Today we’d like to introduce you to Terri Scott
Hi Terri, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I came to Memphis in 2010, after I graduated high school near New Orleans, to pursue a career in art. I was a shy and introverted kid, so living in a dorm-house with seven girls and attending Memphis College of Art was a complete culture shock! Yet, it was the beginning of my self-discovery.
In 2014, I graduated with a BFA and concentrations in illustration and painting. I immediately got a job with Church Health as a digital design scholar. It was part of their Scholar’s Program, which is a gap-year program. I worked in the publications department and assisted the graphic designer, and I illustrated my first magazine there.
After the gap-year program was up, they hired me to illustrate the next 20 issues of their quarterly magazine, “The Church Health Reader.” I did all this while teaching for MCA’s Community Education program and working as a server at Belly Acres, a local restaurant, for three years. Then I got married and worked at The Art Project, a children’s art studio, for five years.
Fast forward through the Pandemic, I illustrated a couple of self-published children’s books and celebrated my queer identity by illustrating a series called “Pride Cats”! All the while working on my first traditionally published children’s book, “Dreaming of Memphis.”
As was meant to be, my ex and I divorced and life became tumultuous. Yet, despite that, I put all of my energy into finishing that children’s book and teaching summer art camps. Not to mention, I discovered a love and talent for karaoke and performing!
Fast forward again, and I’m engaged to my karaoke partner, I’m a published children’s book illustrator, and I’m working toward getting my MAT in Special Education! Never did I expect my life to go in this direction, but I couldn’t be happier and appreciative.
I tell my students they can be any and all things that they want to be! They don’t have to pick just one thing. For instance, I’m a graphic designer, illustrator, comic artist, art teacher, singer, performer, and SPED teacher! Life ain’t linear. It’s a rollercoaster with loop-de-loops, slow inclines, and terrifying declines. Says the person who loves rollercoasters, ha!
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?
Definitely not! I spent the majority of my life with undiagnosed depression/anxiety/ADHD/C-PTSD…you name it! Yet, that didn’t stop me from being stubborn and not giving up. Quitting was never an option for me. I was always an over-achiever. Valedictorian in high school, Salutatorian in under-grad, Golden Child, goodie-two-shoes type of person. I still am, but now I know WHY I am and how it’s not always a good thing.
Despite my traumatic childhood, I was very naive to the world. Too trusting and passive. Luckily life taught me to speak up and now I can’t stop talking! The year after MCA was hard. I didn’t touch acrylic paint for a year. I didn’t find out I had anxiety and depression until 2018 when I broke down from over-working myself. I only recently got an official diagnosis for ADHD, which answers SO many questions!
Since then, I’ve been a strong advocate for mental health awareness and finding resources (that actually work) is a passion project of mine. I try to incorporate art into every lesson I teach, because I believe art is restorative and cathartic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’d like to show my appreciation for my professors at Memphis College of Art and Lizy Heard from Church Health for helping me find my artistic direction. Without the guidance and encouragement to try new things, I’d be stuck on the same painting I started 10 years ago. Illustrating the “Church Health Reader” for all those years helped me figure out my “style” and embrace digital art tools. I used to be SO against digital art, convinced by the fine artists around me that it’s not “real art.” Have you tried painting on Photoshop or Procreate? That stuff is hard! I struggled at first getting to know the programs. I was so used to rendering in acrylic paint. I had this thought that no one would take my art seriously if it was digital. I felt pressure to make high art that could be hung in galleries.
And then I asked myself…is that really what I want? Nah, I just want to draw cats, cartoons, and rainbows. I want to make art messes with kids and watch them giggle in delight. I want to be colorful and kitschy and approachable. I want to spread joy, but also compassion, in my art.
One of my favorite moments was when I was selling my “Pride Cat” art at a local comic con, and some alternatively dressed teens came up and excitedly shouted, “OH LOOK! GAY CATS!” They saw themselves represented, and that warmed my heart. That was the goal, after all.
The “Dreaming of Memphis” project was special to me in that I truly see Memphis as my home. I had a difficult childhood and moved constantly, so finally having a place to grow roots and bloom means so much to me. I included artwork of the Mississippi River, which connects me to my Louisiana family. I included BBQ Fest, since I volunteered for Memphis In May for a few years. I snuck in people that I cherish. In fact, my favorite part of illustrating is designing characters inspired by friends and family.
I’ve also created tons of custom family portraits of all types of families! I have a very storybook, graphic style, with focuses on color and pattern. In fact, it’s hard for me to create art if there isn’t a personal piece attached to it. I ask clients for personality details, favorite colors, special interests, etc. to truly put life into the family portraits. I’m a visual storyteller and must have a story for every piece!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Do what you love until they love what you do. My gran first told me that quote. Basically, it means that instead of stressing yourself out making art you THINK people will like, just have fun making art that YOU like. It’s rare for an artist to become famous overnight. It takes time to get to where you want to go, and sometimes you have to bus tables and do side jobs to make ends meet. There’s no shame in that. In fact, people who work in the service industry are the smartest, strongest people I know! It doesn’t make you a failure if your first job isn’t in your field. In fact, many people who have jobs in their fields ALSO have to work other jobs to make ends meet. Although, that’s a topic for another day.
Pricing:
- Family Portrait- $50/person, $30/pet
- Book Illustration- email for details
- Pride Cat prints- $15/each
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scottylynn.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scotty.lynn/
