Today we’d like to introduce you to April Batterman.
Hi April, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My name is April Batterman and I was born in Lubbock, TX but grew up mostly in the surrounding suburbs of Atlanta. Most my family is from Buffalo, NY. I have my own esthetics business April Marie Aesthetics in downtown Decatur, GA and have worked in the spa industry for 25 years. I enjoy powerlifting and have been lifting since 2021. I’ve always been artistic and pursued a wide variety of mediums, and even apprenticed for tattooing for a couple of years back around 2009. My grandfather was a woodworker and he introduced me to the craft at a young age. I have been consistently creating cutouts and aged household items for the past year.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In 2024 I experienced two different hand injuries that unfortunately put my esthetics career in jeopardy and my ability to create on hold. Once my hands healed I came to the realization that life and our mobility is not always guaranteed. No time like the present to start living your dreams. Due to the nature of woodworking I never had the space or tools in the past to bring my aspirations into fruition. My husband generously gifted me a scroll saw last Christmas. Once I created space in my garage and became comfortable with my scroll saw it was off to the races. I haven’t stopped creating since.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’ve always been a painter focusing mostly on people and portraits. I have grown a lot this past year. Being more confident with my own sketches and drawings. I have dabbled in artists markets over the years but never really committed due to my esthetics career and also becoming a mother in 2015. I recently participated in The Oddities Museum Holiday Market and it was a great success. I have some of my work at their store Rainy Day Revival in Chamlbee Tucker. I get inspired by antique and thrift shops. I have always had a love for antiques and second hand goods, old handmade folk art signs and cutouts really speak to me. The crude nature of peoples custom-made items that always look a little off or askew. My favorite part of creating is the distressing and aging process, I tend to not be happy with a piece until it looks a little beat up. My grandmother collected sad clown figurines and I started collecting vintage clowns once she passed, it helps me feel closer to her, and my clown pieces especially I create in her memory.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I’ve always been a person that has to create. I have been consistently working on something through out my life starting from a very young age. The past decade has been a lot to take in. Creating is my great escape from the chaos of the world. At the end of the day I do art for me. If people like what I do thats just icing on the cake.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/notnormalfun/
Image Credits
David Batterman
