Today I want to introduce you to one of my friends from college, Elizabeth Hawke. We worked together on the Panhellenic Board for the last two years of my college career and spent a lot of time together. She is very talented and extremely kind and lives with her husband and beautiful daughter in Montgomery. She has started a business, One Birds Nest, creating and selling her original artwork. We have a piece hanging in our bedroom and I love it dearly.
I was interested in finding out more about how Elizabeth got started painting and her business. She graciously shared some of her insights and images with me. I hope you enjoy the interview. I think there’s a lot that we can learn from Elizabeth and apply to our own businesses, whether or not we’re in a creative field.
1. Have you painted all of your life? When did you decide to turn it into a business?
2. Do you prefer creating pieces yourself or working on commissioned pieces?
I truly enjoy a mix. Unique pieces of my own are great fun because I have no parameters, no boundaries. When I create a piece of art myself, I can use any color, style and texture I dream up. But, the commissioned pieces are a wonderful part of my development as an artist. Working within a client’s needs often times stretches me to work outside of the box in a way I wouldn’t have considered without the context of their specific home. Fresh concepts tend to erupt from working within someone else’s design needs.
3. What inspires the majority of your work?
My artwork is primarily driven by color inspirations and secondly the design composition. I am stimulated by colors that speak to me personally, or the color schemes of my clients’ homes. Creatively, I am fueled by the endless ways to combine those colors in meaningful ways that intrigue the eye time and again.
4. How are you balancing your business with your family? You’ve got a small daughter, it must be hard. What’s your secret?
Communication is key. Art inquirers often find it challenging to relay their desires for the art they want. It is my job to create an engaging conversation with terms, desires, and visuals that we can both relate to and comprehend. How that is achieved is different with each client, so it is ever evolving.
Ironically, I do not tend to follow any artist blogs religiously. While I will check a few out from time to time, I try not to hook into them to much. Art is so very personal, and I very much desire to create art that is uniquely mine. I try not to be swayed too often by what other’s are doing. But, I do enjoy keeping up with designers. Their creativity in home styling breeds creativity in me. I also enjoy keeping up with mommy blogs with inspirational messages. Let’s face it, will all need a little pep in our step from time to time! 🙂
Elizabeth Hawke lives in Montgomery, Alabama with her husband and young daughter. She says that “As a new mother, I am inspired to pursue my dreams and take chances, in hopes that my daughter will do the same. It encourages a full and happy spirit.” Elizabeth has art for sale on her website and also works on commissions for custom projects. She has representation in stores throughout the southeast. You can see her work in its entirety or reach out to her on her website, One Birds Nest, or via email, elizabeth.t.hawke@gmail.com.
I love that Elizabeth stresses how important communication is and that she doesn’t compare herself with others in her field. Those are important lessons for all of us! And is reflected in Elizabeth’s business by very happy customers and a style all her own. Do you have any business lessons that you’d love to share? I’d love to hear them! Leave them below in the comments!