Meet Summer Rice | Visual Artist & Owner of Esziart LLC

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

Hi Summer, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always been passionate about art. I’ve been in love with it since I was a kid! My creativity was never ending and always evolving. As I got older, I wanted to share my gift as a gift to everyone else. After seeing my potential and everything that I was capable of doing after giving it a try, I knew it was the start of something bigger. I also knew that I belonged in a creative space. I chose a creative career because I knew that doing what I love and truly enjoy would be rewarding because my heart was and still is in it.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m Summer, owner of Esziart LLC. I am 20 years old and was born and raised in Gadsden, AL where I started my business. Esziart was established to give everyone the chance to experience art. We offer many creative services; From bringing anyone’s ideas to life, to turning anyone into an artist! Esziart LLC specializes in a number of artistic services ( illustration, customization, face painting, body art, and paint parties), along with custom and handmade items. Our mission is to make sure everyone’s experience with art is simply amazing. Each service we offer all came from someone asking me if I could! I’d never hosted a paint party, painted a face, portrait, model, or mural before. I just knew that I was an “aspiring” artist at the time. As time went by I took on the challenge of trying new things which would soon be added onto Esziart’s list of services. Each time I tried something new I became more experienced and confident in my artistic abilities! My work spoke for itself and many started to contact and book with me.

Although being booked and busy is awesome for a new entrepreneur, it was also new and overwhelming. I started Esziart at the age of 17! I knew I that I could get the job done and was enjoying this new process, but what I didn’t know was that in order to run a successful business more than passion had to be involved. Entrepreneurship is enjoyable but definitely not easy. You are constantly learning. Business is more than just fun and a cute aesthetic, but hard work has to be included. After I realized that trying new things and winging it was not going to work, I began to put systems in place to make things easier for both me and my customers. I went through the steps of establishing a legitimate business, I met with mentors , brainstormed, and -with organization and systems- made my ideas come to life.

Although I started my senior year of high school, we have grown tremendously since then! I have learned so much and met many new faces on my journey as a young, creative/entrepreneur. Art truly has my heart, and I wouldn’t trade my gift for the world. Esziart is my baby, and we are constantly growing. We will be looking to build an amazing creative team to grow expand our services. Right now we bring our services to our clients and rent local venues for our events, in the future we hope to have our very own studio/ gallery to host our own events, classes, and art exhibits. Esziart will also become a part of a safe space for other creative entrepreneurs in the near future.

I want many other artists/ creatives everywhere to know that you do not have to box yourself in, and not to be afraid of trying something new. Being brave enough to not be so good at something at first, results in becoming amazing at it later. Continue to be original in a world full of duplicates. Lastly don’t forget that “Creativity takes courage”. -Henri Matisse This thought process has helped me with so many challenges.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Starting a business at a young age isn’t easy at all! I needed so much guidance and support along the way. First, without my mom I wouldn’t have any of my artistic abilities. She’s always been an amazing artist and her gift was definitely passed down to me. Any time I’d need any correction, critiquing, or reassurance on my work she was always there to help me be better. The amount of support I’ve had over the years from so many has been overwhelming. My family, close friends, teachers, and mentors play a huge role in my success with Esziart. They always challenged me to try something new even if I wasn’t sure I could do it yet. They’ve never failed to encourage me and motivate me to continue using my God-given talents and making my ideas come to life.

Website: https://linktr.ee/esziart

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/esziart

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/esziart