Today we’d like to introduce you to Artsy Elaine.
Hi Artsy Elaine, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My road to being a full-time artist and muralist started in 2018 when I saw a public art call to paint a power box in Old Fourth Ward. Living in Atlanta after growing up in Roswell, I had been really amazed by all the street art around and I was excited about the idea of painting a mural. I had never painted a mural before, but I had painted all my life and was a graphic designer as my career. Once I figured it out and did that first mural, I just kept on doing one project after the other until I felt like I had enough experience and momentum to market myself and find work. In 2021 after the pandemic started, I knew I wanted to try working for myself doing art because I would never know if I could do it unless I tried. So that summer I quit my day job and went full-in on my art. It’s been going pretty well ever since but it’s definitely been a roller coaster. You always have to be putting yourself out there, or applying to calls or making connections. A lot of time you’re sowing seeds for potential projects that may not happen for a long time, but you have to have patience and perseverance if you’re going to make it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It’s never a smooth road if you’re pursuing being a small business owner, especially today. There are lots of uncertainties around work and income stability as the seasons change and as the economy fluctuates. You just have to learn that there are up times and down times, and that it’s part of the journey. My biggest struggle at the beginning was just taking the leap to believe in myself to pursue being an artist full-time. Along the way though I’ve gotten burnt out a few times for doing too much, and I have to learn how to rebalance my workload and not take on too much.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an Atlanta-based artist and muralist specializing in public art – I’m known for my bright colors, flowers, and lettering often used in my mural designs. I am most proud of some of the massive murals I’ve been able to complete: a basketball court mural, a bridge underpass in the West End, a parking garage at Atlantic Station, and a bridge underpass in Athens, GA. All of these projects stretched me and what I thought I was capable of doing. What differentiates myself from others as a muralist is really focusing on the problem-solving aspect of mural creation. While I love beautifying spaces, murals usually start with a more specific goal in mind and that really sets the strategy for why a mural is needed and what kind of design is the best fit. I am also a fine artist, creating smaller works for various galleries around town such as ABV, Cat Eye Creative, and Empire Arts Gallery. I create mostly floral or typographic works on wood panels, or do woodcuts, and I’m exploring integrating other mediums as well.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was into art and a lot of other things such as playing basketball, but I spent a lot of time on my own crafting as well. People probably would have described me as shy, but what I really was was introverted. As I’ve grown up, I’ve become more confident and outgoing in the world, even though I am still an introvert at my core – meaning I need solitude to recharge and am not a social butterfly. But I love to meet people, especially new folks in the art world and make connections.
Pricing:
- $4k+ murals for homes, not-profits or schools
- $5k+ murals for businesses
- $500+ custom art
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elainestephenson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artsy_elaine
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineStephensonArt/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainestephenson/
- Other: https://artsyelaine.bsky.social
