space allows me to express my thoughts of the world as a Black woman in her 20s. Even in this space, I am able to find growth because of the conversations I have with my co-host.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
Books:
Sacred Woman by Queen Afua
Jambalaya by Luisha Teish
Africana Studies by James Conyers
Podcast:
Generation Why (spotify)
That Black Couple (apple)
The Little Juju Podcast (apple)
The Love Hour (apple)
Pricing:
- Painting Commissions vary
- Single Strand Waistbeads $20
- Copper Wrapped Jewelry vary
- Toe Ring Anklets $15
Contact Info:
- Email: nessia0401@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sol.ofnessia/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/nessia_creates/?hl=en
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