Showcase Magazine: What inspires you to create art? Is there a specific style or theme that draws you in?
Sydney Lane: I draw inspiration from my life and those around me. My friends and my time in high school at Chatham Hall inspired a lot of my work, involving women. We had leaders in residence every year that gave us an opportunity to learn from women who shape the world in various forms and fashions. For example, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto, visited the campus. She was also the first woman to be elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country. Sadly, she was assassinated in 2007. Bhutto is featured on my Women of History print.
Another example is the cards I illustrate and write seem to always come from whatever season of life I am in. I had a heavy Valentine’s-themed collection come out the year I got engaged, go figure. I became a mom last year. And I find now a lot of my ideas on future art / inspiration are around motherhood.
SM: What mediums do you prefer? Do you have any techniques or tools that are unique to you?
SL: I mainly work digitally. My degree is in graphic design. So, I use Adobe Illustrator a lot, actually almost exclusively. In the future, I would love to do more mixed-media pieces, such as watercolors scanned digitally, incorporating photographs or dried florals, working with vintage quilts, etc. I think it is really cool to combine different types of art together to create something beautiful.
SM: How has your art developed over time? Have you experimented with different styles or subjects?
SL: My art has gotten more refined over the years. I started Lane Paper Works in September 2016. There are just a select few pieces I still offer today that I created almost 8 years ago. Once I found my niche of strong women, unique cards, possums (yep! possums!), etc., I rarely experiment. I do what I know and love and hope it translates well.
SM: What challenges do you face as an artist, and how do you overcome them?
SL: I think the biggest challenge I face is trying to constantly come up with the next best thing. Selling your art can be difficult in that you start to view it more from a business lens and less from a creative, fun lens. You can almost forget why you started creating in the first place if you aren’t careful. I try to overcome that by finding creative outlets that I do not monetize. For example, I cross-stitch strictly for fun.
SM: What made you take the leap to sell your art?
SL: I could not find a job. I came home from an internship at Mama’s Sauce in Orlando, Florida to the realization I would have a really hard time finding a job in the design world locally. I had seen a ton of really good greetings cards and print that summer from companies such as Rifle Paper Company, and decided that I, too, could illustrate greeting cards. I spent about a month coming up with designs before launching my company.
SM: What have been some of the biggest challenges being a small business owner?
SL: I struggle with keeping up with everything. I have labeled myself the creative director. So, I create everything, have everything printed, package everything, ship everything, photograph everything, update my website and Etsy page, do all the email and social media marketing, sales tax and business fees, etc. It can be a lot. Sometimes I am on top of things more than other times.
SM: What role does your community play in your artistic journey? Do you find inspiration or support from others in Chatham?
SL: I find Chatham to be so charming. When I first started selling my work, Alisa, at Reid Street Gallery, which, sadly, is no more, let me sell my cards in her gallery. My City Illustration line was inspired by Chatham.
SM: Can you tell us about the mural you painted in Chatham? What was the inspiration behind it?
SL: The LOVE sign mural was inspired by the LOVE Works project across Virginia. It is actually a registered LOVE sign with the state. I wanted the mural to be black and white. The L says, “You are so loved here,” a statement I hope everyone feels who steps foot into our little, one stoplight town. The O has various landmarks in Chatham painted there, Chatham Hall, Hargrave, the Courthouse, etc. The V has the state of Virginia painted within it, with Chatham, Virginia written on the other side. Finally, the E is just stripes in white, gray, and black. It has been really fun to see everyone’s photos in front of it. I said that I would never do another, but who knows?
SM: What message or feeling did you hope to convey with the mural? How does it connect to the community?
SL: I wanted the mural to convey belonging. I think with the two boarding schools, there are so many people coming and going. Whether that be the students or their parents visiting. I always see prom dates taking their photos in front of it every year. I get tagged in various photos on Instagram and other social media. I’m glad it is a fun piece that seems to bring enjoyment to others.
SL: What was the process of creating the mural like? Did you face any unique challenges or unexpected moments?
SL: The mural was a collaboration with Deborah Haymes at Studio 29 and myself. I worked on design drafts and would present them to her. We went over doing it in color or black and white. Once the design was final, I had to project it on the wall, trace, and then paint. It was a lot harder to do than I thought it was going to be. I did not enjoy being so high in the air. I’m really glad it is something I’ve done. It is definitely something I am proud of, but it was a challenge at times.
SM: What has been the response to the mural from the community? Are there any specific reactions or stories that stand out to you?
SL: We had a really big mural unveiling party when it was finished. It was a lot of fun! I think it has received mostly positive feedback. I have had people tell me that the L, “You are welcome here,” means the most to them. One girl told me t she felt such belonging in Chatham as soon as she moved here so she really connected with that letter the most.
SM: What are your future plans for your art? Do you have any upcoming projects in mind?
SL: I would love to design more greeting cards in the future. I find that creating and writing fun, little illustrations can connect with people at unique situations in their lives. Whether that be a wedding, welcoming a new child, or just a bad day. I have a cross-stitch-inspired line of cards coming out in honor of my grandmother who passed away recently, as well as a fun Mother’s Day collection. This year will be my second Mother’s Day as a mom, and I wanted to commemorate that in a fun way!
Editor’s Note: This interview was slightly edited for clarity.