Meet Shelley Brant of Figgy Pudding Designs

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelley Brant.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Shelley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I never intended to be an artist. One thing led to another, I looked up and I’ve been drawing, designing or making stuff for over 25 years. Unlike most people in the arts, I didn’t draw that much when I was a kid. I went to college without the slightest idea of what I wanted to do. I thought that I could declare art as my major until I could figure out what it was that I really wanted to do and four years later, I realized that I never got around to changing my major and graduated with a BFA in Art and design.

My first job was at a screen print shop that made sweatshirts for big retail accounts. The perfect place to learn about color separations (old school style, pre-computer) and pick up just a taste of what commercial felt like. That job led me to another job at an embroidery company where I hand drew all of the digitized designs. There, I drew every possible item you can imagine. Still, pre-computer, I created all of the designs using a marker and colored pencils- 60 icons a week, every week for over twelve years. It was the ideal place to hone my illustration skills. Both of those jobs that I stumbled into early on in my career, along with a series of other ones, led to a design position with a big-box corporate retailer. I didn’t start out artsy but I’ve always been crafty. I love making things. You’ll probably never see my work hanging in a gallery but it’s a good possibility that you have something that I have drawn on some kind of product in your house right now.

As a commercial artist working primarily in the seasonal and kids craft categories, I have spent the last half of my career making art for products. I provided retailers like Walmart, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, and educational publishers with art and design new products. I love what I do and feel so lucky to have stumbled along a path that rarely veered off, of course. I currently work as a designer in the US office of a manufacturer that produces all kinds of products – kids craft kits, holiday decor, paper goods, stationery items and all sorts of things. Being an artist is a somewhat solitary occupation, so last year, I started working towards my master’s degree in Art just to connect with other creatives and veer a bit down another road. I am currently obsessed with making art for picture books and, hopefully, someday will be able to teach design at a college level. Until then, I’ll be at my desk- drawing.

Has it been a smooth road?
I feel like my career path has been pretty smooth. I’ve worked hard and have put in a lot of hours, but the truth of the matter is, I draw pictures for a living- what’s better than that?

We’d love to hear more about your art.
People know me as a whimsical holiday designer. I can draw you a holly jolly Santa Claus with my eyes closed. I hear the word cute a lot, like a lot.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The Dallas metroplex is the absolute perfect place for commercial designers who are interested in working with retail accounts. We have a plethora of corporate headquarters all over the area.

Contact Info:

• Email: figgypuddingdesign@yahoo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/figgypuddingdesigns/

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