Check Out Chris And Andrea Whitaker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris And Andrea Whitaker.

Hi Chris and Andrea, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
We are Chris and Andrea Whitaker, the dynamic duo known as cornheadmuffinbrain. We make weird art for not so weird people. Married for almost 13 years, we were both born and raised in Georgia. Being crafty and creative comes naturally for us, it’s kind of in our DNA. We both come from generations of makers, crafters, farmers, quilters, sewists and even the occasional moonshiner. Everyone in our family was always tinkering with something or another. Our two creative minds just sort of take over and the art starts to take on a life of its own. We like to draw inspiration from each other, merging our distinct styles into a single collaborative piece, creating a unique, fused perspective. We are always throwing ideas back and forth. We have a neverending list of ideas and projects.

We got our start making homemade gifts for family and friends. Other folks would see our art and started asking for custom pieces. When the art started to take up too much space in our home, we started an online shop in 2011. We’ve also done a few art markets here and there throughout the city of Atlanta. And of course we had a few pieces for consignment in quirky stores, restaurants and local dive bars. The online shop was fairly successful, but we find more enjoyment playing a part in our local community. It’s nice to actually meet the folks who dig our art. We are both hoping to expand our art into more of these ventures in the near future.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It seems that nowadays the ability to set aside time and energy to focus on creation has been hijacked by full time jobs and distractions that occupy our lives. Whether it be for relaxation or for therapy, making art has the potential to restore the mind and the soul. Having an online presence was definitely smooth and exciting to start with, but making tangible art in an AI fueled digital world has become a bit more complicated. Like everything else life throws at us, we’ll figure it out along the way, together.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We tend to make offbeat but functional art. Influenced by nostalgia, pop culture, a deep love of cheesy horror movies, puns, our two cats, and everyday life experiences. Not your typical Bed, Bath and Beyond kind of stuff, more like Pee Wee Herman meets Godzilla. We have made everything from zombie shelves to unicorn shaped toilet paper holders. The majority of our art is wood, cut with a scroll saw, then mindfully hand painted on our kitchen table. We make everything as a team and are not afraid to try new mediums or ideas.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Just make something with your own two hands. Don’t stress over it, it doesn’t have to be perfect, just make it. Art doesn’t have to be good, it’s your voice, your story. This is your only lifetime, better get it while you can. Make your mark on this world and leave a great estate sale.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cornheadmuffinbrain.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/muffinbrain
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cornheadmuffinbrain/
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cornheadmuffinbrain

Image Credits
Chris & Andrea Whitaker