We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany London a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tiffany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One Fathers day I made a small watercolor card for my father-in-law. He just raved about how good it was. Then a short time after when my youngest daughter started kindergarten I decided to take the risk to start my own art studio offering fine art and graphic design. I had always continued creating after college and marriage, but it had taken a backseat once my daughters were born. I can’t believe that was 8 years ago! It was extremely scary and risky to put myself and my artwork on the line and see if anyone would actually buy it. In 2015 Instagram was just starting and I was able to connect with large circle of like minded people and other creatives, thus encouraging me and sharing my artwork all over the country. I am actually in the process of moving my current studio into a bigger space. There is something so amazing about being able to create, market and sell your own artwork. It was from humble beginnings, but now I am so proud of the body of work that I have built up over the years and the clients I have helped with deign needs.

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?

Angling Artist….Fly Fishing Artist….? I paint fish. At first people outside of the fishing community would give me an interesting look, but since 2015 my portfolio has grown as has my audience. Attending college in Bozeman, MT in the early 2000’s I would never believe that I would build my art portfolio and my business on my phone with the internet. Cell phones were gaining more ground but I spent my time in the mountains and streams chasing wild trout with my college sweetheart and now husband (Tad London). More years later than I like to admit and 2 lovely daughters has us living close to my family in Western Pennsylvania. We now chase fish with fly rods as a family of 4 plus our faithful yellow lab. Fishing all over the country, my art became a reflection on my lifestyle. Now I spend my time divided between, painting, fishing and working on our small family horse farm. I’ve volunteered with many organizations such as The Mayfly project mentoring foster children by teaching them to fly fish. PA Fish and Boat women’s fishing programs as well as developing a series of “How to draw Fish” videos during the pandemic. I am a supporter of Casting for Recovery, Project Healing Waters and Trout Unlimited.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

This question brings up a few interesting points that I have been thinking of lately. How are artists supposed to keep up with the constant and fast paced changes of technology? How can creatives keep up with the filters and AI at everyone’s fingertips. How does raw and real art compete in 2023? And the answer lies in society as a whole. As long as there are people supporting artists (buying directly from) and small artist owned businesses our ecosystem can be sustained. But, only if we have the support of people. Once art becomes too easily accessed, stolen, copied and exploited will we see what our community will be able to do to stay relevant, and I wonder how long we have given the current social and economical climate.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I am always so grateful and excited each and every time someone purchases a piece of my artwork, even just a small sticker. There is something so rewarding about the fact that I am the only one that can make that piece. I made something that connected with another person and they have gone out of their way to spend time and money to purchase it directly from me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.farmgirlgraphics.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmgirlgraphics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/farmgirlgraphics