Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Lemmons
Hi Courtney, 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?
Starting with mixed media art in high school, I learned that making art in any way shape or fashion was my passion. Life happened and it fell to the wayside for many years, but then 2020 came along. I was pregnant with my first child, in quarantine, and decided to pick up my iPad and Apple Pencil. From there, my ideas, spiraled. I started making portraits of individual people, their family, their friends, and even their homes I specialized in these for a while and quickly had my client base turn to realtors as I would paint homes for the realtors clients as either parting gifts or move-in gifts. A couple of years go by, and I decided to advance my portfolio. In this, my coloring books were born. I started with an affirmation coloring book and pivoted to a city series of coloring books that were appropriate for children and adults both. I started getting these coloring books in small boutiques across the city, expanding my client base to retail. From there I’ve gotten my children’s books in these stores and have done custom GenTeal shirts for Oxbeau in Memphis. I’ve learned over the years that through all of these different mediums, I just want to tell a story. I want to enjoy art even if it’s someone else’s story. Present day, I am still on my coloring book journey, but also writing a children’s book along with just released my first children’s book ever. I am so grateful and so happy that people find my art and my stories interesting enough to buy it for their children or their loved ones. I am so honored and to love every single one of my clients. I am excited for the future, and can’t wait to see what’s next!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, I have learned along the way that having the correct business tools in place to make myself and my client feel at ease about a contract is the key to any big project. I’ve also learned that my art is not for everyone and not to shape my art to someone else’s complete vision. Of course I want to make the client happy but I also have to stick with what I know and what I am good at. Overall, if I did not have the struggles, I wouldn’t learn from them and do better next time
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Historically, I am known for my person portraits and homes, but I am currently trying to pivot that to being only side projects wile focusing on being a children’s book illustrator. I would say that I am most proud of my books and having the hustle and bustle behind me to cold call these random businesses within the city that actually take me on as a wholesale client and have their business showcase my books. There’s nothing more satisfying and wholesome than me going by a children’s boutique and seeing one of my books front and center in the window I think what sets me apart from most people is that I have a big range of specializations. While, yes, I want to focus on children’s books and coloring books, I still can draw your family, pet and house in a heartbeat.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
If you’ve ever been one of my clients, you would probably know that I ask the questions. The questions being who is this and what’s their story. I love knowing the story behind a drawing so that I can really draw the character in a way that I think the client sees them. I want to capture every little detail that I can from the client’s perspective. I can draw a house or a family portrait all day, but if I don’t really know the story, then it’s just a portrait, and what did I say earlier? I love a story
Contact Info:
- Website: www.courtneylemmonsdesigns.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtneylemmonsmemphismade
Image Credits
Itty Bitty Bella, Courtney Lemmons
