Ok, I NEED to share this with you! I’ve just finished a mural for Adelaide Fringe Street Art Explosion. While I was painting my ‘Let Down Your Hair’ mural on Frome Street, around the corner on Mogar Lane, Mimby Jones Robinson was painting for the same project.

I had never met Mimby, only stalked her on insta and was therefore totally intimidated to go meet her. She’s incredibly talented and clearly smashing it with her art career.

Artists have this weird thing going, where some are really open and just damn passionate about all things art and other’s… well… some just keep to themselves, see another ability as a threat, and can really close off as soon as you say “Yeah, I’m an artist too”. So let me tell you five things you need to know about Mimby…

#1 – Mimby is so friendly, honest and genuine!

I went over to meet Mimby while she was painting her Love Goddess and we instantly clicked, talking about our love for colour, painting and our precious boys. Mimby has an almost 3 year old and is balancing family life and her demanding role as an artist with such style and oh so very much glitter!

*Photo supplied by Mimby Jones Robinson.*

#2 – Mimby started her career as a mural artist by word of mouth.

It didn’t surprise me when she said she used to work as a hairdresser (because she has AWESOME pink hair and she knows how to have a conversation with anyone!) and she also used to sing to children at daycare centres, both of which led her into painting.

She was first asked by the childcare centre to paint something on their wall and then in conversations to her hairdressing clients about it……. and then BOOM! People were approaching her after a wash and trim to come and paint their walls too. Voila, the rest is history!

#3 – She is as colourful as her artwork. Mimby is the real deal.

Her main painting subject matter is colourful female portraits, often with botanical headdress’ and a strong use of colour and pattern. She lives and breathes this in her work and her own attire. Mimby has a way of combining the shiniest colours with the most contrasting patterns and glittery makeup that I just cannot pull off but totally wish I could!

She really does have her own style. Before meeting her I thought her insta feed might be staged shots, but no, she seriously pulls off this look no matter the venue. Mimby hand sews her own glittery bum bags, tinsel jackets and bold flower crowns.

#4 – Mimby is afraid of heights.

You wouldn’t know it from the scale of her murals, but Mimby’s knees used to shake even when she climbed a ladder. Now she is pushing past her fears and painting on scissor lifts ten meters into the sky. She’s learning to trust that she’s safe and pushing herself mentally so that she can accomplish her dream to paint in every state. Mimby is so inspirational in the way she shares about her fear to her followers. She is open and honest about what skills she’s working on.

#5 – She is a mentor and an ongoing learner!

Mimby has experienced the cold shoulder from other artists when she’s tried to learn from them and totally chosen a different approach. Instead of keeping her ‘secrets’ close, she openly shares her process with artists, fans and random strangers when approached. While we painted together, we talked all about brands of aerosols, nozzles, where we shop, how and where we learn new techniques and experiment.

Plus, Mimby even puts up videos teaching people how to do little tricks to improve their paintings. Young girls often reach out to her through her socials and request advice and Mimbi makes time to connect and encourage them. She’s always aiming to improve her practice and admitted to me that she often will fall asleep watching painting tutorials on YouTube. She really does live and breathe her art!

So if you haven’t already, make sure you check out Mimby’s work and start following people! I was totally blown away by her humbleness, approachability and how encouraging she was. She is so driven and comfortable in herself and her own creativity. What an all round-awesome-gorgeous-fun and empowering Adelaide artist. Now go and follow her on insta!