Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Deming.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Painting started as a hobby. I loved it, and when I wasn’t painting, I wanted to get back to painting. I watched all the YouTube videos I could find on watercolor painting and read all of the how-to books I could get my hands on. Some of the paintings were pretty ugly at first, but making ugly paintings was a blessing. If I learned even one thing from each failed painting, then I had something to work towards the next time. Just like anything else that you’re learning to do, you’re not going to be a pro at it the first time out. It’s the learning process and the desire to get better, and maybe a little stubbornness, that truly refines a talent.
My beginning as a professional painter started in 2016. My mom is a schoolteacher, and during her summer breaks she worked at a home décor store in downtown Bay City called Little House. I showed my art to Kathy, the owner, and she very generously agreed to display a few of my paintings for sale. The first painting I ever sold was a cartoonish-looking male cardinal sitting on a tree branch. I was elated.
After selling a few more paintings at Little House, I then tried my hand at a local farmer’s market in Port Austin Michigan. There was definitely a learning curve being at the market. Besides the early mornings, we had to come up with a booth and its layout, learn how to engage customers, manage inclement weather, and fix things when they broke; something always broke. The best part about being at the markets was meeting and becoming friends with so many amazing people.
Eventually, my weekends at the farmer’s market turned into weekends at art shows. This year we will do around 15 shows from May through November. I also work on commission, have my work at three galleries and home decor shops, and sell online through Etsy and Faire. Making art full-time was never a part of my future plans, but I truly feel blessed that it’s my current reality.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I am a 2009 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University with a degree in Elementary Education. After teaching for a year, I became seriously ill. I had a recurring brain tumor located near my pituitary gland, the same tumor which had already been the cause of multiple surgeries since 2002. In 2010, the tumor came back, prompting surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. However, instead of recovering after the surgery, I remained ill. I wasn’t able to return to teaching, and instead of grading papers, I filled out forms at doctors’ offices.
The tumor recurred again in 2013, prompting six weeks of radiation at the University of Michigan. After recovering from the treatments and finding answers to my medical questions, including a diagnosis of and treatment for depression, not only has the brain tumor shrunk to a fraction of its previous size, but I also have made a near full recovery in my overall health.
Throughout this experience, I survived on the strength and support of family, friends, the Lord, and the joy of painting. Painting brought happiness and purpose to life when it was hard to find it in few other places.
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?
My wife Christina and I made our first children’s book this past winter. She wrote all of the poetry, and I illustrated each of the paintings and sketches. It started a couple of years ago with a painting of a fox on a motorcycle. It was just something goofy and fun, but many of our customers loved the look and vibe of it. Next came a brown bear on a vintage Vespa, and then the ball was rolling. The more characters we came up with, the more our customers and family encouraged us to put them into a book.
The book is called Scurry and Scoot: A collection of Cruisin’ Critters. Each character has a short story about who they are and where they’re headed. For example, the brown bear on the scooter. His name is Hershel, and he’s in London headed to a jazz concert. He’s looking forward to his very first trumpet solo but gets a little turned around on his way to the show!
This project was an amazing experience, especially working with my wife on each of the ideas. If we could make each other chuckle or even laugh out loud with a sketch or a line, then we knew we were headed in the right direction. Again, I definitely feel blessed to be doing something this fun for a living.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
Painting Watercolors by Cathy Johnson This was my very first how-to watercolor book. It was such a great resource and inspiration when I was starting out.
Contact Info:
- Website: Etsy.com/shop/drewdeming
- Instagram: instagram.com/deming.paint/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrewDemingWatercolors/
Image Credits
Drew Deming Watercolors
