By Chelsea Royer
Tucked away in an apartment above one of the local Grays Harbor businesses is the studio of artist Carrie J. Westby. Any day she’s able to nestle away from the busyness of life in her studio is a good day. Music, handpicked to inspire her current project, trills in the background. On the walls, filling shelves, and hiding in nooks are her art and the things that inspire her – mementos from her travels, gifts from her children, and quotes of meaning. The space is unique because it is only filled with things that are “Carrie.” It is a time capsule of her heart and soul and a glimpse of her inner thoughts – which is why I was so honored to be welcomed into this sacred space to watch, to learn, and to meet the face behind the art that attracted me to begin with.
Wandering into Aberdeen’s Flowers by Pollen, I was enchanted by the many gifts available for purchase and particularly taken in by the hand-designed stationery, cards, and pillows. The blank notecards were mostly designed with floral and scroll artwork, drawn with an incredibly fine-tipped pen and colored pencils. Behind the scenes of this hand-crafted beauty, Carrie showed me her artists tools, the process of creating the storefront pieces, and current works in progress. The most impressive of which being a pen-pencil piece that has taken 300 hours of dedication. According to Carrie, it will likely take yet another 300 hours to complete. A detail-oriented person, the tiniest of petals and finest stroke of the pen make meaningful differences.
Carrie’s artwork is pristine and expressive, with even the paper being hand-picked for its purpose. Amazingly, she has never attended art school. A technical certification program taught her the basics of commercial art, but the love of colors, vibrancy, and patterns is what guides her hand.
“I’ve always romanticized artists and beauty since I was a little girl,” explains Carrie, who has been creating lovely things since she was a child. “No matter what, I’ve always had a project going.” Circumstances in Carrie’s life have taken her all over the country and the world and back again. Now that life has quieted down enough for her to take her dreams and turn them into a reality, those dreams are becoming a bigger and bigger portion of her life.
In 2003, Carrie founded The Ivy Project. Having worked in the veterinary field for some years, she was struck by the lack of appropriately sensitive cards that focused on the owner after the passing of their pet. “I have lots of stories of people losing their pets. Once the animal is gone, it’s time to focus on the people and what they are feeling. And they don’t necessarily want a card with the image of a pet on the front. Why would they want to see something that would make them more sad? The card from the veterinary office is a final acknowledgement and it should be beautiful and expressive of how the staff feels,” explains Carrie, who took it upon herself to fill that niche creating simple, beautifully worded sympathy cards. From there, opportunity just kept knocking. Whether it was a friend wanting a tattoo designed or an acquaintance wanting to hire her to create a set of wedding invitations, Carrie’s art has been sought after in one form or another.
Many times, Carrie has been approached with the phrase, “it would be so cool if you made this.” Usually she runs with the idea to see where it leads. “No matter what I do, my heart has to go into it – I have to feel it, even if it’s simple. Even if other people don’t like what I’ve done, I have to know that I did my best,” says Carrie.
Some of Carrie’s latest works are sets of cleanly designed Valentine’s Day cards (sold at Flowers by Pollen in Aberdeen). With the abundance of sentiment available in most mainstream greeting cards, Carrie keeps her work and words simple. “My work is so much more than just ‘art.’ It’s inspired by connections and family and people in my life. Everything here in my studio has a story or connection to someone’s heart,” says Carrie. This is what she hopes people discover in her work, whether they are looking to buy the perfect Valentine’s Day card or a print to hang on their wall. “It’s never about the money though. If I had to feed my family on my art, we’d starve,” she chuckles.
Being an artist has its challenges and most don’t earn a livable wage solely from art. Despite this, Carrie is glad she never gave up on her talents. “This next phase of life, I can be more dedicated to my art. I love that I have the benefit and grace of working in this space…my sanctuary. I am so very blessed,” she says.
Art for Carrie takes on multiple layers, impacting her life in ways many won’t understand. “If you love something and it’s in your core, no one can take it from you. My art has helped me plant my feet, deal with problems and sort things out,” she describes. Beyond the pleasure of art and using it to cope and understand life, it is also Carrie’s mission. “I’m supposed to be here because somehow, someday my work is going to matter to someone,” she explains. Perhaps her art will matter to you? For those who find difficulty expressing themselves, the next best thing is finding a local artist who can.
Find similarity of heart in Carrie’s work as well as a wonderful excuse to shop close to home. Learn more at Carrie’s website or contact her about a custom piece here.
