We were lucky to catch up with Mary Counts recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Mary thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My most meaningful projects have turned out to be my clients who commission pet portraits. It started when I decided to make a portrait of my dog, Teddy and then I was able to create portraits for clients who treasured their pets like a member of the family just like me. I have always valued my pets and Teddy was an especially meaningful member of my family as he was there for me through my teen years and into graduating college and getting my first “adult” job as an app designer. Coming home to him was my main motivator to make it through each day and be able to enjoy his company at the end of the day. He saw me through the difficulties of growing up, feeling alone, taking on new phases of life, and made me feel that no matter what he would be there with a wagging nub tail and happy to see me even if I had a terrible day. He was truly the main source of unconditional love I felt and I value his part as my best friend in my life more than anything else. So it means a lot to me to be able to create colorful and lively pet portraits for others now. I feel as though I can be a part of a unique life and friendship through people’s beloved pets. After Teddy went over the Rainbow Bridge, his portrait reminded me of his happy presence in my life and became a beacon for me to look at when life got hard. I have been lucky enough to give others that same joyful reminder of their special pet’s presence in their life and it has turned into a really meaningful form of art for me. And I would never have gotten to share that with other folks if I hadn’t one day had the idea to paint my favorite friend in the world, my Teddy Bear.

Mary, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have been drawing and painting since I was a child and I went to college for Graphic Design and Computer Science. I have always had an interest in the intersection of art and technology, and therefore I decided to get into application and web design and have worked in financial technology and small business branding since my professional career started. My passion is to help businesses create branding that launches them into the marketplace on firm footing and I love to create digital experiences that are easy on the eyes and easy on the user. At the same time, my art background compels me to create canvas and digital artwork for commission to memorialize special memories for clients. My proudest moments include inventing pivotal branding for family-run financial institutions, making mobile and web applications accessible for users with disabilities, and creating customized artwork of pets. Because of the two sides to my work, both technological and artistic, I consider myself a “unicorn” when it comes to my services. While I can decrease the load time of a website, create a compelling logo, or generate imagery and user interface for an application, I can also paint a pretty picture. My services range from logo and branding design to user interface design, and custom artwork.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

The number one most effective strategy for building my clientele has been word of mouth. I receive more clients through that method than any advertising, markets or social media. It is essential to keep communication open with past clients and subtly encourage them to tell their friends and coworkers about your work. This is how I earned most of my design and art commission clients. They can share their positive experience with me because they lived it, and that has been an invaluable aspect of marketing toward new clients.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is sharing life-changing design or art with others. Many people may look at a piece of art or a logo and just think of it as something that looks nice. But in reality, the right logo, a special portrait, or a website that is easy to use can propel a person or business into success and a completely different lease on life. For example, I have been able to provide accessible design for banking apps and websites, which allows people with visual or other disabilities to access their financial information with ease and use business accounts without pain points. For many, being able to access financial statements and accounts on the go saves so much time, and optimizing work time is essential to running a small business successfully. I am proud to contribute to making small business owners’ lives easier and help their businesses succeed. I also feel rewarded in my artistic commissions, because even a small painting of something meaningful to you can remind you of a spark of happiness when life is dark.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://marycountsdesign.myportfolio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/opalgraphix/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-counts/