Life & Work with Maggie Walker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Walker. 

Maggie, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always drawn and painted; from the time I could hold a crayon I’ve been immersed in art. At school, I majored in German but also studied Japanese, culinary arts, and fine arts as much as I was able to. But it was thanks to the pandemic that I started my business. 

Before the pandemic hit, I’d already done a few small commissions, but when the pandemic hit I decided to make my art into a business. Over the course of 2020, I reached out to authors, attended conferences, and painted for myself as well. 

My interest in reading and writing led me to meet authors and organizations that needed artwork in order to publish their works. For instance, I designed the cover for the NCW Chiaroscuro Anthology and covers for several cookbooks. 

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?
Nothing in life is ever really smooth. The hardest thing was starting – especially finding clients. But I was lucky that I already knew a lot of writers thanks to various writing groups I am a part of (Notably Northern Colorado Writers and Shut Up & Write, if anyone wants to join!). Marketing doesn’t come naturally to me, but I’ve persevered. Now, my biggest struggle is building my website. I’ve never made one before, but I’ve begun to outgrow just using email. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently working primarily as an illustrator and cover artist, but I also do fine art and graphic design for things like logos. I work in both traditional and digital media, especially in acrylic, watercolor, and digital painting. Honestly, I like all my work, but I most love to paint people and birds, no matter what those paintings are then used for. 

I think what sets me apart is my versatility. Rather than being hyper-specialized and only doing one type of product, I like to be able to do a variety of projects. And since I have a wide range of interests, I am able to reference many cultures and styles in my art. 

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My most valuable quality is my adaptability. In order to succeed, I’ve needed to be creative and determined, and willing to alter my course if the path ahead looks blocked. In the art field, creativity is king, of course. But I think that being able to twist on a dime to meet an objective without giving up, is most important. I learned to change my methods but not my goals. 

Contact Info:

• Email: maggiewalkerart@gmail.com
• Website: http://www.magpieartdesign.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magpieartdesigns/

Image Credits
Maggie Walker
Magpie Art and Designs