Rising Stars: Meet Lucy Williams of Lakewood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lucy Williams

Hi Lucy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started Boundary & Thorn in 2016 after deciding to leave my very first corporate job as an Associate Art Director at a prominent Advertising agency in downtown Cleveland. I had no idea what I was doing, but I set up an LLC got an accountant and plunged forward into doing my first event with the Cleveland Flea in the summer of 2016. It was wildly more successful than I ever anticipated my first vendor event being, and I got the momentum to continue doing shows that year.

Boundary & Thorn went through many ups and downs throughout the next 8 years as I was freelancing as a product designer for Martha Stewart’s company at Michael’s Craft Stores, and exploring other opportunities as a full-time/part-time contractor for several different companies throughout that time. The bottom line is that my small business was never full-time. I would do holiday shows when I knew crowds would be larger, and some summer shows that I knew to be successful and had good turnouts. This is my first year of doing shows and committing to my small business full-time. It’s been an incredible experience to put in so much effort and see the fruits of my labor really pay off. Up to last weekend at the Lakewood Arts Festival being my most successful show to date.

I sell the majority of my work and make the most money doing shows. My online business isn’t as successful as I’d like it to be, but I prefer to be interacting with my customers.

Business Description:
I started Boundary & Thorn as a small side project outside of my 9-5 day job as a designer in 2016.I missed making work for myself, so I threw myself into creating a collection of new art that I felt spoketo my true authentic self, and could feel proud of.It just so happened that a few other people liked that work and even wanted to buy it, frame it, and hang it in their homes! Somehow, with a lot of support, love, and encouragement from some very special people and customers, 8 years later, I am still at it.

Today Lucy lives in Cleveland, OH, and if she isn’t drawing, she’s probably reading a David Sedaris book, organizing anything she can get her hands on, or taking a walk with her husband and their dog, Sushi.

Boundary and Thorn’s products celebrate the joy of life with art prints and greeting cards centered on food, drinks, nature, and positivity. Our products are illustrated by Lucy and printed with a local vendor in Cleveland, OH, with love and care.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
• Selling online and being on social media has been a real struggle for me. Social media and promoting myself doesn’t come naturally for me as it seems to for some companies/small businesses.
• Getting my price points right. I want people my age to be able to afford my work. I don’t sell original pieces. Everything I sell is a fine art print and a reproduction of original work.
• Connecting with my customer base and figuring out my niche has taken time. Every show is different.
• I have had shows BOMB and have made $0 and I have shows where I have made thousands of dollars. But going and showing up with a good attitude and low expectations has really helped me.
• Printing, shipping, packaging, social media promotions, running sales, quality checks, paying taxes, managing myself and my time…it’s a lot, and time management has been key!

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
• My work focuses on food/drink, love, nature, and inclusion. I want people to spend time with my work, read all the puns, and have fun sharing it with others.

• Fine art prints, greeting cards, and stationery

• Known for my best-selling 8×10 “Happiest Hour” illustrated cocktail series. Over 5,000 sold.

• Most proud of my botanical illustration prints.

• I think what sets me apart from others is the refined detail in my work. I love creating pieces that are unique and detailed in a way that forces my customers to spend time with the art.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
• Be yourself – is my very best advice. I don’t mean this in a cheesy way, but in the way that no matter what, be your authentic self. I think it’s so easy for young people, especially with social media, to get carried away trying to be something they are not. And it’s totally okay to have people you look up to. Creatives you can come back to an be inspired by their work, but at the end of the day, you really have to try to get off the internet and create new work that means something to you. Be yourself and be true to your wants/needs, and your style/work with evolve over time to match.

Pricing:

• 8 x 10 Prints Fine Art Prints – $17.00
• 11 x 14 Fine Art Prints – $24.00
• 5 x 7 Fine Art Prints – $12.00

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.boundaryandthorn.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boundaryandthorn/