Mynecia (Mya) Steele is a native of Eutaw, Alabama. Growing up in a small town, her favorite childhood memories were made right in her own home, drawing with her older sister and her parents. Born to a barber and a baker, creativity was in her bones. Unfortunately, the schools that she attended did not offer art classes. So, when her parents found someone in the community that taught art lessons, they signed her up right away. Steele visited Danky Blanton weekly for about 3 years. They’d spend afternoons drawing, painting, and crafting, with Danky encouraging Mya to further develop her skills.

Her senior year of high school, Mya took her first shot at starting a business. She started charging $5 for hand drawn portraits of her classmates. After her first college art class, she started to brand herself on social media with the name Drawings By Mya, now known as This Is Myne Designs. In her spare time, she continued to draw portraits, but began to experience an increase in demand for digital artwork, which has become her specialty.

Mya earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Graphic Design from Troy University. She interned with The Greene County Democrat, Tropolitan, and Troy Messenger newspapers while attending Troy University. During that time she exercised both her writing and design skills. She often created political cartoons, designed creative artwork to accompany articles, and drafted advertisements.

Mya’s a typical middle child; the quiet and creative type. She loves impacting people through art. In 2016, Steele founded and taught the This Is Myne: Summer Art Class for junior high students. The program focused on helping kids develop a sense of pride and ownership. The program continued in 2017. At the close of each summer, the students hosted their own art showcase/award ceremony.

Mya continues working with children through the 21st Century after-school program in the Greene County School System, where she spent her childhood. She sells posters of her personal art projects and keeps herself open for commission a she grows the This Is Myne Design brand.