Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Catherine Fulp.
Hi Erica Catherine, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was born and raised here in Savannah and have felt so fortunate to be surrounded by amazing artists and art teachers for most of my life. After four years at Savannah Arts Academy, I went on to study at Savannah College of Art and Design. In 2016, I graduated with my BFA in Illustration from SCAD and decided quickly after that I would forge my own path and build a business that I was truly passionate about.
Erica Catherine Illustration started as a way to create everyday products that fused my two passions, a love for drawing and a love for unique products. I am constantly inspired by the natural and antique details that surround us here in Savannah and I aim to bring that spirit to all of my products. My artwork is created using a mixture of graphite drawing with light layers of watercolor over the top to create the vintage and ethereal inspired designs that hark back to the turn of the century botanical illustration. After my illustrations are created, they are then applied to everyday products such as cards and prints, and even wearable art like scarves and clothing. Each of my products is meant to make every occasion or a special gift exactly that; one of a kind and truly beautiful.
For the first few years of my business, I was working on my business part-time while working other jobs. This allowed me to keep a more steady income but still live the dream as an artist. Like many of us, 2020 threw some interesting curveballs and my then steady job was not so steady anymore. I quickly tried to pivot and realized that I needed to focus on my business because now was the time to work hard and try to transition to full-time work.
I worked hard and designed and launched my own site in the spring of 2020, and began offering my artwork on new and exciting products that I couldn’t create in my studio. The year 2020 had a lot of interesting twists and turns but the one thing I wouldn’t have expected that year was that despite hardships it would give me the opportunity to and drive to turn my “side hustle” into a growing business.
While Erica Catherine Illustration has changed tremendously over the first few years of its life, the heart of my artwork and my business are still unchanged. My motto is and will always be vintage-inspired products that are meant to become heirlooms. The dream for my artwork and products is that they will be loved and cherished by my customers for so many years to come.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I am a true believer that the seeds of today are tomorrow’s flowers. No business is easy, and mine is definitely not alone in that journey. Every day there is a new challenge but I wouldn’t change that for the world. The biggest struggles that I have faced have been later met with great change and growth, so it’s all about perspective and how you choose to view it.
One of the biggest challenges I met so far was when I lost a large chunk of my personal income in 2020, with closures due to the pandemic. Now in hindsight, if that had not happened I wouldn’t be where I am today. This big challenge led me to push myself and my business in ways I may not have. So now my advice to people who want to start a business is to work through these challenges, we all face our mountains and have to climb them in order to grow.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
All of my artwork is very vintage-inspired, I have always had a really deep love for everything vintage and have been called an old soul since I was a kid. I pull a lot of references from Botanical Illustration and pattern work from the 18th and 19th centuries. I take my love of old-world illustration and attempt to bring it into our current time without losing the soft nature and feeling of my art. I create designs with soft colors and lots of small details and they can be passed over for larger, more vibrant work. I often say though that those who care to explore and look, will be greatly rewarded with lots of details.
This is what makes me most proud of my work, I feel that I have really found my voice as an artist and it resonates with people. I put a lot of thought, research, and love into my artwork and that combination is what makes me happiest and produces the artwork that I am known for. When I hear someone talk about how beautiful they think my art is, it makes my heart so full. It means that they took the time to really look and absorb it and that my art has let them break away from their daily life for just a moment.
It’s really funny because when I hear someone talk about my work I am most remembered for creating florals and painting butterflies. I definitely create more artwork than just that but it most certainly is the thing that sticks in people’s minds. It’s not something I necessarily set out to be remembered for but I have been called the “Butterfly Girl” a few times before and it always makes me smile.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
I had a really wonderful childhood, I grew up with a really supportive family and when I was younger we spent a lot of time together. I don’t necessarily have a specific childhood memory that makes me smile more than others, but an overall sense of happiness when I think of it.
We spent a lot of time outside, from the beach to camping and just outside in the backyard. I think that the real love for the outdoors that my parents instilled in me and that feeling of nostalgia that comes with thoughts of childhood is still a big factor in my artwork today.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.ericacatherineillustration.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ericacatherineillustration
- Facebook: facebook.com/ericacatherineillustration
- Other: tiktok.com/@ericacatherineart pinterest.com/ericacatherineillustration
Image Credits
Emi Plaisance of Two Souls Free
