Daily Inspiration: Meet Courtney Crider

Today we’d like to introduce you to Courtney Crider. 

Hi Courtney, 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?
As a child, my dream was to be a veterinarian. I was in 4-H clubs, volunteered, watched animal surgeries, and drew blueprints and logos of my future veterinary clinic to hang on my bedroom wall. It was the dream. 

Then at 13, I had a severe anaphylactic reaction to a dog. This triggered a host of allergies to practically everything – various fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats, plants, chemicals, and most importantly – animals. We tested for every animal they had available and I was allergic to them all. Cats and dogs so much so it was literally off the charts. 

I was devastated. I was reacting to everything; allergy shots weren’t working – I couldn’t even spend time with my own cats my allergies were so out of control. The dream was over. 

In the midst of this, I began to spend my time on other things – one being my faith. That’s when I discovered Bible Journaling, a devotional activity where you use Bibles with large margins to take notes and make illustrations. I started to draw more and more, in the Bible and elsewhere. I had always doodled on homework and enjoyed art classes, but as I kept drawing, I realized just how much I liked it and how much I was improving. 

Soon after I decided to start an art Instagram account. Within a couple of months, I gained my first 1,000 followers. I started taking commissions, drawing portraits of couples and families, and looking into the many art careers and colleges there were available. I started working towards a new dream. 

In high school, I joined an early college program and graduated in 2021 with an Associate in Graphic Design. Now, I am a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, primarily creating children’s book illustrations. I’ve worked on 3 published books so far with more on the way. I do branding design, character art, visual development, and more. And I love what I do. 

My allergies are more manageable now, and I still love spending time with my three cats and doing animal research on the side. Though these health issues can be challenging and the onset was a painful time, overall, I am glad that it happened. Had it not, I wouldn’t have discovered my passion for art. I would be a different person and I wouldn’t be where I am now. That time was an important part of my story and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

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?
Learning how to navigate the world of freelancing and working from home has been a challenging journey. I’ve had to learn how to work with my brain to stay organized and motivated, work with my body to manage artist aches and pains, and am constantly working to improve my skills and broaden my horizons. 

There’s been a lot of trial and error when it comes to choosing my rates and clients as well. Over time I learned my worth, and that it’s really not worth it to work on cheap projects. Setting rates in alignment with the industry standard and not going below that standard made a huge difference and was a lesson well learned. 

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a creator, I love to fill my work with fun colors, plants, and bright lighting to create a whimsical feel. I’m currently specializing in children’s book illustration and character art which gives a lot of creative room to include these aspects. 

One thing I take pride in is my style and its development over the years. Originally inspired by Disney and other animation studios, my style has grown and evolved into something uniquely my own. As a result, everything I illustrate has a bit of me in it. I use my desire to spread light and joy in the world and create artwork that will do this for others. 

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory is probably when my dad, sister, and I were creating a giant birthday card as a gift for my mom. My sister and I were both very young and we enjoyed creating the art for the card. At the end, we grabbed our cat Breezy, stuck her paws in paint, and had her “sign” the birthday card. It was a fun day. 

Pricing:

• Personal Portrait Commissions: starts at $75
• Contact me for commercial work!

Contact Info:

• Email: courtney@criderillustrations.com
• Website: criderillustrations.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crider.illustrations/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/CriderIllus_