Meet Clarissa Knighten

Today we’d like to introduce you to Clarissa Knighten.

Hi Clarissa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2007, my therapist wanted me to do something art-related with my hands due to my quiet times being so frequent, i.e., depression. It was then that jewelry was born. I didn’t realize how crucial art was going to be in the years to come. Eventually, my passion allowed me to not return to the corporate world after a 19-year career ended.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Being an entrepreneur has had its challenges. On any given day as the CEO of Rissa’s Artistic Design, my hats and roles change with the blink of an eye, if you remember I Dream of Jenny from the 1970s. Marketer, researcher, maker, teacher, CPA, bookkeeper, spokesman and the list goes on and on. Just the other day updates that generally take me minutes to do on my website ended up costing me. Why, because the software had been updated and it was easier to pay the graphic designer than to spend hours upon hours to research. It would have cost me more in the end. So, expect the unexpected.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Clients recognize my abstract style of being a risk taker when it comes to mixing materials and colors. My designs are for the influencers, those that want their voice to be heard. Having my work in a National Museum has been the highlight of my career. The Nelson Atkins Museum was on my vision board several years ago, it happened in 2021! Having the courage to break away from the traditional thought of jewelry has aligned me in position to create more sculptural wearable art.

What’s next?
Future plans include having my designs appear on Opera singers and in theatrical performances. Honestly, my dreams are so big they are impossible to contain.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: https://www.rissasartisticdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rissas_artistic_design/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rissasartisticdesign

Image Credits
J.Piggie KC Photographer Marilyn London Photography Maksim Stepanov Photography Basilio Silva