Good morning, loves!
I recently stumbled upon a freelance artist (Elley Burch) on Instagram that was shared by an account I follow. After seeing some of her work, I decided to reach out in regards to a pet portrait of my little fur babies & I am so glad I did!
Elley is extremely professional & an absolute joy to work with. Not to mention that her work is exceptional & I am so in love with this new piece that I get to display.
I got to have a chat with Elley about herself & her art, so keep reading to learn more:
1. Could you please introduce yourself for those who might be unfamiliar with your work (for now)? 😉
Hello! My name is Elley Burch and I am a freelance artist. My amazing husband and I recently got married and we are now living in Auburn, AL while he attends medical school. We often joke that there couldn’t be two people who are more different when it comes to interests and talents than we are. My husband is athletic and crazy smart (hence the medical school) while I love every area of the arts especially painting. If I could just create all day, I would.
2. When did you first realize you had a talent for drawing?
Since I was a little girl, my mom said I always was trying to color or make something. I just always had a love for art so my mom decided that I needed to be put into art classes to have a place for this love to grow and to transform. My teachers and family would always tell me that I had a talent but I didn’t really begin to believe it until I was in high school. Then from there everything began to take off. People would begin to hire me for small things and I would paint lots of banners and things for my cheer squad. Then and into college I made backdrops for various events and things of that sort. Slowly but surely business began to pick up and now here I am growing my skills and taking steps towards a career as an artist.
3. What made you decide to actually become an artist?
In some ways I always knew it was something I wanted to pursue. But it didn’t fully click until I realized that God gave me a talent for a purpose for something greater than myself. Ever since then, I have pursued every open door and am continually refining my skills.
4. It’s so important to support independent/new artists. It can be a fickle business. What message do you have for other artists who are looking to make their mark?
Every aspiring artist or creative mind will always feel these two dreaded words in most conversations “starving artist”. This implies not only the lack of income but the lack of talent. Yes, at first you may not be at the skill level you desire or know that you can achieve. But that is where practice and passion come in. No matter what influences you, you must believe in yourself and continue to do what makes you happy. Paint and create things that give you joy and also stretch you! And most importantly, be open to the direction that your clients/inspiration takes you. You never know, it may have you unlock something special that you would of never found otherwise.
5. Do you have any upcoming projects we should keep our eyes open for?
Yes! I am working on a few ideas for brides! Without giving much away, this could be a special gift or even a special touch to any wedding. It is something very new to me and I am so excited to give it a try.
6. What is the best part about being an artist?
I simply have no limits to what I can create. There is no box to be put in and I am allowed to let my imagination come to life.
7. What are your aspirations for Elley Burch for 2019?
For 2019, I plan to expand my portfolio and gain a larger following. My desire is to not only to make beautiful and custom work for any and everybody but to provide each season and celebration with something creatively meaningful.
Here is a picture of the piece Elley made for me:
To contact Elley, or to simply find out more, visit elleyburch.com
Hello there!
According to Kristin 