Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne May
Hi Adrienne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I first want to say how honored I am to be able to share my story here with your readers. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!
How it all began:
I am originally from Charleston, SC but have been in Savannah, GA for over two years. I did not go to college for art, however, I had an incredible teacher in middle and high school who sparked my passion and taught me a lot. I went to school for marketing and was in a marketing management role for over ten years in the corporate 9 to 5 world. During those years, I pursued my art as a side hustle by doing commission work, particularly around the holidays. Despite being in an office job through the years, I never set the paintbrush down and continued pursuing my art as much as possible. In 2017 I entered into one of the most difficult seasons of my life and the next 5 years brought challenges, heartache, and loss that pushed me to focus on who I was becoming as a person and what I wanted to do with my life. Through those years, I began to develop a greater desire to live consciously, with a more minimalistic and sustainable approach. This desire also came from my love for the ocean and passion for taking care of the world around us as best we can. Side note– I wanted to become a Marine Biologist when I grew up, and while life took me down a different path, I found a way to still incorporate my love for sea life and all the nature surrounding us.
In 2022 at the age of 25, I sought a fresh start and moved to the Savannah area, and with that, it was time for me to say goodbye to the 9 to 5 world and pursue entrepreneurship in my favorite place– by the sea!
Where I am today:
I have now been a full-time artist for over two years, selling my work at festivals, online, and in a permanent location in the River Street Marketplace here in Savannah. My business is called Adrienne May’s Art and it was created from my passion for painting & to inspire others to see the beauty in life while building true, genuine connections through it all. Why did I use my own name? Well, Adrienne actually means ‘by the sea’ and May was the month my parents were married by the sea, so I thought it was fitting to include their creativity.
I love the opportunity that being in the marketplace has given me because I get to meet and connect with so many people, daily. I use my story and Adrienne May’s Art to share hope while giving people something sentimental to hold on to for many years. Standing by my sustainable approach, what I paint on is special as I either recycle it or hand-pick it straight from nature. When I am not at the market or set up at a festival, I am traveling and collecting nature to bring back and turn into art. My favorite experiences so far have been snorkeling along the Gulf Coast for beautiful shells and hiking in The Great Smoky Mountains for unique rocks; I try to take these trips at least 2 to 3 times a year.
Today, the art that I have available in the River Street Marketplace and online features original hand-painted magnets, shell ornaments, encouragement stones, postcards, stickers, and more! People who visit Savannah love to find something so unique and hand-painted, and because of this, my art has now made its way to 12 other countries and counting. Within the past 2 years, I have shipped custom pieces to over 30 states in the USA! I am so thankful and blessed to be able to see the numbers that I am seeing, and am in awe of what has become possible because of that decision to start fresh and get out of that comfort zone of working a 9 to 5. It has been incredibly worth it in every way, and to be able to make a living from the work that I am doing through my own creativity and hands while traveling often feels like a dream come true. I guess in this case you really can say that “she sells seashells by the seashore.”
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing worth having comes easy, and that has definitely been the case during this whole journey for me. The beginning of this beautiful season followed the ending of a difficult one. This kind of move required me to overcome painful experiences and leave unhealthy environments, both in my personal life and work. It also required me to break out of my comfort zone. I have had a consistent paycheck since my first job at 15, and there was never a moment where I was without a job, so the thought of handing in a two-week notice for good without any certainty of making it as a full-time artist made me very nervous. The thing about being an artist or anyone who makes things with their own heart and hands is that you have to put yourself out there despite the fear of what other people will think. Each piece that I create holds a part of who I am; my heart goes out with each thing I make. Some people might not like your work or not think it’s worth the value that you say it is, and you have to be able to hear that and not let that define your worth. When there’s a negative opinion aimed at your work, sometimes it can feel like it’s you that people don’t like because you pour so much of yourself into your creations. One of the hardest struggles for me despite having to navigate through the changes of financial stability in a career with inconsistent income, has been having an unwavering and growing confidence in my worth and the value of my work. And that’s not an easy thing to do for a people pleaser like myself. So has it been smooth? I’ve been very blessed, but no, it has not been a smooth journey. But as Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, a quote that I sometimes write on my encouragement stones, “A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am known as a Commission Artist and the connections I build through meeting people in the River Street Marketplace or out at festivals often lead to custom orders later on. But it’s just like me to build a connection with anyone no matter where I’m at– walking on the beach, waiting in line at a thrift store, etc. In my marketing roles, we called this networking, and it is something I knew I was always naturally good at.
In the marketplace, I am known for my original, hand-painted souvenir-type art as I mentioned previously. My hand-painted magnets are a favorite of many people visiting Savannah because they truly are unique in every way. I have a sustainable approach, so I’d rather take things that we already have around us and turn it into art, instead of mass-produced. For example, I make magnets out of sea glass, wine corks, shells, driftwood, tree branches, and even rocks. The encouragement stones I make are some of my most inspiring pieces because a beautifully painted rock with an encouraging quote or reminder opens the door for me to share my story and hear other’s stories. I’ve lost track of how many rocks have led people to tears (myself included), followed by a hug and a connection that was needed. Each time I paint one of those rocks, there is a specific person that it is meant for, and when I see or hear of that person getting the rock that was meant for them, it makes me feel and see so much purpose behind it all.
The custom requests truly are special because I can make them even more sentimental. Most of these pieces consist of people sending me a photo/memory that I turn into art in many different forms– on rocks, as ornaments, portraits, etc. What sets me apart is that I don’t limit myself when it comes to custom requests; I take the time to work with people to create a piece that holds a lot of meaning to them. My art is considered uplifting by many people because the unique style, soulful words, and vibrant approach behind each design come from my own story and the way I view the world.
I am most proud of the positive impact that my art has on almost every person who comes across it in some way.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is 1.) Making a difference in people’s lives by sharing hope and encouragement and listening to their stories and sharing my own. 2.) Having a sustainable approach and creating art that helps remind people of the beauty in nature and things around us. 3.) Inspiring others to live a more fulfilling life doing what they love and encouraging others to pursue their own passions. And 4.) Continuing to establish this business of mine so that when the time comes for me to start a family, I am able to be there for my husband and kids while being a successful businesswoman.
My last bit of insight I’d like to remind people reading this is to remember that no matter where you are in life, your purpose is so much greater than your past and your story is not over yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sincerelyadrienne.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adriennemaysart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adriennemaysart/
- Other: [email protected]
