Maker Monday: Granny Bird Designs
If you had a chance to check out the Makers North Spring Show earlier this month then you may have seen today’s maker, Granny Bird Designs. Laura-Leigh creates beautiful artwork that has been featured in print publications and art shows over the last few years. Her art is inspired by her own personal growth and innermost journey and each piece is original.
If you missed last weeks article, you can read our last Maker Monday: BananaBug Babies here.
Tell us a bit about Granny Bird Designs.
As an artist, I seek to inspire not only myself, but the world in which I live. I enjoy combining animal symbolism with my love of botanicals to create meaningful and unique pieces that help bring the outside world indoors. I started Granny Bird in 2015 as a singular place for me to share my art with family and friends. Over the past three years, it has grown to become something I am so proud of.
Growing up, I was always artistic. This followed me throughout high school, where I majored in visual arts at Sudbury Secondary School. At 24 I gave birth to my first child, and that’s when things shifted for me artistically. Like many first-time parents, I found I no longer had the time or energy I once dedicated to fostering my creativity. For years, every time I attempted to paint or draw, I was left feeling defeated. What once came so easily had been replaced with moments of struggle. Eventually, I gave up trying.
After years of encouragement, my husband Wallace finally convinced me to start painting again. For the first time in ages, I felt this overwhelming need to paint. A decade’s worth of suppressed thoughts, feelings and ideas were finally ready to be expressed. Since that fateful day in 2015, I have completed approximately 85 original paintings, and participated in over 20 art shows. Two of which, being solo exhibitions at the Motley Kitchen, and currently, Pinchman’s Café and Artisan Bakery in Sudbury’s South End.
I have been featured in 4 separate publications, taught painting classes to hundreds of local residents, and most importantly, used my art to help create awareness and raise money for local charities and causes close to my heart. Returning to art has helped me reconnect with the happiest and healthiest version of myself. I am so grateful to be doing what I love, and to be sharing this journey with others.
What is your creative process like?
I find creativity involves a great mixture of discipline, intuition, and inspiration. Art is the finished product; creativity is the process through which it comes to be. I’m not always in love with what I produce, but I always love the process.
My art is influenced by my personal growth and innermost journey. Each piece shares something through me – a teaching, a lesson, a revelation that I can then share with whoever cares to listen.
I’m lucky enough to have a home studio, so I don’t have to travel far when inspiration strikes. Working from home, I have a tendency to get easily distracted, so having a clean, well-organized workspace is a must. I like to have all supplies ready and within reach before starting any new project. It minimizes the chance for distraction.
In addition to being organized, I find music really helps set the tone for creativity. I am very influenced by sound, and I always choose my music based on mood. These days, I’ve been listening to a lot of Wilco, Angus and Julia Stone, and the Heartless Bastards while I work. Music makes me happy, and when I’m happy, I feel most creative.
How did you get started?
I started out sharing tables at local maker events with my husband, Wallace. He is a brilliant local artist, and most certainly one of my biggest sources of support and inspiration. He’s been a part of the Sudbury art scene for years now, and has often encouraged me to display my handcrafted items at his shows.
Once I had developed a surplus of paintings, I decided to start applying for shows on my own, which was both exciting and a little scary. When I first started sharing my art with others, I felt so vulnerable and intimidated. Over time, practicing this vulnerability has helped me grow tremendously as both an artist, and as a person.
I’ve had the privilege of meeting some incredible people along this journey, and have a feeling the best is yet to come.
You have been featured in a few publications, what pieces of yours were featured and what was this process like?
My art has been featured in four separate publications in the past two years, which is pretty surreal! I was first approached in 2016 by a lovely woman named Audrey O’Brien from Open Minds Quarterly. For those of you that aren’t familiar with Open Minds Quarterly, it is this fantastic magazine that is published by NISA / Northern Initiative for Social Action, which is a peer-run mental health support organization here in Sudbury. OMQ features art, poetry, interviews and writing by persons living with mental health and addictions, as well as their supporters and allies. Audrey mentioned she was a fan of my work, and said they would like to feature my piece titled “Alleviate” on the cover of the Fall 2016 Issue.
My piece titled “Transmutation Stagnation” also got a feature in the the Winter 2017 Issue, and I have recently been given the honour of having my piece titled “Revival” featured on yet another OMQ cover, the Spring 2018 Issue, available for purchase now.
And of course, there’s Sudbury Women in Art, which is a gorgeous, glossy 74-page book that was created, curated and designed by local artists, Johanna Westby and Chantal Abdel-Nour of Cambrian College. This book features 23 incredible local female artists from in and around the Sudbury area.
This book was created for purely philanthropic purposes, which I have the utmost respect and appreciation for. All proceeds from the sale of this publication go towards helping encourage and support local women in the art community.
Copies of Sudbury Women in Art can be purchased for $25 at the following locations:
One Sky – Local Fine Goods
Sudbury Paint and Custom Framing
Art Gallery of Sudbury
What has been your favourite piece of art that you’ve created?
Ooh, that’s like asking me to choose my favorite child!
The first piece that comes to mind is a painting I completed earlier this year titled “Patience, Darling”. This piece was recently featured at the Art Gallery of Sudbury, for their extended Sudbury Women in Art Show.
Like most of my work, it’s rather simple composition-wise, but what I like most about this piece is the softness of my color palate, and the feminine flow of flowers along side an Eastern Cotton Tail Rabbit. My youngest daughter loves bunnies, so I created this with her in mind.
This piece invokes some pretty nostalgic feelings for me, and I really like that.
Do you take custom orders?
I gladly accept painting commissions (so long as they fit within my artistic prowess). During the summer months, I also take on commissions for mural work and hand painted Adirondack chairs.
I also offer corporate and in-home paint party services. I bring along all the materials, and instruct groups as large as 50 on how to recreate one of my original pieces. I’ve taught groups of children as young as five, and adults as old as 90. It’s so much fun!
Do you have any tips for other makers who may be looking to start selling their own pieces of art?
Get to know and support your local makers!
I suggest attending local shows, and meeting the awesome folks that are out there creating. Sudbury has such a thriving and diverse art scene with so many unique opportunities to showcase one’s work. Through networking and meeting other creative-minded people, you learn where the opportunities are.
I am a big fan of Makers North, the brain child of Tracy Baker and Julianne Steedman.
These ladies are super hard-working and passionate about supporting local makers. They plan these fabulously curated events that encourage inclusivity and diversity. I highly suggest checking them out on social media, and also attending their shows to see first hand how amazing it is to be a part of such a wonderful community of makers!
You can follow Granny Bird Designs on Facebook and Instagram to see more of her work!
Don’t forget to head over to our Instagram and enter to win a framed print from Granny Bird Designs!
Emily Franceschini
Emily Franceschini is former full-timer and lover of all things purple. In a past life, Emily worked as a marketing manager and spent her free time searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Now all of her time is free time and she's spending it exploring the world.
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