Introduction
If you’ve ever wanted to wear a literal masterpiece on your head at the Disney parks, look no further than makebymissie. Specializing in custom, hand-painted Mickey ears, Missie transforms blank canvases into vibrant, wearable art that stops traffic on Main Street!
Missie @makesbymissie
For Missie, the creative force behind her life and art have always been driven by love and family.
Born in Utah, raised in the Bay Area, and trained at prestigious art institutions like Otis College of Art and Design in LA and the Academy of Art University, Missie’s journey has been an adventurous loop between California and Utah.
Alongside her husband, Blaise, she has always put family first. Through every move and every new chapter, her art has remained her constant creative anchor.
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Creator Questions
Where are you from?
I was born in Utah but moved to the Bay Area in California at 5 years old. I grew up there and then went to Otis college of art and design in LA… but I got pregnant so I moved back to the bay and started online school at Academy of Art University. Once my son was 1, I moved back to Utah to be near my grandparents and lived there for 10 years. Then I moved back to California again because of my husbands fire career. And now we are moving back to Utah again to take care of family. So it has been a ton of back and forth between here and Utah lol but honestly both are home in completely different ways!
How did you hear about Angelus?
One day I saw a post on instagram of some amazing art on denim, saw that Angelus was tagged and immediately I knew I had to try it out. The first time I painted with it, was my Alice in wonderland jacket that I made for myself for a family Disney trip. I posted it and it went crazy! So that’s how I found Angelus and my love for painting on denim!
What are your top 5 Angelus products?
My top 5 Angelus Products:
1. Flat black leather paint
2. 2-Soft / white paint
3. Beige paint
4. Satin 4 Coat
5. Water & Stain repellant spray
What is your artistic process for your projects?
I always make sure to prep the surface I’m painting correctly. It really depends what material I’m painting on and the prep work takes awhile but if you don’t do it, it shows in the work. I also make sure to seal my work.
When the headphones are on and you're hours deep into a project, what's on your playlist to keep the energy up?
It is a bit of everything but recently I have been using Apple Music’s discover playlist. It takes what I like and shows me things in similar genres. It’s nice to listen to new things without searching for them. Then whenever I really like a song I add it to my favorites… then I often cycle through my favorites playlists lol! Hopefully that made sense!
what is some advice you want to give anyone who is wanting to get into this kind of customizing?
The best advice I can give is to keep going. Trial and error is your friend and you shouldn’t be afraid to mess up. I’d say to be patient, stay humble and that you can go as far as you want if you put the time in.
How to Customize Mickey Ears:
A Step-By-Step Guide
1The Before the Magic Prep
Apply Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer to a cotton pad. Gently wipe down the entire surface of the ears 3 to 5 times. This strips away the factory topcoat, leaving a clean canvas for the paint to grab onto. Ensure all dust, lint, and residue are wiped away before moving to your base coat.
2Character Outlining and Colors
Use a soft graphite pencil or a light-colored watercolor pencil to gently sketch your character onto the ears.
3The First Layer of Magic Paint
Apply your character's colors in multiple thin layers rather than one thick coat. Let each coat dry completely before adding the next. This prevents the paint from trapping moisture, which leads to cracking when the ears flex.
4The Magic Touch Details
your background and character colors are 100% dry, go back in with a fine detail brush or an Angelus Paint Marker filled with Angelus Black to do the final outlines. This covers up any messy color edges and gives the character that classic cartoon pop.
5The Happily Ever After Seal
Before applying any sealer, let the ears dry completely for a few hours. Using a clean, soft brush or an airbrush, apply Angelus Acrylic Finisher in 2 to 3 thin, even coats.
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