Today we’d like to introduce you to Chandler Sherry.
Chandler, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello! My name is Chandler Sherry and I am 23 years old. I grew up in Marietta, Georgia and attending the University of Georgia. I graduated in 2022 with a degree in Textile Design and a double minor in Design and Media Studies and Fashion Merchandising. My company is called Chan Art. I curate a creative twist on our favorite classic collegiate mascots. I love to use untraditional colors and styles to depict school mascots.
If you were to ask me prior to graduating if I would be a full-time artist and entrepreneur, I would have not believed you. I stumbled upon my niche art style right before graduating. In my last semester of college, I was doing a pop-up at the Lamar Dodd School of Art and I printed off a few of my bulldawg drawings. They were a hit and sold out! From there, I was shopping at a popular boutique in downtown Athens and asked if they were interested in the print. They were, they were my first wholesaler, and we planned my first pop-up!
For my first pop-up, I decided that I wanted to add a flair to my designs. I offered to embellish the prints live with all sorts of materials, including disco tiles! People loved it! From that point, I realized that there was a niche for FUN and colorful artwork that gives a nod to collegiate memories and mascots. I officially started my business in June 2022 and did 26 pop-ups in that same year. From that point, I have had so many incredible experiences with Chan Art. One of my favorites was doing a live painting for the SEC at the SEC Championship in Atlanta. I do custom work and commissions, wholesale, and po-ups! Overall, it has been an incredible journey!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing good and worth it is easy!
Starting a company right after college has been a journey of growth. I wouldn’t quite describe the journey as a struggle but a huge push outside of my comfort zone. I have learned something new every single day. I tell myself that if I am feeling too comfortable, I am not pushing myself enough.
Both of my parents were entrepreneurs, so their guidance has been invaluable. They have provided incredible guidance and advice on how to create a profitable business.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
For the past five years, I have been creating, selling, and distributing original pieces of abstract works all around Georgia and the United States. My main focus is creating a creative twist to our favorite and beloved classic collegiate mascots. As a textile design major and fashion merchandising and design and media minor at the Lamar Dodd School of Art, I have been concentrating on color composition and textures to enhance my paintings, prints, and products. I love to use bold strokes and abstract lines to create loose images and serendipitous pieces of work. I do custom commissions, pop-ups, and wholesale!
I would describe my work as serendipitous. The definition of serendipitous is “occurring or discovered by chance in a happy or beneficial way.” This is my style, method, and of my inspiration! Recently, I have been inspired by college mascots and memories. My goal for my art is to curate those special, exciting, and happy moments in a person’s college experience through color and design. I am inspired by finding the balance of giving a nod to those memories but in a modern, tasteful, and fun approach!
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I always loved art growing up. I have a lot of creative family members, so I was around different types of crafting, from abstract fine art, knitting, sewing, crochet, printmaking, etc. I remember one of my favorite projects to make as a child was pillows. I would cut out shapes of flowers from leftover fabrics and sew them individually onto a single panel to make a collage bouquet. I was about 7 when I did this.
As I got older, I was never able to take an art class in middle and high school. My school schedule didn’t have an open time. I really started to get into painting my senior year of high school as a stress reliever.
As I started college, I discovered that the University of Georgia offered a degree in Textile Design, and I thought it was such a cool way to apply design and art to fabric! We are surrounded by textiles, yet we rarely notice that everything’s print was created by a textile designer!
Pricing:
- 8″x10″ prints are 25.00
- gifts from 6.00-50.00
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chanartchanart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanartchanart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chanartllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chandler-sherry-40413b17a/
Image Credits
Haley James
