Mom-Made Art: Four Triangle moms turning their art into businessess
My son once brought me a piece of paper and a pencil, asking me to draw him a dog. I replied, “A dog with four legs?!” I apologized and explained that wasn’t likely to happen. My creative medium of choice is a laptop and blank document. I love to tap out my thoughts or a story to share. I understand the urge to be creative, but I lack talent as a visual artist. I’m in awe of people who can draw and paint. I’m in awe of artists in general, especially those who make it their livelihood.
The four women featured here all live locally and made their art their businesses. Some started with a passion for fine art. Some enjoyed making crafts and gifts they love before it turned into what they were meant to do. One does metalsmithing and another mastered engraving and laser cutting with her own industrial machines. Others started making art to give back. I’m in awe of each of them and excited to interview them about their careers as artists and lives as moms here in the Triangle.
Megan Spillars, Owner Megan Spillars Art
Tell us about yourself and your business.
I'm an artist, oil painter, and business owner based in Raleigh, NC. I'm also a mom to three and a graduate of NC State. I paint impressionist-style landscapes as well as florals and figurative/portrait pieces. I paint alla prima (a wet on wet oil painting approach) and am drawn to big, dramatic sunrises and skies but also love capturing the moments my clients want to freeze in time. My work has been published by Conde Nast and was featured in Vogue, Vanity Fair, British GQ, Tatler, World of Interiors, and Home & Garden in 2022 and 2023.
What inspired you to make your art your business?
I've been an artist my entire life but worked in corporate recruiting for nearly 20 years. I enjoyed my work but I found myself constantly thinking about painting and wanting to be more vocal about causes I cared about. In 2023, I took the leap to become a full-time artist. It's the career of my dreams and, while I never went to art school, my aunt was a fine artist and I always dreamed of following in her footsteps. I took several courses and workshops on how to pursue art professionally and am so grateful for the mentors that helped me launch my business. The beauty of being an artist now is that you can have much further reach thanks to technology and fairly low start-up costs. It's a joy to get to do what I love every day and I don't take it for granted.
What do you hope people get out of the art you make?
I hope to bring a sense of calm and peace to those who view my art. I feel at complete peace when I'm painting but when someone tells me that my work brought them comfort, there is no better feeling. I also hope to inspire others to explore their own creativity and to lean into the passions they had as children. For those in the Raleigh area that are interested in painting, I plan to offer some workshops for both children and adults and would love to have you join me. I'll be sharing updates via my website and newsletter with dates and instructions on how to register.
What are your artistic goals?
In addition to exploring new shows and placing my work in galleries this year, I plan to continue to paint every day. Painting is a meditative practice for me so making it a part of my daily routine is essential. Painting brings me peace and calm and I come back to it when I need to quiet the noise around me. I'll also be partnering with other small businesses to release canvas prints and some of my surface pattern designs. For more information, please sign up for my newsletter on my website and on Instagram @meganspillarsart. Finally, and most importantly, I hope to use my work to inspire others to live a more authentic life, to speak boldly about causes you care about, and to lean in to beauty and the things that bring you joy.
Find Megan Spillars Art on Instagram and on her website.
Tiffany Coley, Owner, Tiffany Coley Artisan Jewelry
Tell us about yourself and your business.
Hi, I’m Tiffany Coley and I’m the studio jeweler and metalsmith behind Tiffany Coley Artisan Jewelry. I’m also a wife and mom of 2, a 14-year-old boy and 12-year-old girl. When I’m not making jewelry, I’m reading (mostly listening to audiobooks) and listening to my favorite podcasts. I also like to hike a bit, when the weather cooperates. I’ve been working in my business for over a decade and my work is best described as industrial. Most of my work is hand-fabricated in sterling silver, with pieces also in 18K vermeil. For local folk, I currently have some of my work in the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) gift shop.
What inspired you to make your art your business?
The easiest answer is that I love making pretty things! That’s the art part. I was inspired to make it a business when I was a new mom and I decided to try my hand at selling some of my work. I wanted to have more flexibility to be with my kids but I also needed to earn money.
What do you hope people get out of the art you make?
I would hope people get joy - it’s what I feel when I’m making it. This could be joy in finding the perfect pair of everyday earrings or the necklace that is just the right gift for a friend. I don’t fool myself; art, wearable art, is a want, not a need. I’m not saving lives but I hope that I am enriching them in a small way by making something that the wearer will also find beautiful.
What are your artistic goals?
My artistic long-term goals are to continue to make the work that I love, to continue to challenge myself, to continue to learn and to grow. My motto is: make, fail, make again, repeat. In the shorter term, my goal this year is to rebuild relationships and sell my work in more retail stores and galleries (again).
Find Tiffany Coley Artisan Jewelry on Instagram and on her website.
Tayler Wright, WCbead
Tell us about yourself and your business.
WCbead is handmade jewelry and accessories by my sister, Blake Johnson and me. I live in Raleigh and she lives in Wilmington. I am mom to two boys, ages 12 and 11. My sister named our company after her children, my nephew and niece, WCbead. Our jewelry includes necklaces, bracelets, earrings and custom orders for all ages.
What inspired you to make your art your business?
The initial reason was to bring prayers to a 5 year-old family member suffering from AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia). We wanted as many people praying for her as possible. We made hundreds of wooden beaded bracelets with an AC charm (Anna Charles) and a teal cross (her favorite color). We gave them out as fast as we could make them. Unfortunately cancer took her from us six months later. We continued to make jewelry in her memory.
What do you hope people get out of the art you make?
We hope people love our jewelry, as well as bringing awareness to childhood cancer.
What are your artistic goals?
To continue to make new unique products and expand to more pop up markets and venues.
Find WCbead on Instagram and Facebook.
Mae Armstrong, Owner Mae Designs, LLC.
Tell us about yourself and your business.
My name is Mae Armstrong. I am the owner, maker and designer for Mae Designs, LLC. I live in Raleigh with my husband and am a full time stay-at-home mamma to 13-year-old twin boys, an 8-year-old little man and a rambunctious Aussiedoodle who keeps us all on our toes. I’ve always been a creative person. I love to design and make things, and I've always had a passion for product design. In my previous career, I worked in marketing and graphic design in the real estate industry.
What inspired you to make your art your business?
My love for design continued to grow, and I knew that I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and start my own business. What really sets my business apart is my focus on creating memories. Each item is thoughtfully made. My custom made gifts serve a functional role for decor or everyday use, but they are also designed to capture the special moments we share with our loved ones. Whether it's a handmade plaque or sign to commemorate a family vacation, or a personalized cutting board for a wedding or closing gift, my creations are sure to be cherished for years to come. As for what inspires me to create, it's likely my daily life as a mom that provides plenty of inspiration. From the joy and wonder of watching your children grow and learn to all the challenges, joys and frustration of parenthood in general. I also enjoy mixing in my love for my hometown and creating pieces to showcase locally made items. There is no shortage of material to draw from. My experiences as a mom and also mixed heritage undoubtedly add depth and meaning to my creations, making them all the more special. My Filipino-American heritage has also made me more creative. I am constantly drawing inspiration from the different cultures and traditions that I have been exposed to. This has helped me to develop a unique style, and it has allowed me to create work that is both original and meaningful. I am proud of my mixed heritage, and I am grateful for the way it has shaped me as a person. I believe that my mixed heritage has empowered me to be different and creative, and I am excited to see what I can do to incorporate my own sense of style and brand.
What do you hope people get out of the art you make?
As a maker-artist, my goals go beyond just creating beautiful things. I’m proud of connecting with amazing people. I’m proud that I’m showing my boys the value of hard work and teaching them you can do ANYTHING if you want it badly enough. I still have a long road ahead of me and so many goals I want to achieve but I am working my way into learning more what my niche industry has to offer and what I can personally do to help and provide for my family.
What are your artistic goals?
My business success story didn’t happen overnight. It takes a whole lot of sacrifice, discipline and hard work. I'm able to work from home and I'm able to create beautiful, meaningful pieces for my clients. After year five of being in the maker industry I wanted to achieve a streamlined product lineup that will enable me to support and supply boutiques nationwide. I’ve learned so much along the way, sometimes the hard way, but I feel my business has matured accordingly. I am currently running four industrial grade machines that have been extremely instrumental to my productivity and success. Laser cutting and engraving is a rapidly growing industry, with new applications being discovered all the time. This technology can be used to create a wide variety of products, from custom jewelry to intricate signage and so much more. I am excited to be a part of this growing industry and to use my skills to create unique and beautiful products. I am always looking for new ways to use laser cutting and engraving, and I am constantly experimenting with new techniques and materials.
Find Mae Designs, LLC. on Facebook and her website.
