Trish, 52 – The 50 Over 50 Women’s Portrait Campaign
Trish, 52
Where are you from, and where do you currently live?
From Johannesburg and currently living in Cape Town.
If your friends were to describe you, what would they say?
Loving, intelligent, and VERY quirky!
What is your favourite quote or saying?
“Let the beauty of what you love, be what you do.” Rumi
What would you say you are most proud of?
Raising a family of three children, all born in under 15 months;
having the courage to make a life-altering and very difficult decision in my late 30s around my marriage;
deciding to become a professional artist in my early 40s despite never having trained as an artist,
but probably most importantly having an unswerving dedication to pursuing my spiritual life since I was 14 years old.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To make sure you know the difference between a decision you make with your head, and one made with your heart –
and to always, always (only always) follow the soft, gentle heart opening that accompanies a heart-led decision.
Also, love your children with all your heart and all your soul, but remember that one day (before you realise it) they will fly off to start their own lives,
and you will need to make sure you still have a life you consider interesting (and challenging) ahead of you. Your children will be inspired by it, and thank you for it, too.
What is a goal or dream you still wish to accomplish?
I have always dreamed of pursuing a quiet, more rural country cottage lifestyle in England and I am hopefully going to start making that dream a reality by the end of this year,
whilst also pursuing my art career internationally at the same time. I love seasonal living – and so look forward to watching the Wheel of the Year turn in the northern hemisphere.
What are your thoughts on ageing?
My answer today is SO different to what I would have said ten years ago.
Ten years ago I would have said it was something I was sincerely dreading: the loss of my youth.
Now I have come to see how valuable the elder woman – the ‘Wise Woman’ – is to our society and world.
They bring lessons to us all on how to live well and the ability to share their wisdom and experience with the next generation.
Allowing women to age gracefully and naturally – and not chasing some ‘ideal’ – means that women are able to spend much more time guiding
the next generations instead of expending precious energy chasing outward appearances.
I am also extremely blessed to have a husband who feels this very strongly, too!
What did you enjoy most about The 50 Over 50 Women’s Portrait Campaign? And how did the experience leave you feeling?
One of the most impressive aspects of working with Monica was how she made me feel as the subject of her photography.
From the moment I stepped into her studio, she exuded an infectious enthusiasm and genuine warmth that instantly put me at ease.
Monica’s ability to create a comfortable and relaxed environment allowed me to fully embrace the experience and be my authentic self in front of the camera.
Her natural talent for capturing the essence of her subjects was truly remarkable, and she effortlessly brought out the best in me during the photo session.
It was an empowering and uplifting experience that left me feeling beautiful, confident, and proud of my journey as a woman over 50.
Monica’s ability to make her subjects feel comfortable and embody their essence is truly a testament to her exceptional skills as a photographer.
How did you hear about the 50 Over 50 Women’s Portrait campaign?
Referred by a fellow photographer, Kristi Agier.
Trish Mitchell is a phenomenal Fine Artist, specialising in Exquisite Botanical Paintings! Here is a link to her work: click HERE
I was in Sweden last year on holiday in December when I launched The 50 Over 50 Women’s Portrait Campaign, and we first got to connect back then.
I am so inspired by Trish becoming an artist in her 40s, and looking at her artwork, it’s as though she has been an artist her entire life.
Her botanicals appear alive as if you could reach into the canvas and pull out the perfect blossom.
I was so great to see that Forbes is also running a 50 Over 50, and they started their campaign intro with “Age can be your superpower!” which is so aptly put!
Hair and Makeup: Donna Hay
