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Meet Chasity Hampton of Whimsical Designs by CJ in Metro-Atlanta

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Chasity Hampton.

Chasity, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I have been a professional illustrator for seven years and 2020 will mark my 5th year with Whimsical Designs by CJ! I started my company with the hope of creating art that would inspire and reflect the diverse world in which we live. As a young child, I never really saw myself reflected in the books I read. My mother, who was an educator, had me reading all the time. So I had a lot of experience of not reading about or seeing heroines or characters that looked like me. Let’s say I knew that I looked nothing like Cinderella or Snow White. So I would make up my own stories; create my fairytales. Create magical forts out of boxes or go on science expeditions in my backyard—anything to create a magical world that features a girl that looks like me. So we can say, Whimsical Designs started way back when.

Flash forward to 2013, I freelanced for a while and illustrated a few children’s book projects. The pay wasn’t great at all, but it was rewarding nonetheless. To think someone thought my talent was worth paying for was enough for me; plus, it improved my craft. But my company got it’s start a few years later when my boss (Shout out to Mrs. Lakeshia Dixon!) hired me to illustrate a book written by her and her son. After designing his character, she approached me one day to say how much it meant to not only her but him; to see himself illustrated in such a way, boosted his confidence and that was more important to her than anything else. I realized at that moment that this is what my purpose is. This is what I want to do for as long as I can. So I am incredibly thankful for the book Kaiden The Great and the Sinister Lunch Lady. It has opened many doors for me and has allowed me to share my work with many authors in our community and beyond. I have taken on so many projects that make kids feel good about themselves. They finally get to see that their differences are what make them beautiful. I have to thank God for everything. God has and continues to open doors for me, all the while, showing me the great purpose he has for me.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has not always been a smooth road. To this day, I still have challenges that I face. But I believe that running a business means being able to see these obstacles as opportunities for improvement. For instance, I struggled the most with my work; I often questioned if it was good enough. Why was it that Suzie had all these book deals and I didn’t? Why does Ken have these followers and I don’t. Comparison can be a killer of motivation and poison to creativity. I have gotten better with this throughout the years. I have come to terms with the fact that my journey is my own. The more I focused on developing my craft, the more successful I became. I started to be good at “my own thing” and confident with my creations at my own pace.

Another big hurdle for me was stepping outside of my comfort zone. Working with clients, I had to learn how to communicate effectively. I had to learn how to talk on the phone. I know that seems odd, but I was a person who would tense up at the idea of having to order pizza. It is easy to communicate by email, but an actual conversation is completely different. I am pretty confident on the phone now and even in person. I learned that, more often than not, the other person on the line is just as nervous. So I learned to take that anxiety and shift it into excitement and positivity. Because more often than not, people read that energy and give you back the same.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Whimsical Designs by CJ – what should we know?
Whimsical Designs by CJ is an Atlanta-Based children’s book illustration company focused on developing children’s books that represent every child. Working with authors of various backgrounds, we strive to create colorful, whimsical illustrations that will inspire not only the young, but the young at heart. With Whimsical Designs by CJ, you write the story. We bring it to life.

My company specializes in children’s book illustrations and we are known for creating diverse children’s books. I am most proud that the projects I take on feature minority groups. Out of all children’s books released, less than 10% feature African Americans. So it is great to know that the projects I illustrate work towards changing that. My work is different from others because of the color and it’s whimsical charm. If you look at my body of work, you will notice that I love the color. I feel that my use of color provides a sense of movement and energy that ties well with a great story.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I want to thank my mom Darnie and my Uncle Ivey for helping me iron my artwork on t-shirts and bags for my first vending event and sister Ciji for pushing me to pull an all-nighter when I wanted to throw in the towel. They worked so hard to help me bring Whimsical Designs to life and are always on the lookout for ways to support me—my little sister Char for ALWAYS looking out for me and finding me wonderful Clients like Holly Zarka. My little sister had always believed in me, even when she was too young also to talk. My brother Bruiser, despite being artistically-challenged, supporting my dream and giving sound advice. My father Perry has poured so much into us being able to see the world and the different people in it; it has formed my mission for my company. My family is just super awesome all the way around. I can’t list every single thing they have done for me. Just know I am so grateful to them. I want to thank my Fiance for Zetravius for being an awesome supporter and providing comedic relief when needed.

I want to thank other clients like Jensen Eddins for trusting me with bringing her idea to life for her book. She is a Photographer. That book challenged me to kick my illustration game up a notch. Lakeshia Dixon for trusting me with her vision and opening my eyes to what my work could do for a child’s confidence. Je’ quita Johnson for choosing me to be a part of your panel and allowing me to meet so many awesome authors in our community. Charnei Gordon (Hereweeread) for choosing me to bring her visions to life and sharing my craft with her community. Sara Habte for choosing me for her project, I have been able to see many I haven’t traveled through your book. Ashley Williams for allowing me to work on many projects with her and boosting my confidence in my craft. And Kioka Tuck for choosing me to bring her project to life and opening a door for such a wonderful opportunity for me.

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