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

Alright, Leigha thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Honestly, it wasn’t until the semester before I graduated with an Associates Degree in Fine Arts. I’d spent nearly two years at a junior college as one of their two art majors, but it wasn’t until I was faced with the “what’s next?” question that I started realizing art was what I wanted to do professionally. For real this time.

As a kid I grew up with art all over the house. My mom is an artist and my dad is a writer so creativity was always present. Over the years I’d always sketch and draw, learning techniques and things from my mom here and there. But it wasn’t until I got into comic books that I toyed with the idea of being a professional artist. I wanted to work at Marvel Comics. Then I wanted to be an air force pilot, then I wanted to an anthropologist, and then I wanted to be a missionary. Needless to say I was all over the place trying to figure out what God wanted me to do with my life.

It wasn’t until after I’d taken a year off of school and began looking for a college to attend that the opportunity present itself for me to learn just how much art means to me. Friends and Family knew it, but it wasn’t until being an art major was my only way to qualify for the scholarship I needed to fill in my financial aid gap, that I relented. Those two years in the old paint stained building opened my eyes to how fulfilling art is to my soul. My talented instructor was able to provide experiences and understanding that I’d never imagined. And by the time graduation had rolled around I knew my next steps HAD to include art.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Well, after my Associates Degree revelation that art was what I wanted to do in life, I attended the Academy of Art University and became an Illustrations Major. I excited delved into their wonderfully professional programs that stretched my skills as well as my knowledge. My goal was to illustrate stories that touch hearts, minds and lives.

Nowadays I get to work doing my favorite thing, making art and providing an above and beyond final product for the clients I partner with. I work with authors to bring their stories to life in the most beautiful and visually captivating way. And I work with various other clients to illustrate their messaging clearly and concisely for business communication. And when I’m not doing all that, I devote my time to developing and creating a Christian Comic Book series that will change the immediate idea most people have when they read the works “christian comic book.”

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

In my experience, there is a significant amount of “non-creatives” that look on artists, musicians, creatives and don’t comprehend the work that goes into making these acts of art. There is a missed connection in the understanding of practice, skill development and energy that is put into a single piece of art. And a lack of respect is a sad symptom of this missed connection, because if you don’t comprehend the amount of work going into something, its human nature to minimize its impact, its value and its creative creator.

Not understanding fully leads to the idea that art is a hobby, not to be taken seriously or expected to produce anything of significance. But the truth is, that art touches our daily lives more than other profession, especially in this day and age. Art comes to light in the clothes you wear, the tv shows you watch, the background image on your ipad. Art is expression, and we, creatives or non, gravitate towards the expressions of art that speak to our souls. Art help us express ourselves, and artists make that possible for “non-creatives” even if they don’t know it.

So when you pick up a book, look at your walls, walk past your closet remember that somewhere behind the patterns, colors and expression an artist worked very very very hard to learn, develop and create what helps you tell the world who you are.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

There are a lot of different kinds of support, everything from financial to emotional, from legal to respectful. And not everyone is equipped to provide them all at the same time. BUT if you can’t buy directly from the artist, share their work, promote what touches you and give credit where credit is due. Learn more about how and what and why they do what they do. Be interested, get invested in their journey. And recognize that art is pure imagination molded into a form we can experience and that that imagination cannot be replaced and should not be diminished. It benefits and connect our society in a very unrecognized way.

Because there is more that connects us to each other than divides us from each other.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lmshermandesigns.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lmshermandesigns/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LMShermanDesigns
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighasherman/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/LMShermanDesigns/

Image Credits
LMSherman (Designer, Illustrator & Creator)