We were lucky to catch up with Gene Sewell recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gene, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I like to say I was a “creative” before I even knew what a creative was. As a kid you couldn’t keep me away from a paper & pencil, I would spend hours filling up my notebooks with my drawings. I’d imagine all kinds of characters and would write stories of their adventures, where they came from, and what they dreamed of. I spent a lot of my childhood with my head in a book and I think I’m a better creative today because of it.

As I got older I (stupidly) started to believe being artistic wasn’t cool and began to let go of that part of myself for a long time. I felt as if I as looking in from the outside in a way, being interested in art, fashion, and design but not allowing myself to create anything.

Finally after years of playing it safe, I rediscovered myself at the start of the pandemic. I had finished college, felt stuck working a regular 9-5 that I hated, and decided to take a chance on myself. I found out about rug tufting on Tik Tok and instantly fell in love with it, it was the perfect mix of my love for interior design and making something from nothing. After much research and trial and error, I took the leap and quit my job.

I worked everyday out of a friends studio developing my skills and learning as much as I could as fast as I could, all while documenting my journey on tik tok. Before I knew it my videos started to gain some traction and people wanted my designs. I never made a website before or had any idea how build an online business, but I trusted myself enough to know I could do it. Emerald City was born Feb 21st, 2021 and thats the same day I got my first sale.

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

My name is Gene Sewell, originally from the Philadelphia area, now based in Chicago. I’m a textile artist, creative director, and avid design lover. I own Emerald City Studios, a small design studio that specializes in home goods and textile art.

I got into my craft after randomly seeing a tik tok about rug making, from that first video I was hooked and knew I needed to try it out for myself. I would say I took more of a DIY approach into building ECS, I knew nothing about rug making or what it meant to run a business. I spent the first few months developing my skill set, focusing on producing the highest quality work I could. I researched the best materials, manufacturers, and tools that would help me reach the level of work I wanted to create. Once I felt comfortable in my abilities, ECS officially launched and I received my first sale that very same day.

I found that most online creators in this industry where focused on making custom pieces of clients’ favorite characters, brands, and logos. Nothing other creators were making seemed to come from their own inspirations. After going down that same route, I quickly learned that wasn’t what I wanted for my business. I didn’t want to be “the custom guy”.

My brand’s ethos has always been to create connections within spaces. I see furniture not only as functional objects but as facilitators for those sharing that space to connect and build community. An excerpt from my latest collection:

“The Aura Collection is an extension of ones-self, bringing together our invisible and physical worlds.

Auras exist in the space surrounding a person. They represent the energy we take in and put out to the world. These auras resonate with our emotions, spirituality, and mental state.

As the world around us fluctuates, so do our auras.

I wanted to take these principles and present them in a physical space, as something that not only captures an emotion but invokes one.”

Creating this collection has been my proudest moment as a creative and small business owner. This was the first time I was able to plant a small idea, nurture it, and grow it into something meaningful. These pieces were a realization that I had what it took to be an artist and to stand tall in it.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing your work go from nothing to something. The ability to take an idea and mold it into an artistic work is a great privilege that I don’t take for granted. Art gives you the space to challenge yourself and your thinking. There is power in the process, trying something, failing, and trying again.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think society can do a better job at supporting creative children from the beginning of their artistic journeys. So many kids have that creative potential but aren’t supported by their families or communities, which often makes them give up. Catching and nurturing that interest early gives them the confidence to continue exploring art and building their skills. Ultimately a supported child becomes a supportive adult, helping the creative ecosystem thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.emeraldcitystudios.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emeraldcitystudios/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gene-sewell-9a22a2247
• Other: Www.genesewell.com

Image Credits
Photographer: Sidney Tep Models: Simone Cupid-Romain + Aubrey Fraser Assistants: Gwen Seetoo + Arianna Prete