Featuring: Verlese Pender, CEO of Lovely Customs by Lese

Project Ownership had the pleasure of speaking with Verlese Pender, a nationally recognized artist and creative wellness innovator with over 17 years of experience. As a facilitator and visionary, Verlese designs and leads creative wellness workshops and develops resources that help people find their voice and express themselves through images, colors, and innovation.

Research shows that art can boost dopamine and reduce cortisol levels, and Verlese believes creativity is a universal language with the power to heal, connect, and transform lives. Her innovative approach bridges the gap between creativity and mental wellness, using art to foster resilience, enhance self-expression, and improve mental health outcomes for youth and adults alike.

What inspired her to become an owner, and how did she get started?

Verlese’s creative spark was lit by her father, Vernon Lee Pender Sr., a master carpenter whose imagination transformed wood and fiberglass into functional art in their communities in Philly and Central Florida, and at home through his creations of custom furniture, toys, candy dispenser and other treasures for Verlese and her siblings as children and later, for their children. These works of art remain as daily reminders of his love, brilliance, and the generational memories he built.

Verlese’s own journey as a business owner began with t-shirts she designed for herself and her family, although she was always drawn to the arts as a child. As demand for her work grew — first custom t-shirts, then home décor like welcome signs, wall art, and memorial pieces- she began to receive her first international orders. What began as a side hustle became a steady source of income for her as a mother who parents independently. Eventually, she gave herself permission to dream bigger- envisioning a business that went beyond shirts and décor, and recognizing the powerful bridge between art and wellness. That vision led her to the work she loves most today — creating one-of-one pieces—she never paints the same thing twice, and facilitating art experiences that bring joy, healing, and transformation, especially for youth and young adults.

What impact has ownership had on her life, family, and community?

Art became Verlese’s lifeline during post-partum depression after the birth of her youngest son in 2018, reconnecting her to painting and crafting. This personal healing became the foundation for her business’s tagline: Art Speaks Louder Than Words. Today, Verlese uses art to help youth and young adults discover their voices, build resilience, and experience healing — something her own sons now enjoy as well.

Through her business, Verlese creates safe spaces where art is more than a pastime — it’s a healing outlet and coping mechanism. She’s worked with youth from all walks of life, including those in community programs, child welfare and foster care systems, justice programs, churches, and civic organizations. Watching them grow, open up, and embrace their creativity is one of her greatest rewards.

What fears or challenges did she have before becoming an owner, and how did she overcome them?

For Verlese, art is deeply personal — an extension of herself. Putting her work into the world felt vulnerable, especially knowing some people view art as “just a school elective,” undervalue its significance and impact, or degrade the beauty of imperfect creations. At times, it wasn’t only the outside opinions, but her own internal fears—shaped by the scrutiny art so often receives—that almost kept her from sharing her work.

To overcome this, she reminds herself that the beauty of art lies in the artist’s vision and all of its unduplicated imperfections. She embraced the truth that art can be a healing legacy passed down through generations. 

Today, Verlese focuses on the transformation she witnesses in her workshops: young people gaining a sense of belonging, learning to express their emotions in healthy ways, increasing confidence, and creating without comparison or judgment.

What advice would she give someone who’s never owned an income-producing asset but wants to start an art business?

Verlese’s advice is simple: Don’t overcomplicate it.

• You don’t have to take expensive classes unless you want to — “YouTube University” is full of free lessons.

• Be authentic – you don’t have to say yes to everyone. The right people will find you.

• Draw inspiration from others, make it your own, and be willing to pivot along the way.

• Fulfill your vision. Just start. Just create.

• For parents and caregivers: avoid criticizing a young person’s work. It’s not your art and not your voice. Criticism can crush their confidence. Let them imagine and create freely.

Work with Verlese

Bring the power of art and wellness to your next event or program. Verlese specializes in facilitating engaging workshops for leaders interested in incorporating art into their youth programs and services, delivering inspiring talks on the impact of art on mental wellness, and leading creative wellness workshops — online, in-person, or on-site. Verlese also offers commissioned art. 

Connect with her by visiting her website at www.lovelycustomsbylese.com to start the conversation, and follow her on social media.

A Behind the Art Special

Verlese’s latest series celebrates Black women in all their complexity, power, and grace — each piece a reflection of her own journey. Dream longs to break free from overthinking [sold]. Courage pushes through darkness [sold]. Beauty looks upward, embracing her radiance. Unapologetic confronts stereotypes with bold red lips and fearless pride.

Touches of yellow and gold run through her work—yellow, her favorite color, and gold, a sentimental nod to its power, grace, elegance, worth made even more meaningful by the gold jewelry her father always gifted her—transforming each piece into a story of heritage, healing, and unapologetic self-expression.