We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tiffany Waugh a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Most of my pieces are custom so I take into account that each piece is extremely sentimental and important to the client who requested it. I ask the client to send as many reference photos as possible and usually and effortlessly, they spill all the details of what makes that pet or person, that favorite place, that treasured item, so meaningful to them without me even asking. That helps me empathize and find the focus of the portrait. Because of that process, they are all meaningful to me, but I’d have to say the one I cried the most when delivering it, was to my friend Katy Sofge. She has been a friend to me since we were about 7 years old and her dad was like a beloved uncle to me. He was just one those men who was an exemplary dad – so funny, into adventure and tradition and making sure you knew how special you were. He passed away from a stroke and at the time, I was only painting custom shoes, mostly for people going on Disney trips. Katy said she was going to Disneyland with her husband and she wanted to honor her dad and in a way, bring him with her on their trip. So their favorite rides were the purple Dumbo – this was before they assigned you numbers – and the purple teacup from the Mad Hatters Tea Party. I painted the scenes on the shoes and when she opened them we both just sobbed in that Starbucks by the Nut Tree in Vacaville. She did wear them to Disneyland and took pictures with her feet in the teacup and getting into the purple Dumbo. And that happened to be the opening day of the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge and she took pictures around the Millennium Falcon and on her spot as the Engineer. It made me so happy to see my artwork skipping all over Disneyland.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I was born with a pencil in my hand. No seriously, at 14 months old I was drawing circles and creating little characters on sketch paper.
My grandmother, Grace E. Griep, an incredible photo realist artist, saw my deep desire to create and never restricted me from expressing myself. I was constantly drawing on anything but the walls; my skin, clothing, dolls bodies and paper- all the paper- and I have never stopped. I continue to paint on shoes, bags, acrylics on anything canvas, paper with watercolor and pen.
Painting Disney subjects on shoes and bags started back in 2011. I had painted the vintage Disneyland sign across my white shoes and when we were in line a group of girls were whispering about them. And as we zig-zagged back and forth through Storybookland Canal Boats I’d catch them trying to get a better look. Then they asked where I had gotten them and when I said that I’d painted them, they exploded with excitement. A business was born! They were asking what else can you do? Could you do characters? Could you do rides? I was sure I could do it all. And I feel like I have, since then. Every post of a new custom pair of shoes I would get at least 3 more custom orders.
More recently, I’ve been trying to step out and do art before it’s requested. It’s a little scary because there’s no guarantee someone will like it or want it. And then I feel like I could regret “wasting” my time making it. But that negative voice has been silenced.
During the 50th anniversary of Epcot, I gave greeting cards of the Matterhorn and Storybookland Canal Boats to Disney imagineer, Peggie Farris, a pioneer for females in the Disney company and she ordered 2 dozen more to give to her friends!
In November I painted a portrait of Dirk Wunderlich, a Thomas Kinkade Disney artist while I was waiting in line to have him sign the painting of his I purchased. That was well received. We found out we’re neighbors and hopefully soon we’ll do art together!
And I secretly did a portrait of the Porch Potatoes- it’s 5 little potato characters with cartoon character gloves and shoes sitting and waving to guests on the Main Street porch next to the silhouette shop. They have turned their little group into a Disneyland Attraction! People come from all over to stop and take a picture with them, hear their stories and people watch every morning. After I showed them their portrait, one of the members ordered post cards and greeting cards of it to hand out to people they connect with!
And on this years trips to the Happiest Place on Earth, I brought my greeting cards with me to hand out to characters, cast members and people I connected with. I feel so magical when that happens! I had the right card for the right person every time and I loved seeing their face light up!
Not all my pieces are Disney related, but, in all my pieces, I typically focus on the subjects that bring the most nostalgia and sentiment. That could be a family portrait, a still life, a beautiful place, or a favorite character. It’s my greatest desire to create pieces that take you back to a certain moment and bring those feelings to the forefront. Mostly, a happy time with less responsibilities.
Speaking of responsibilities, I stay at home with my graphic designer husband, and I am a mother of three homeschooled children. I have called Rocklin home since 2004 and I am proud to be a new member of the Rocklin Fine Arts group! I hope you find a sense of wonder, peace and joy in my original and commissioned pieces.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I have always wanted to be a Disney artist and see my art for sale in a Disney gallery. That would just blow me away. I want to tell stories with my art and to feel that connection to people who love the same things I do which is, nostalgia, family, friendships.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
In person, I suggest buying local. Wether it’s from your hometown or a place you are visiting, you are supporting the local community and showing that place love. I always visit arts and craft fairs or galleries when I visit a different town. Then, taking a piece of their work home is so much more memorable and enjoyable than purchasing something mass produced.
One of my favorite things to do, internet-wide, is search for artists on Instagram, Pinterest, Etsy and Tiktok. The first three really support artists, but Tiktok really doesn’t push artists through the algorithm very well. The artists voice is silenced there. Which is incredibly depressing because to be an artist and show videos of your creative process, the work in progress, the final piece, the clients reaction, how it looks in a space- all of that takes so much time, effort, supplies and drive! Then they have to sync it to the perfect music or do a voice over and in return you get less than a hundred views and no engagement. The artist just spent so much energy and got nothing in return. Find those talented artists and promote their work! Like it, comment on it and share it. You can always push that repost button and it gets shared again for them! In the comments, tell the artist how their piece makes you feel. Ask them questions about it. Anything can help them spread their art around the world! And once they reach 1000 followers, they can do live videos and you can watch them create live! Then you can be a part of it! The more we use the internet to share the talents and creatives out there, the more the person who needs art, can be quickly connected to the right Artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Tiffsdigitaldreams.com
- Instagram: TiffsDigitalDreams