Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Adams.
Emma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Arts & crafts have been a creative outlet for me since I was a young child. A couple of years back, I was stuck in a creative rut that had lasted years and I hadn’t made anything for a long time. I was feeling pretty down so I decided to join an art challenge and create (and finish!) a drawing everyday for one month. This sparked a tiny fire in me and I felt so inspired to keep going. I began sharing my illustrations on social media, and received so much feedback and encouragement from my peers. Soon after, I created Fox & Fables as a brand to house my work under. After many, many hours of research, I opened an Etsy shop and things began to grow from there. I really didn’t know what I wanted Fox & Fables to be when it grew up, I just started making stuff that felt right. Eventually, I was regularly selling my work, booking commissions and even getting licensing deals. It’s been such a rewarding experience and I’m excited to see what the future holds!
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?
It has definitely been a challenge. Starting a business is a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Scary, but also fast and exciting. There have been failures, mistakes, money and time lost, etc. However, I think the biggest hurdle has been my mindset. I’ve learned that to be a business owner, you have to do the scary things. You have to make leaps of faith, trust yourself and have patience with yourself. This goes for making art as well, it’s easy to feel inadequate as an artist. Learning to let go, trust the process and just try new things makes all the difference. These are not easy tasks and it takes a lot of mind work to get there.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a children’s illustrator, mostly working with gouache paint. I also work digitally and dabble a bit in printmaking as well. I’m very inspired by nature, books and travel. I like to create little whimsical worlds that put a smile on my face. What I am most proud of, is that I learned how to leverage my art and create repeat patterns for things like fabric and other products. I think what sets me apart from other illustrators is that my artwork is intended to be relatable to a larger audience by evoking feelings of nostalgia, reminiscent of classic children’s books. Connecting with people through things that remind them of their childhood, or favorite story, or a city they visited is the best part of my job, and keeps me inspired!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love collaborating with other brands! If you are looking for illustrations for products or other materials, I’d love to hear about your project. People can purchase my work on Etsy, and at local shops around the Twin Cities. I love to support small shops and other Minnesota-based businesses. Local craft markets are another great way to connect with me and show your support for artists & makers!
Contact Info:
- Email: emma@foxandfables.co
- Website: www.foxandfables.co
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/foxandfables
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/foxnfables
Image Credits
Mataya Creations (mushroom pillow photo)
LoveBee Baby (childrenswear spread photo)
