Why Miss Thing!

When I worked at our local library, one of my patrons was an adorable preschooler. She would tell her mom she wanted to go to the library and see “Miss Thing.” We had no idea where she came up with it, but it was so cute! So, as I began dabbling with watercolor, I signed my work “Miss Thing.”

When I decided to get serious about making and selling art, I looked up the term, Miss Thing. (Oh, the joy of naming one’s website!) I found out that “to call a woman ‘miss thing’ is to suggest that she has little merit and yet walks around with an undeserved sense of superiority.” (urbandictionary.com)

I thought, “Oh, no! I’m gonna have to come up with another name!” But then I thought more of it. You know what? I’m absolutely not superior to anyone, but I have been given undeserved merit through my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Not only that, before the 1970s, miss thing was said as a form of praise to a female child who performed well at a task. (Stack Exchange) I don’t need the pressure of perfectionism, but I will strive for excellence in my art.

So, hello, I’m Miss Thing! My pseudonym reminds me to be thankful for my relationship with Christ and to keep growing in my art practice. But it also reminds me not to take myself too seriously—I want to make art and let it go. I hope it brings you joy.

-MiSS THiNG