Today we’d like to introduce you to Alana Lipham.
Hi Alana, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The story of my artwork and my business starts in the summer of 2020, when I decided to purchase an iPad to practice digital art like I had seen people do on TikTok and YouTube. (I know I fall into the “I picked up a hobby and turned it into a business during the Pandemic” cliche.) I’m a huge hockey fan, and I was always searching for unique merch to show my love for my favorite team, the Pittsburgh Penguins. One space that I saw lacking was stickers and artwork. After very little practice of teaching myself to draw on my iPad, I opened my Etsy shop, Stark + Stanley, in September 2020. The name comes from my dog, Stark, and the very best trophy in sports, the Stanley Cup.
My artwork and subject matters have changed a lot since September 2020. As an avid reader, I found myself with amazing opportunities to create stickers and artwork for indie and best selling authors and publishing companies. I’ve had my dreams come true to have been able to work with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation and the families of the Penguins players to create special artwork for events and to celebrate milestones.
While my artwork might look different and my inspirations change on the daily, the one thing that’s always remained the same is that I’m creating artwork that brings me and others joy. I create designs that make me smile and represent who I am and the communities that I belong to. I want to continue to bring joy to all communities with my vibrant, colorful artwork!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When I first heard the question, I immediately thought “Oh, what a struggle it’s been!”, but now I’m finding it difficult to describe. Honestly, the first struggle hit the first day of the shop, when I was trying to print and cut my own stickers with a Cricut machine. What a disaster that first weekend was! The whole process of printing and cutting my own stickers was a disaster, with back ordered ink, machines that wouldn’t cut the correct lines, bad quality paper, etc. I finally moved to having a manufacturer print and cut my hand drawn designs about six months in, but that also comes with its own headaches. Even when you are your own boss and own your own business, you find yourself with a different set of co-workers (manufacturers, collaborators, equipment, etc.) and a different set of bosses (customers). Learning how to get along with and make all of those people is a continued struggle in business.
Another big struggle has been my mindset. I’m very kind and loving to others, but not to myself, and that’s hurt my business in several ways. A great example is when I was too scared to sell in person at an event for several years in fear that I would be judged by others and that no one would purchase anything from me. I finally participated in my first event just a few months ago (almost 5 years in to my business), and it went extremely well! I exceeded my sales goals, and I was shown so much love by my local community. I let fear hold me back a lot, and I’m still learning how to overcome that mindset and be my own biggest cheerleader.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a digital illustrator, and all of my artwork is digitally hand drawn on an iPad. I turn those illustrations into affordable items, like stickers, keychains, enamel pins, and apparel. I am best known for my stickers, going so far as to self identify as “The Sticker Queen”! I love using colorful, vibrant palettes for my designs, and I mostly use the color blocking technique in my artwork to give focus to those vibrant colors.
I started my business by drawing my favorite hockey players, but I’ve transitioned into different illustration styles and inspirations, and I’ve most recently been practicing different cartoon design techniques. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite design (my favorites change daily) or a design that I’m most proud of. I’m most proud of the progress that I can see in my artwork over time. While I do cringe at those early designs (and even illustrations that I’ve created recently), I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my practice and seeing my progress. It’s a wonderful feeling to finish a project and say “I love it!” instead of when I used to be so nervous and unsure of it.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can find me on any of the social media platforms at @starkandstanley. My website is www.starkandstanley.com, and if you’re a loyal Etsy shopper, you can still find my shop open on there by searching “Stark and Stanley”. Ordering from my small business is incredible support, but just checking out my website or following along on social media is amazing support, and I’m so thankful for all of it! No matter what you do with your time and money, choose to support small businesses!
I do sell wholesale! You can find me on Faire or send me an email at starkandstanley@gmail.com.
I am open to collaborations with authors, whether independently or traditionally published. I’m best known for my character stickers, but I’m always open to hearing about project ideas and maybe being encouraged to go outside of my comfort zone with different products and styles. You can email me at starkandstanley@gmail.com for more information!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.starkandstanley.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starkandstanley/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076533443899
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@starkandstanley
Image Credits
Geneva Jensen – Wild Mane Beauty @wildmanephoto
