Rich Mitchell, a local Downingtown artist, has returned to his love of art unexpectedly and on a mission to express the importance of anti-perfectionism.
Mitchell left the education field in July 2023 after a 20 year career to start his own life coaching business. What he didn’t expect during this life shift was to rediscover his creative self and re-enter the world of art; not just as a hobbyist, but as a professional artist with a purposeful message.
“I came into artwork almost inadvertently, I was working with my son,” Mitchell shared. His son was struggling with perfectionism, which reminded Mitchell of the art he made in his younger years, high school and throughout college and his time in the Army.
“He was drawing, but he was always getting frustrated. It reminded me of the art I used to do, which was pointillism or black and white line drawing. You have to be perfect with it or it won’t turn out correctly.” At the time, Mitchell stopped drawing altogether, as the then-hobby had become a source of stress and anxiety rather than a form of escape.
As he watched his son chase perfection, Mitchell made an intentional shift. He began drawing again, this time with the goal of not getting it right. Mitchell deliberately incorporated mistakes into his art, broke his own rules, and added color for the first time, showing his son the very art of imperfection.
Those drawings from decades ago represented his state of mind at the time. “The rigidness of the Army and my self-imposed rigidness reflected that time of my life, it showed how I was living my life and how I was attempting to be perfect.”
After posting a picture of his artwork, he quickly gained attention, which resulted in someone asking for a commission piece. Thus, Rich Mitchell Creative was born.
The Art of Imperfection
At its core, Mitchell’s art is rooted in the idea of imperfection. It’s what he tries to convey through his art each day; that imperfection is a way to make life fun.
“I aspire to imperfection. The more imperfect I am, the more perfect it is.” Mitchell said. “Art is supposed to be fun and when you go into it with a perfectionist mindset, you lose that.”
Mitchell’s work is based in watercolor, primarily using black fine line pen, alcohol markers, and paint pens. His pieces are vibrant, emotionally resonant, and unapologetically loose.
His art is mostly commission work. Mitchell draws people’s homes and community spaces and businesses.
“I’ve done pictures of people’s homes, where they’re moving out after 50 years or moving into their first ever home.” he shared. Mitchell also noted how much he loves being a part of a community, representing the town. He has completed several pieces about local Downingtown places, including R Five Wines, Green Street Grill, and Anthony’s Cucina Fresca. Mitchell has also drawn several popular sports stadiums.
Mitchell primarily focuses his artwork on buildings. “I’ll look around town, see a building, and know it’ll look really cool in my style.” He is currently completely a few landmark pieces, such as the West Chester Courthouse building and is looking to get into landscapes as well.
Some of his favorite art pieces he’s created are the Philadelphia LOVE statues(“Every time my kids and I go, we take a picture there.”), the first picture he sold of Estrella, a now-closed restaurant, and his Citizens Bank Park piece.
“It’s very touching for people to have a reaction to my art. When someone hangs a picture of my art in their house, it’s an honor.” said Mitchell.
Art as a Business, Art as a Message
While art often carries the stigma of being a passion project rather than a profession, Mitchell is challenging that too.
“I do not adhere to the ‘starving artist’ mentality because this is how I make my living,” he said. “My business is for my kids, to care for them.”
Although, Mitchell noted that the hardest part of being a working artist is learning how to help people see the value in his work and want to invest in it. He’s found the Downingtown community especially welcoming and fully engaging in the community to be the most beneficial, both for his business and his sense of home.
“In Downingtown, people take care of each other, support one another, and show up for community events.” Mitchell said. “When Hurricane Ida came through, I lost my car and everything I owned. The very next morning, people came out of the woodwork to help and bring food.” Mitchell is a single dad to three children and was amazed to see the community come together so strongly for those who were struggling in the Downtown area at the time.
Some of his favorite Downingtown spots are Evergreen Coffee, Bailey Family Chiropractor, and The Wright Agency, as well as many local realtors he works closely with. In the art scene, he finds inspiration from Pottstown-based artist Amber Stetler and Brian Herns, who he met in the education industry.
Mitchell’s work will be available for sale at the upcoming Downingtown Fall Fest and he is working on some individual installations at some studio galleries as well.
Imperfect by Design
Rich Mitchell’s work is more than just beautiful artwork. It’s an invitation to let go. To loosen the grip of control. To see the cracks as part of the whole. And to understand that mistakes aren’t flaws, but features.
His mission isn’t just about making art, it’s about changing the way people think about themselves and their lives. Through bold lines, bright colors, and intentional imperfections, he’s asking people to reconsider the goal.
“Perfection doesn’t exist — not in art, and definitely not in life,” Mitchell said. “Once you accept that, everything opens up. You can finally enjoy the process.”
And for Mitchell, that’s where the real masterpiece lies.
To purchase or commission an art piece or to learn more, visit Rich Mitchell Creative.
