Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony Robinson.
Ebony, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Ebbs an artist and jeweler. I’m the maker behind Teabeads Art and Jewelry. I was born and bred in Memphis Tennessee and won a scholarship to Maryland Institute College of Art. That’s how I came to love and stay in Baltimore. I rested from actively pursuing a career in the arts for almost a decade, but I am an artist and the creative process is how I problem-solve.
So fast forward to 2018, I started to create again. Large drawings and funky jewelry. People started asking where can they find me so Teabeads on social media and a website ensued. I have been passionately making art and jewelry and sharing my love of fashion ever since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. The road has not been smooth. I struggled to find my way as a person and an artist after graduating. It was a struggle to get my work shown in any gallery. I also found myself surrounded by people who lacked motivation and who didn’t see becoming an artist as something worth pursuing.
I was younger and way more impressionable. I also struggled to find a place to live and a job that could pay the high cost of living in Baltimore. I was struggling with heartbreak and feelings of isolation. My life for for about a decade felt like chaos though I smiled because I didn’t want my mother to see me fail. She rooted for me in her way. Then, I lost my grandmother, then my mother, and an aunt, and the deaths just kept coming. Grief became my existence. I was breaking down. Then I separated from my husband. I had to figure it out. But what was getting me through it was creating again.
I started painting after not painting for years. I started believing that I was capable after being so torn down. I know many people struggled during covid but I found myself. I realized I was someone I missed and did not know and I started learning myself through making art and sharing it on TikTok. The kindness and mutual passion for art and creative processes that I was sharing and receiving were rebuilding my heart and my ability to make. I am the best artist I have ever been as of today. I know better is coming.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as an academic coordinator at a local university. In a way, it’s my dream job. It blends things I’m passionate about, art and education. I get to help guide potential students and care for the needs of fellow artists on the business side. I get the pleasure of working for and with artists who are at the top of their field and young aspiring artists learning the trade.
This allows me to constantly see art and interact with other artists. I’m seeing their passion and process and it makes me a more passionate and authentic artist. I’d love to tell you I am amazing at my job. But I’m still learning and know that in the future I will be amazing now I’m just working hard to keep everyone content and promoting joy when I can.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I never thought I’d be a TikTok person but TikTok. I am fortunate to have built a diverse community of fellow artists and creatives and I love seeing other artists process of making and moments of discovery.
People share real-world advice on how to get your art out there. I am learning things I never learned in school. I also love Pinterest for helping me to generate artistic ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: Teabeads.com
- Instagram: @Teabeads_
