Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maggie Weakley. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Maggie 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?

As a little girl, I was constantly drawing and loved studying and copying Disney characters. Growing up, I continued sketching but never thought art could be a career. When I was a Senior in High School, I took a Marine Biology class and an Art class. I loved both of them and was torn about the direction I wanted my life to go in.

We had a Marine Biology field trip that took us to Key West to gather sea creatures and study them, I was obsessed, and it was then that I wanted to study the sea full-time. While I loved art, I didn’t think I could make a career in the art world because all I ever heard was the “starving artist” theory. I believed it because I didn’t know anyone who was a successful artist.

I lived in Orlando then and was accepted to the University of Central Florida. My major was Marine Biology. I started taking classes, but at the same time, I was taking a figurative drawing class and a private group art class in Winter Park with Barbara Bassett, an amazing and inspiring Art teacher. It was challenging balancing the classes at UCF and taking the art class with Ms. Bassett, but I did it, and as the first year went on, it became clear to me that art was all that I really wanted to do.
In the second year, the art students in Ms. Bassett’s class were putting their portfolios together to apply to art school. I thought, “maybe I can do this too?” So one day after class, I bravely approached Ms. Bassett and asked if she thought I could apply to art school too. Ms. Bassett looked at me and said, “You were ready last year.” I couldn’t believe she said that. I asked her, “Why didn’t you tell me?” she said, “because you had to believe you were ready .” That day, I learned a very valuable lesson: I needed to believe in myself, be brave, listen to my dreams more, and quiet the self-doubt in my mind.

So, I applied to 3 art schools and was accepted to all three. The College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio, offered me a Scholarship, so I chose to go there. It was where Ms. Bassett graduated from.

It’s funny because my art career has taken me in many different directions, and now, in this part of my life, the sea is calling me again. The dream of studying the ocean was still in me. I always felt it when I would go to the beach. Today, instead of studying it, I am showcasing the sea by creating ocean-themed artwork, bringing my passions together, and honoring my dreams.

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

I’ve been an artist for the past 37 years. I received my BFA in Illustration from the Columbus College of Art and Design in Columbus, Ohio. Two weeks after graduating, I was hired as an Art Director for Shoebox Greetings at Hallmark Cards, inc. in Kansas City, Mo. I loved the 3 years I spent at Shoebox, working with artists and writers and learning the business of creating a successful greeting card line. The only reason I left was that my then-best friend from Art School, Kent Weakley, asked me to marry him, and he still lived in Columbus.

Kent was a graphic designer and opened an agency called “Blue Sky Graphic Communication, inc.” right after he graduated. Upon our union, I became his in-house Illustrator. We had a wonderful collaboration with many successful clients at that time. I also decided to become a Freelance Illustrator. I worked for a diverse group of clients, as well as writing & illustrating for greeting card companies.

We moved to Ocala, Florida, in 1998, and I continued my freelance career. Still, I had a calling to create whimsical pet portraits and named my new company MaggiesAngels.com. For over 15 years, I have created hundreds of pet portraits, freelance clients, and local art projects. Some years I was very successful in earning a living, while others, I felt stressed about the money coming in. Being a Freelance Artist is difficult because you have to manage your money well. Our income is based on the art we sell, and if we are not carefully saving the money as it comes in, we can get into trouble since we don’t have a consistent paycheck. My husband and I had two boys, and there were times that it was difficult to balance my family time with all the projects coming in, especially during holidays when I had the most commissions, so I had a lot of all-nighters to be able to get it all done.

After creating hundreds & hundreds of Pet portraits, I was burnt out. At the same time, in 2014, both of my boys were graduating from high school and going away to college. I didn’t want to feel the “empty nest syndrome,” and I was tired of not having a steady income and was looking for something new. So I looked for an art-related job in my community and was very fortunate that Fine Arts For Ocala, FAFO, a non-profit art organization, was looking for an Administrator. I applied and, to my great surprise, was hired instantly. My Shoebox experience served me well for this part-time job, and I was able to continue with my Freelance career. I loved working for FAFO. We have two huge events, the Symphony Under The Stars and The Ocala Arts Festival. I loved being part of Ocala’s two largest art events and learned so much. Being an artist also helped me be the liaison between all the artists and our organization. I worked at FAFO while also working on local art shows, art projects, and illustrating for an incredibly diverse group of clients, including working for local magazines.

In 2020, when COVID hit and the world shut down, I took the opportunity to learn a new skill. I had been playing around with Fluid Acrylics for a few years. I loved the magical reactions this medium offered. I started creating “The Water Collection” I even had a Pop Up Art Show to sell the pieces I had made, which was a huge success. I was thrilled that I sold almost all of my pieces at that show. I’ve always been passionate about water, the ocean, sea life, and swimming, so I decided to continue the water collection and learn how to resin. Epoxy resin was very new at this time, especially creating ocean-related art. I had the time to experiment and learn. With resin, we learn from all our mistakes, and boy, did I make some big ones, lol! But I really loved it, and when I got good enough, I decided to create the “Into The Ocean” water collection, where I create Fine Art Paintings, and for fun, I create all kinds of beachy treasures, including ocean wave charcuterie boards.

In 2022 I became a vendor at the Ocala Downtown Market, bringing all the beach treasures to see how they would sell, and it was a huge success. I realized that people are as obsessed with the beach as I am. I also submitted two paintings to an Artist Call to showcase at the Ocala International Airport. I dreamed up the “Aerial Dream Views of Land and Sea,” thinking about my water collections and airplanes flying high, seeing the land and the sea. I was chosen to exhibit for a 6-month solo exhibit. I was thrilled and terrified and wondered how I would create all these pieces, create all the products for the markets and work at FAFO. Still, you find the time when you do what you love and are passionate about it. So I created a 35-piece resin and mixed media collection that hung at the Ocala International Airport from January – June of 2023. I am so proud of myself for not only completing all these paintings but pushing myself to learn new techniques and being brave enough to fail, explore, and grow as an artist pushing myself to something completely new.

With 2022 being such a creatively successful year for me, I decided to retire from FAFO on January 1st, 2023. I was the Administrator for 8 years, and I felt it was time to dive into the water collection full-time. So here I am, a full Freelance Artist again. It’s scary, but having the freedom to create without distractions feels great. I have some huge ambitions, and as I move through this year, I am probably working harder than I ever have, but it is so fulfilling.

I believe if you want to be a full-time artist, you must constantly strive to be the best in your field by learning and growing. We grow by adapting to different changes and being open to pushing ourselves where we are uncomfortable. Also, remember to manage your finances and learn the business of art because that is as important as the art you create.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

The hardest lesson that I had to unlearn was to silence my self-dought. I had to believe in my ideas. I had to challenge myself every day. Being creative is scary. I’m putting my heart, ideas, and creations out there in the most vulnerable way, but I had to do it. I needed to stop listening to the people in my life doubting my choices. I am Spanish, and my family is very traditional. The women in my family stayed with the family and left when they married. I didn’t want to wait for a husband to find my life; I wanted to build the life I wanted. It was so hard to do that and then to go away to College to pursue my dream. I had to believe I could do it, even though I faced resistance and doubt from everyone around me. I wanted to prove to my family, but mostly to myself, that I had it in me to build a creative career even though no one else believed I could. I want to say that my parents were supportive when I received a scholarship from the Columbus College of Art and Design. They didn’t want me to leave, and they didn’t understand it, but in the end, they saw that I was determined. If you believe in yourself, others will too.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is creating art expressing unique perspectives, emotions, and ideas. This freedom of expression is both therapeutic and exhilarating for me. Personal growth and development are very important and rewarding because creating art requires patience, dedication, and a willingness to experiment and take risks. Through this process, I can develop new skills, grow as an individual, and learn more about myself. Recognition and achievement are also satisfying. Seeing my work on display, receiving positive feedback, or getting recognized through awards fuels my desire to push myself to be a better artist.
Lastly, I love sharing, teaching, and connecting with others because art can inspire, provoke, and bring people together. I can connect with audiences and communities meaningfully by sharing my work and knowledge and collaborating. Art can also be a powerful social change, activism, and education tool. I can use my work to raise awareness about important issues, which as advocating for ocean clean-up and conservation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://maggieweakley.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/callmaggie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaggieWeakleyMaggiesAngels
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggieweakley
• Pet Portraits: https://www.maggiesangels.com/

Image Credits
Maggie Weakley & Kent Weakley