Expresses her politics in paintings
From artistic detail to molecules, DeJoan Mitchell’s unique eye for art and medicine has her on the move in life.
“When doing this thing you have to look at the details and pay attention to the person, noticing little things that could help a person,” Mitchell said of how art developed her eye for detail. “At school, it helped with all the different shapes of medicine, such as molecules.”
The Destrehan High School graduate plans to study anesthesiology at Dillard University in fall.
Mitchell’s richly detailed paintings stand out on the canvas as a portrait or mural design with intricate details on everything from faces to patterns that speak to the mind.
They are graphically fascinating, but also speak to the mind.
“I focused on more social issues such as police brutality and took time to express these issues in my art work,” Mitchell said. “They also helped me in maturing and becoming a person with ideas and viewpoints on issues that are big right now.”
Describing herself as “a very social person,” she loves the interpretative interplay with people about her art.
When people inquired about her artistic statements, she was ready to talk about it.
The St. Rose resident saw it as an opportunity to bring light to issues.
“From what I heard so far, they think it’s interesting,” Mitchell said. “They end up learning something. Most people like the colors and the way it moves. Some people are not fans because they don’t agree with it, but that’s just life.”
Mitchell wants to make a difference. [pullquote]“It was like a big ole family for the most part, especially with Mr. Weber principal). He was a lot of fun.” -DeJoan Mitchell[/pullquote]
“I feel like with all these things going on, that no matter how many protests, it doesn’t seem people are listening,” she said of her paintings. “Sometimes people need visuals to learn. It might help people to understand … to open their eyes.”
They also opened Mitchell’s eyes to the necessity of being vigilant for details in medicine and her love of science.
Mitchell said the two are a connecting point for her, particularly with her father dealing with numerous heart issues that required multiple surgeries.
“With all these different things happening, it would be great to be in the room with these issues and be able to help them through these procedures,” she said of her times with father at the hospital. “I think the medicine part is really cool.”
This observation, along with her mother’s encouragement, inspired Mitchell’s career path to anesthesiology.
But she isn’t giving up art.
Mitchell said her father and uncle are helping her develop a business where she can sell her art.
“I come from a family of creative people who are pretty much all musicians, a lot of singers and my cousins do art, too,” she said. “They do custom work, too, so I guess you could say it’s a family thing.”
She also recalled with great fondness her years at DHS.
Mitchell was vice president and treasurer of the Culture Club. She said she applied her artistic skills to making banners for many groups and was homecoming queen this year.
“It was a like a big ole family for the most part, especially with Mr. Weber (principal). He was a lot of fun. He was a good guy,” she said. “Hopefully, my college will be like that.”
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