We were lucky to catch up with Camille Lema recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Camille, thanks for joining us today. Covid has brought about so many changes – has your business model changed?

When the pandemic first hit us, I had gotten laid off of all my teaching jobs and needed to find a new place to live. It was incredibly stressful, but as a childcare worker, I knew I could find a way to make a living through this tough time. Though nothing was ever consistent, I took advantage of the fact that child care was scarce. Crafternoon ATX was previously a side gig that I did for fun, but would eventually become my full time business. It started off as rotating pods of children from house to house and then quickly moved into the workshop that is in the backyard of the new home my partner and I found together. In between the child care operation, I focused on commission work with my art. Portraits, custom artwork and even residential murals. Anything I could do to keep myself afloat. There were artist grants to help pay my rent some months and EBT to cover groceries. What a learning process it was to figure out how to make something sustainable! After 2 years of trial and error, Crafternoon ATX is functioning at full capacity, offering art workshops you can’t find anywhere else. It’s relieving to also not rely so heavily on my own artwork to make a living anymore. The time allowed me to seek guidance under many mentors, business advisors and teachers to learn the proper way to run a small business. Sometimes it takes a huge loss to find your true calling with not other choice but to pursue that.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an indigenous folk artist and activist art teacher running a full time art program for kids ages 5-11 years old. My business focuses on recycling and reusing materials, outdoor learning and nature observation, social and emotional skill building and playing! Over 10 years in child care has taught me patience and how to be a good listener as well as a strong leader. Working with kids has influenced my art in many ways. I love reading stories to my class and pull inspiration from the artwork in the books we check out form the library. It also allows for a consistent creative flow which I am always appreciative of.

As an artist, you spend many years figuring out what your art is meant for. The pandemic really showed me that the work I create brings light into people’s lives. Clients love the way I paint portraits of them and their loved ones. As a specialty, I do paint memorial portraits which I believe creates a bridge between this world and the after life, keeping us connected to those we love after they have moved on. This lead to creating meaningful charms for living spaces and altar boxes to promote meditation, prayer and moments of silence. All things that can benefit our well-being.

My journey as an artist and business owner continues and I know that there is still much to learn. Though we gain experience in our craft and industries, we must always remain a good student. You can never stop learning new things. Crafternoon is now fiscally sponsored by the Austin Creative Alliance which allows us access to grant funding and many other resources. As we continue to grow, I can see a brighter future ahead.

How’d you meet your business partner?

Ren was a friend of a friend years ago. We both loved art and had many interests in common, but didn’t ever hang out outside of the mutual friend group. When the business began to grow beyond what I could do myself, I put out word that I was looking for another teacher to help me. One day, I had gone into a coffee shop and there was Ren working behind the counter. Our small talk lead to mention of my search for a co-teacher. To my surprise, I learned that she had recently started working as a teaching artist with elementary school kids. I extended my offer to her about possibly working with me and she took it, knowing that the program was in it’s beginning stages of operation. I could not be more thankful for life bringing us together. Not only have we become really good business partners, but closer friends. Her willingness to do all that she can for Crafternoon has contributed to our growth.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Crafternoon ATX was operating during the pandemic, which gave us a ton of attraction from families around the area of our operation. We offer a unique learning experience for children and creative workshops that you can’t find in school. The alternative class structure is something that families find very appealing especially for those who are apart of the public school system. Not only this, but we work with teachers who are amazing with the kids. We are firm, but playful and emotionally involved with each individual child. Social media helps get the word out there, but most of our clients come to us because of word of mouth recommendations. This helps connect to our communities and keep relationships more personal.
I am proud to say that kids typically do not want to go home at the end of our time together.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.crafternoonatx.com www.artbycslema.com
• Instagram: @crafternoonatx @camillesimonelema