We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Heather Young. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Heather below.

Heather, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea

Fly Young Studio started with the need for a new computer and a bribe from my Dad. He encouraged me to draw a few scenes of my home town, Savannah, GA. In exchange, he’d buy me a computer and help me start a line of note cards. The idea was to do the work once, and sell it a 1,000 times. From there, I built on the concept and now offer a full line of fine art prints, boxed note sets, tea towels and ornaments featuring my ink drawings. It took some time to find retailers, learn to wholesale and eventually move to the online market, opening shop on Etsy in 2008. Etsy allowed me to reach a much broader market and grow my following. The process is pretty streamlined now and allows me time to focus on painting, my true passion.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I work and live just outside of my hometown of Savannah, Georgia. Formally trained in Illustration at the Savannah College of Art and Design, I draw inspiration from my southern heritage and love for moss-draped live oak trees.

I offer a full line of fine art prints, note cards, and tea towels featuring my delicate pen and ink drawings. It’s a timeless medium that resonates with many collectors.

I also create contemporary paintings in a unique oil wash technique. I apply thin layers of paint over the entire surface, then carefully subtract the paint until I achieve a rich value. The result allows for a depth of color and surface texture unlike traditional oil applications. You’ll find these works online as well as in select galleries throughout the Lowcountry.

In addition to creating art, I also write about the local art scene for Reflections Magazine and serve on the board of Arts on the Coast, a non-profit arts organization working to promote artists in coastal Georgia.

I’m most proud of the fact that I’ve built this business so that I can be at the bus stop when my kids get home from school, and have the flexibility to be at all their extracurricular events. Being a mom is also a full-time job, and it’s not easy to juggle both, but the kids see me building a business, achieving my dreams, and I can only hope that inspires them to do the same.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

It may sound heartless, but business is business. Many full-time creatives and young entrepreneurs do not have kids and therefore do not understand when you can’t make an event because you couldn’t find a sitter, or your kid has to be picked up from school sick. It’s unfortunate that our society doesn’t lend more support to those that are juggling being a stay-at-home-mom and running a full-time business. I learned this the hard way, and I’m now much more vague when I cannot make an event. Instead of saying “I can’t secure a sitter that day,” I might say “That date / time is already booked on my calendar.”

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Nearly all of my fine art prints are produced in-house, that way I can control the quality. That said, there are some areas of my business that are outsourced to manufacturers. I don’t want to deal with mass producing notecards, so I have a trusted area printer that I’ve worked with for over a decade. They know exactly what I’m looking for and it’s pretty seamless now. Working with local companies allows you to be on site, see how your work is being produced and address any issues easily. For instance, I hired a printer to help launch my tea towel series. I knew some basics about screen-printing and their work was top notch. However, their communication was lacking. I had a hard time getting in touch with them to reorder, or getting the product delivered when I needed it. Even after spending an exorbitant amount of time setting up with them, I ultimately went with another local print shop because they actually seemed to want my business. Quality is paramount for my brand and if I’m going to trust someone else on the production end of something, they need to be close and on the same page. There’s also the added benefit of supporting your local economy!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.FlyYoungStudio.com
• Instagram: @fly_young_studio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flyyoungstudio/

Image Credits
Photos supplied by the artist