Meet Betsy Mitten | Surface Pattern Designer, Artist, and Educator

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

Hi Betsy, other than deciding to work for yourself, what else do you think played a pivotal role in your story?
It’s difficult to pick one actual moment, but I believe the willingness to stretch beyond my comfort zone and take a risk, apply to a program, submit the work, send the email, make the call, when I push myself beyond my comfort zone good things happen.

If I go way back, applying to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was the start. I had a BA from a big university, but I had always wanted to get an art degree. We were newly married, and my husband encouraged me to go after my dream. I enrolled as an undeclared student, took a full load of classes, put together a portfolio and applied. I was wildly nervous, but was accepted and it turned out to be the beginning of everything I’m doing now. I don’t think an art degree is necessary for everyone, but it mattered to me and that was why it was so important.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a surface pattern designer, artist, and teacher. My work, whether it’s surface pattern design, a piece of art, or creating and teaching a class, is all influenced by my love of the natural world. My surface pattern designs are used on products such as fabric, home decor, stationary goods, and wallpaper.

I currently teach classes online and I am very excited that I just published my first Skillshare class, Mini Box Collages: Create Beautiful Collages with Easy to Find Materials. I was thrilled to learn that my Intro to Mini Box Collage class was chosen as a Featured class by Skillshare. I have a special place in my heart for beginners of all ages and love making information accessible. I’ve been thrilled with the reviews and the projects that people have created. While it wasn’t easy to learn all the tech, film, and edit my first recorded online class, I loved the process and I’m already planning my next course for Skillshare.

Prior to 2020, I had designed and implemented art and nature classes for decades at museums, schools, and for private groups. The pause in teaching in 2020 gave me the opportunity to pursue a long held dream of learning how to design fabric digitally.

I studied Textiles and Fibers at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, mixing my own dye formulas and then dying fabric by hand, creating patterns with silk screened images and even hand painting and printing yards of silk. I opened a studio after graduation but found it was not a sustainable business. One of my favorite classes in art school was the history of textiles. I realized how many connections existed between textiles and natural history and I had always loved teaching. I pitched several ideas for public programs to the Field Museum of Chicago and my career in teaching began.

I later returned to school and earned a Montessori Elementary Diploma and an M.Ed. After 6 years in the classroom I transitioned back to museum work at the Chicago Botanic Garden and later The Morton Arboretum. I credit the opportunities I had in those work environments to learn more about science, nature, teaching and designing great programs for 1,000’s of visitors and students as being key to my current work.

What Sets You Apart?

My education, work experience, and understanding of how nature and art intersect as well as my ability to make information accessible is what I believe sets me apart.

What are you Most Excited About?

I’m most excited about the opportunities to teach online. I will always continue to design patterns, but more of my focus will be on developing classes, at least in the short run. In addition to publishing Skillshare classes, I offer “Idea Spark Mini Tutorials” to my newsletter community and on my YouTube Channel. I plan to offer online workshops in the future and eventually a limited number of in person retreats and workshops.

I’ve wanted to create an online class for some time, but I needed to learn how to work with an editing program and I wanted to make sure I was able to deliver the same personalized attention I would give someone standing in front of me. I took a long time to think about all of the sticking points and to address them. Fortunately students can always reach out to me, too.

Right now I’m most proud of publishing my Skillshare Class. Learning Adobe Illustrator and how to create a repeat pattern digitally would be a very close second!

How do you get to where you are today professionally – was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

My career path has been guided by pursuing the next best opportunity that interested me. There has always been a thread of art, teaching, and nature or science in my work. There have certainly been many challenging times and complete changes in direction. It’s looking back that I can see the common threads that run through my life and how each experience was important.

Most recently, creating the class was full of challenges from tech, to time away due to unplanned family responsibilities and even a mishap with a grocery cart and a toe – yes I broke it and it will be okay, but it did slow me down. It had been a goal for a few years and it was something I really wanted. On my most frustrating days I always came back to remembering that this was a goal I wanted to achieve. The frustration was never greater than my desire to complete the class.

I was so fortunate to be accepted into Skillshare’s Teach challenge and matched with a coach. That made all of the difference for me! The hardest for me was the tech and overcoming these difficulties under a tight deadline. I found reaching out for help as soon as I realized something was beyond my understanding was key. I always try to figure problems out myself but asking for help on multiple occasions helped me move ahead and meet my deadline. I was saved several times by patient technicians at Apple Support, my surface pattern design and online teaching friends, and my amazing Skillshare coach.

Lessons Learned

I’ve always been willing to put in the work, but I’ve learned several lessons that have helped me along the way.
1. I surround myself with people who are learning or interested in what I’m trying to learn and do by joining online communities that offer education, feedback and even peer groups. I look for groups that stress community over competition. I’m currently in a Mastermind, Wonder, with Artist and Creative Entrepreneur Sarah Bourne Rafferty. Bonnie Christine’s Immersion Course and Flourish Group have been key to my success. I belong to several other memberships as well as being an enthusiastic learner on Skillshare have all played a part in my success.

2. I’ve learned that some things need to be worked through and that I’ll need to ask for help. Tech often falls into that area and I no longer hesitate to pick up the phone and dial Apple Support. I love to Google questions first, but the Support and Help departments are there for a reason.

3. The importance of taking action or what seems like the next right step. The saying that “Clarity comes through engagement,” has proven true in my life. I’ve learned I can always re-route or change course. Just like hiking up a mountain or sailing, switchback and tacking are a part of the creative life experience.

What would you want the world to know about your brand and story?

My brand is all about the joy of the natural world, whimsy, calm, happy moments, either with others or as alone time. It’s a welcoming brand, that values community and encourages growth and learning for all levels of experience.

For my Surface Pattern Design: I hope my designs make people feel calm, happy and connected to the whimsy, beauty and joy of nature and the interconnectedness of all things.

For my Classes: I believe everyone is creative, I love making information accessible and one of my greatest joys is helping people find their creative spark and the pleasure of making things.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live outside of Chicago, but whenever we travel we always visit the local Botanical Garden or Arboretum, local Natural History, Art or other Museums and any of the sites for natural beauty. For example, in a coastal town we visit the aquarium, and the beach. We also love fun local shopping areas like Pearl Street in Boulder with plenty of great restaurants and unique shops.

In Chicago we would go downtown, visit the museum campus, the lakeshore, take an architecture boat or walking tour and eat at one of the many local favorites. Depending on the time of year there are great professional sports teams to see, and plenty of theater and dance performances, and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. I’d also spend a night in the city and visit one of the hotel roof top bars!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many who have encouraged me along the way but I want to recognize my husband, Roger Mitten, who has always believed in me, encouraged me to apply to art school, has been willing to live in a house full of creative projects, and continues to be a huge fan and supporter.

In addition to the support of my husband, I’ve had many wonderful teachers and colleagues who have encouraged and helped me growth creatively and personally over the years. My scientific illustration teacher, Dr. Donald Saynor, Author/Illustrator Laura Montenegro, and Surface Pattern Designer Bonnie Christine have all had a huge impact on my art skills and my career. I’m currently in Sarah Bourne Rafferty’s Mastermind Wonder, which has helped me gain tremendous clarity in my next steps, and I’d be remiss in not including my amazing artist sister, Kate Paddock, who helps me think through both creative and life questions on a daily basis.

Website: https://www.betsymitten.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betsymittenstudio/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/betsymittenstudio/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK0IQkmRaiiopf5kPUrqDew

Other: Spoonflower: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/betsy_mitten Skillshare Class: (Skillshare membership required) https://www.skillshare.com/en/classes/Intro-to-Mini-Box-Collages-Create-Beautiful-Collages-with-Easy-to-Find-Materials/334440470/projects?via=custom-lists

Image Credits
Kiersten Selby, Rosehill Road Photography