E.Lamb STUDIO — YEAR IN REVIEW
Can anyone believe we are already in December? This year has truly been a whirlwind, in so many ways. As the year begins to draw to a close, I wanted to take a moment to remember all of the milestones we’ve been through together, and to thank you for making this all possible. Thank you for coming along on this adventure with me, I can’t wait to see what else we create together.
JANUARY
I took the leap! I left my design role of eight (!) years to take a chance on myself. I wasn’t sure exactly what the year held for me, but I knew I needed a change and a chance to live my dream of being a full-time artist and textile designer.
I used this quote as a reminder to push myself to achieve something, anything:
THE MOST REGRETFUL PEOPLE ON EARTH ARE THOSE WHO FELT THE CALL TO CREATIVE WORK, WHO FELT THEIR OWN CREATIVE POWER RESTIVE AND UPRISING, AND GAVE TO IT NEITHER POWER NOR TIME. -MARY OLIVER
FEBRUARY
I was lucky enough to find a great support system in branding guru, Meg Burrell. Together we had many sessions dreaming up what E.Lamb Studio could look like and stand for. We thought a lot about you guys too, what we hoped you were looking for when you came to E.Lamb Studio and the type of experience that would make you feel like you were part of the family - that each piece could effortlessly become part of your home and your own story.
As the world went through its own upheaval, I hunkered down to work on my first collection of paintings to share with you. It felt like such a luxury to be able to paint, all day, everyday. With this body of work I revisited many of my favorite subjects, from animal portraits to imagined landscapes. Much like old friends emerging, this collection felt like my creative spirit waking up from hibernation.
Night Portraits (pictured here) is still one of my favorite paintings from this collection, silhouetted on black a cast of characters sit regally. I often look to fairytales as inspiration and I wanted the villainous wolf to get his rewrite - he’s nothing but sophisticated and kind in this world.
I was so blown away with the reception the collection received! When I sold multiple pieces in pre-sale, I truly couldn’t believe it. The show of support was truly amazing, and gave me the confidence I needed to keep creating and pushing myself. This moment gave me so much hope for what the future could hold. Thank you.
There are still a few pieces to shop from the Spring Collection: Flock Together, Evening Stretch and Dusk. These pieces capture a longing for a quiet, peaceful place to rest and are inspired by my trips to Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, along with the fairytales I grew up reading - where the forest takes on magic meaning.
PHOTOSHOOT TIME
Another connection I feel lucky to have made was with photographer Morgan Beatton. I admired her work for other artists and brands in Atlanta, but with the lock-down we kept having to postpone working together. We found some creative ways to shoot products without making contact, but it was so nice to finally meet and shoot in my studio. We captured some behind the scenes moments, along with our first shots of my new textiles and wallpaper samples. Morgan has such a good eye, and I love collaborating with her to shoot each collection. Morgan captured the process shots behind my fabric and wallpaper designs. Animal Party has so much personality, and you can see the creatures as cut paper that I arranged to make a pattern. The final product can now cover all your interior projects (even pillows!).
A pinch me moment! After many months of finalizing my debut collection of wallpaper and fabrics, it's ready to share. The Leon collection, named after my furry companion, consists of four patterns that I have been developing from my original art. I love the idea of art that can grow across your walls and move across a 3-dimensional shape. This collection truly feels like a collaboration with you, I imagine what each design will look like layered into homes. Becoming part of your worlds and living with you through the changing years.
Hello, Rabbit might adorn the walls of a nursery, with each little rabbit becoming a friend who grows up right beside the room’s tiny inhabitants. (Hello,Rabbit Wallpaper)
Behind the scenes I’m connecting with showrooms and designers—I can’t wait to share more with you in 2021(!) and see these projects come to life!
This collection, exploring hidden worlds during long summer days was so fun to create. Blue Lagoon perfectly captures the sense of joyful mark-making and bold use of color in this collection. City Views explores my dreamscapes in a color scheme I just can’t get enough of - every shade of coral, reminding me of the sun setting over New York City.
At the same time I was painting, I was also working on my textile patterns, so you can really see the way the two interact and play off of each other here. Look for many of the plants and creatures that roam my pattern Garden Menagerie (available as wallpaper, fabric by the yard & pillows), in these paintings. The watercolor brushstrokes become a distant landscape and delicate blue plants abound.
PHOTOSHOOT AT BLANC STUDIO WEST
Morgan and I are getting a little fancy this round! I’ve rented a studio space for a few hours to shoot the next collection and get more lifestyle shots of wallpaper and textiles. I’m back in front of the camera, giggling my way through. But I couldn’t think of a better backdrop than a mix of Garden Menagerie and Hello, Rabbit.
I wanted to introduce made-to-order pillows in my fabrics in time for the holiday season. Offered in two-sizes, these pillow covers with down insert add a special dash of whimsy to your gift giving this year, and are perfect if you don’t quite know how to tackle a project with our fabric-by-the-yard. Because each pillow is sewn in a workroom located in Georgia, they take time to create and we closed holiday orders just before Thanksgiving - however that doesn’t mean you can’t dream up the perfect pillow gift for yourself anytime of year.
How about a mini-masterpiece for your tree? These hand-painted ornaments make the perfect, one-of-a-kind gift. And the best part? 20% of proceeds go to benefit Atlanta Non-profit, Wunderdogs. I’ve volunteered with Wunderdogs over the years, and wanted to be able to offer a small way to raise funds and draw attention to this amazing organization supporting our youth and at-risk animals.
For my last collection of the year, I wanted to revisit some of the pieces that resonated with you like The Golden Girls - dreamy birds who are haloed in gold. I also started thinking about how you might style these pieces in your homes, making partners for some and little groupings to take the guesswork out of gallery walls. These siblings fit nicely together, but are also strong apart. I imagine each piece becoming a heirloom, layering into your life and taking on even more meaning as the years go by. With my collections of art, fabrics and wallpaper I see our stories intertwining and growing, carrying a bit of magic wherever they go. I’m so thankful for each and every one one of you, and I can’t wait to see how our stories continue to weave together with each piece that finds a home in your heart.
What a whirlwind! Thank you so much for shopping small and supporting my business in its first year. I couldn’t do it without you. I can wait to see what 2021 holds for E.Lamb Studio and I’m honored you’re along for the ride.
