We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Homsey. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.
Laura, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
Prior to starting my small business, I worked for an agency that supported students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Not only did this position teach me patience, but it also shaped me creatively (which was unanticipated!). One student in particular inspired me so much. He didn’t speak traditionally, so he would rely on ASL, speech apps and pointing to communicate. His favorite thing to do was to find small details hidden in our world. We would be on walks and he would point and show me things that didn’t register in my mind at first, until we got closer and then I’d realize he found something amazing! Because of him, I got a kick out of hiding small details within the artworks I made, bringing them to him and watching as he hurriedly pointed all of them out. It became a creative game, and I use this skill in my business even today. I’m known for my little hidden details!
Laura, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’ve always been drawn to the arts. My earliest memories have clay in them, and my mom used to educate me on the Inuit peoples and their art. Expressing myself creatively was always easier than without it. I studied art education in college. While student teaching, I was paired with a teacher who became a mentor to me. One lesson in particular shaped the business I later created. The art lesson was about the artist and illustrator, Eric Carle. He authored The Very Hungry Caterpillar, among others. Eric Carle worked in handcut paper, utilizing large objects to make textures in paint on paper. He would then use that paper to cut shapes and create characters for his storybooks. This form of art really spoke to me because I got to see the community within it. At the school, each student would work on the same large piece of paper- making their own textures on it and passing it on to the next student. Once dried, each student would then get a portion of the large paper and make their own artwork from it. I thought it was so cool that they worked together and made something unique from the same paper! I also took to the way you can manipulate paper. It’s easy to rip, fold, and cover up when you make a mistake. It’s forgiving, affordable, and approachable!
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I got my very first social media account in 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Like many, I was feeling isolated and scared for the future. I thought a good way to combat these feelings would be to put my artwork up on Instagram, with hopes of bringing some light to others. My first post generated comments from friends saying, “Laura, is this your work? I never knew!” Since I never had social media prior to this, people hadn’t really seen all my (behind the scenes) years of art-making. I was also using this platform to build self-confidence in my own artistic abilities. I told myself, “create 1 piece and post it everyday” and I did. I haven’t skipped a day of posting since! It fueled me to continue to create when people would say that they came onto Instagram just to see my happy art. A few months into creating an Instagram account, I had people approach me for commissions. Word spread, and I just completed my 180th commission! I think people gravitate towards my lighthearted and joyful imagery.
I don’t focus on the amount of followers I have, more-so on trying to connect with like minded creatives and local establishments. It keeps me going and inspires me. If you’re hesitant to create a social media presence I’d say, I understand! But there can be lots of positives that go along with it. Building community is one of them. Many opportunities can come from it when you’re open to them. In 2020, I was asked to illustrate a magazine cover thanks to Instagram, since then I’ve been asked to do more editorial pieces. Another joy that has come from IG have been teachers reaching out and asking if I’ll come do workshops in their schools. If I didn’t put myself or my work out there, these things probably wouldn’t have happened. Don’t let yourself get in your own way!
Is there a mission driving your creative journey?
My goal is to memorialize your special moments, in paper. Whether it’s a special vacation you took as a family, the birth of a new member in your family, or the purchase of your forever home- I want to capture it! Bringing joy to the viewer is my goal, and it keeps me motivated to keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.petitpaperstories.com
- Instagram: @petitpaperstories