Today we’d like to introduce you to Aynsley Weiss.
Hi Aynsley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Hello, so excited to chat with you all!
~ My name is Aynsley and my story begins in Florida, where I grew up spending any spare moment I had outside. A deep love for nature + the ocean was instilled in me when I was young, vacationing at the beach in the summer with my family.
Art has been a long process beginning when I was young. I would watch my mom doodle little flowers while she was chatting on our corded phone in the kitchen and that’s where is started for me, copying my mom’s little flower doodles.
I attended several art classes at around 8 or 9 years old, and schooling at home allowed me the freedom to create throughout the day.
As a young teen, I read an article about a woman with cancer who did pattern doodling called, “zendoodle” to pass the time between chemo treatments. The article included some examples of her work.
I copied her patterns and then over time began creating my own on notecards for my family + friends.
My mom encouraged me to sell my notecards + start my own business. At first, I was apprehensive; the small business world seemed overwhelming and I felt myself falling prey to doubt about my skill as an artist.
In 2018 I decided to go for it. I tackled Instagram + Etsy head-on, feeling clueless half the time + dumbly optimistic the rest of the time. Everything was an obstacle; everything was a new learning curve.
Thankfully I found friends who had the skills I didn’t have, and we worked together to create my first notecard, then my first T-shirt, and then the next first thing. It seemed I had a new design pop into my head every minute!
4 years later, I’m still learning new things every day, still watching my small business evolve. It’s a beautiful thing to see my labor of love growing, becoming more focused + reaching new customers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
~ A big challenge for me was product photography. I worked with a few photographers to take pictures of my products, but we couldn’t quite capture the look I was going for.
I researched how other businesses took their photos, but what I was going for wasn’t posed and perfectly laid out. I wanted it to look authentic, and I wanted nature to be a part of it since that’s where most of my art inspiration came from.
So, I decided to take my art outside and began taking my product pics in the woods, and on the beach. I love the feeling of collaboration and community that comes when my family and friends all jump in to help make my ideas come to life.
I’ve learned that if you want to make something happen, you have to get up and share your idea with others; success is synonymous with collaboration.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I love to create in several different styles of art. My roots are in detailed pattern art, mandalas and geometric designs, create din pen and acrylic paint. I love the precision and patience it takes to create detailed symmetry. I also create art that has a more whimsical-funky feel. I like to call it my “classical-hippie” style. In those designs, I combine bright colors, patterns, and illustrations and sometimes add words as well.
What makes my art unique is its originality; coming from a fresh idea… from tangible inspiration.
I keep my art style focused but am always looking for new ways to create, that which gives me plenty of creative space to play around.
Recently, I made the switch to drawing digitally for my notecards and T-shirts, but still drawing everything by hand. The process has become so much easier and faster, with better quality to share with my customers.
The dream of creating positive, uplifting, original art is becoming a reality. Good vibes are being spread, and even if I continue as a small business forever, all the hard work I’ve put in would still be worth it just for that.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
~ my mission is to spread good vibes; when you purchase from my shop you are not only paying for the best quality but mainly supporting art that has a positive message!
~ I have to give a huge shoutout to Printful: the company I use to drop-ship some of my products. The easy setup and high quality they provide is why I can do what I love.
Procreate is the app I use to design my art, without them creating T-shirt graphics would be a much longer process.
Contact Info:
- Email: aynsleyweiss@gmail.com
- Website: www.Etsy.com/shop/aynsleyartist
- Instagram: @the.artist.aynsley
- Facebook: Aynsley Weiss
Image Credits
Aynsley Weiss
