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

Alright, MaryBeth thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

I think being a professional artist is all about taking risks. There is no “regular” paycheck to fall back on for one thing. I took a major risk in 2018 when I quit my “9-5” job and became a full-time artist. That same year, my husband was laid off, and we made the scary decision to just go all in with our art business! It has been quite a journey, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Every step we have taken has shaped who we are as individuals, artists, and business owners. We have gained followers, collectors, students, and many friends along the way. Has it always been sunshine and roses?? Heck no. We have gotten in over our heads, had to borrow money to stay afloat, and lived off of credit cards during down times. Did it make us want to quit? Heck no! We absolutely love what we do. I only wish we had more time in the day and more arms to work!

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?

My name is MaryBeth Timothy. I am a Native Oklahoman pursuing my dreams of creating art and working towards making it accessible to all walks of life. I am enrolled Cherokee Nation and work as a full-time artist/illustrator/business owner/writer.
Although I am a multimedia artist who features an array of subjects and themes in my art, I lean towards my love of native wildlife. I share my affinity for Oklahoma wild birds, animals, and wildflowers through my work. I also choose to create what I feel, and love to tell stories through my art. My goal is to touch the ones who view it and cause a reaction, whether it be emotional or even a stirring curiosity. Both stimulate conversation about the piece and provide me with the opportunity to tell its story.

Being an artist, I never felt like I really had any business sense, so I started taking as many in-person and online workshops as I could to learn more about the business side of things. To this day, I still try to take any online classes that I can that can possibly help our business.

In 2015, my (Muscogee Creek artist) husband John and I took our art careers to the next level and created our business, MoonHawk Art LLC. We received a small business loan through Cherokee Nation Commerce to purchase sublimation equipment and supplies to begin printing our art images onto a variety of products. That opened many new doors for us. We were then able to sell our products wholesale to gift shops, museums, and galleries, as well as retail a larger range of items to the public at shows and markets around the country.

Along my journey to learn online selling through Etsy, in 2017, I was asked if I would be interested in teaming up with a native non-profit out of CA to teach other artists in small Native communities, using my own experiences. I still teach, but mostly online now.

I am very proud and humbled that in 2019, I, along with four Cherokee National Treasure artists, was chosen to create the interior art for the new Cherokee National History Museum.

2020 brought challenges, but also many opportunities. I started illustrating books, which has been a dream of mine for many years. As of 2025, I have illustrations in 9 published books, and I am working on another for HarperCollins Heartdrum Imprint. I am now working towards writing and illustrating my own children’s story picture books!

In 2023, I began creating surface pattern designs, which I license to Teton Trade Cloth and use others to create print-on-demand products online.

That same year, I began designing educational Cherokee plush toys. It has been quite the learning curve, but we are now close to going to production!

All of this to say that you do not have to restrict yourself to one thing or use one type of medium. Live your best life! Step outside your comfort zone. Be tenacious and courageous!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Before the pandemic, my husband and I traveled to several other states and around Oklahoma to participate in Native art shows and events. When we weren’t traveling to shows, we were in small Native communities in Nevada, Oregon, and California, teaching Etsy and small business workshops. If we were home, it was to prepare for shows and to fill wholesale orders.
Then the pandemic hit, and the shows stopped; wholesale venues closed, and all in-person classes were canceled. At first, we were in a state of panic. This was our livelihood. After the initial shock wore off, we realized that if we didn’t shift our business plan, it would fail, and we would lose everything we had worked so hard for.
I immediately started pushing our Etsy shop on social media and through mass emails, and our sales rocketed. We began teaching the classes online and were able to add new topics and reach a wider audience. And because we are now working from home, we have had the time to work on our house and flowerbeds (which is another love of mine). But the major blessing is that we are here to help care for our parents.
It was also at this time that several of those great opportunities arose; illustrating books (something that I had always had an interest in), working in surface pattern design, and designing my first collection of Cherokee educational plush toys! One of the most exciting things that has happened since our “pivot” is that I am now not only illustrating, but writing my first children’s book!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Many of the resources that have significantly impacted my business management and entrepreneurial thinking are from my tribal community, the Cherokee Nation Commerce Department, CN Businesses, and CN Entertainment.

Outside of the Cherokee Nation, I have utilized resources from First People’s Fund (Artist Professional Development Training), Indian Dispute Resolution Services (IDRS) Acorn Project, Small Business Administration, Small Business Development, Women’s Small Business Association, Citizen Potawatomi Community Development Corporation (CPCDC), and First Nations Development Institute.

I try to get on as many email lists as possible that offer resources such as small business workshops and grants.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://moonhawkart.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/moonhawkart
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/moonhawkart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moonhawkart/

Image Credits

Jerry Willis
Devin Dry
Cade Thomas