Today we’d like to introduce you to Adair (Addie) Ewers
Hi Addie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Adair, but everyone calls me Addie, and I grew up in a small town in Virginia. My childhood and experiences with school were not the smoothest, but my imagination was always that light in the dark. Growing up, I spent lots of time creating in different ways; directing neighborhood plays, writing and illustrating books, selling cupcakes, and of course, being the one who did the drawings in school projects. When I was 16, my anxiety took control of my mind and I began online school in 2019. Later that year, at age 17, I started selling my art to friends and family. After some time, people suggested to start selling and posting my art to a larger audience, so I opened my Etsy.
In 2020, I met my boyfriend, now fiance, and we decided to move to TX with his family. Once in Texas, I started to have a lot more success. My follower count and friend group of artists began to grow. In early 2022, I did my first vendor event with my fiance; he has always been my biggest supporter and has only missed 1 event I’ve done. I also did my first collab, hit 2000 Instagram followers, and got my first ambassadorship with Pintar Art Supply in 2022.
Later that year, I went back to Virginia temporarily, doing a few events and experiencing a life-changing family death. From November 2022-January 2023, I kind of just took a break from life after losing my niece.
Returning to Texas in February 2023. I continued doing vendor events through 2023, and continued to make art friends. In Virginia, at least where I am from, the art scene is scarce and not AS accepting of abstract art, so I really love Austin for introducing me to people and opportunities I would have never had in Virginia. I began working alongside PLAID Crafts in 2023, and hit 400 sales on Etsy. In the summer, events started to become scarce after an intense Texas summer, then by the time winter came, spot prices for vendors went up and I couldn’t really afford to keep doing events at the time.
In 2024, I hit 5 years of owning my business. I am now 22 years old and engaged. While there are many ups and downs to owning a business, I feel incredibly lucky to have continued with this business I started as a teenager. I am also very lucky to have such a loving and supporting mother, fiance, and family on my side and his. I now spend my days walking dogs and making art and content for social media. Art has always played a major part in my life and has been a part of my personality that people love me for.
My plans in 2025 are to meet more people, do more collaborations, get better and better at creating art and make the content to match.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I was 14, my mother and I left my abusive father and given the fact I had been doing art my entire life, my style did change after leaving. It was a lot more depression based and… creepy. I strongly feel like the emotional and mental abuse I witnessed and went through as a child shaped the introverted artist I am now, but I believe everything happens for a reason, and if that was not going to trigger the creativity in me, something else would.
I started my business at 17, after switching from public school to online due to struggles with anxiety. Once I had more freedom in my school schedule, I was able to open up the vault of imagination from my childhood, where my current style originated.
In 2022, my niece went missing, and in early 2023, she was found deceased. During the months she was missing, I could not do any art. My mind was shut down completely, I could barely talk to anyone, and all I cared about was where my niece was. Her memorial service was in March 2023, and after then, I could do some art again. The service was NOT closure, as her case is still unsolved almost 2 years later, we at least know where she is now. After months of grieving, I was slowly getting my spark back.
In 2024, grief has become something I’m learning to live with. I have lots of spent time acknowledging the grief I carry is just love I am unable to give and that has helped me cope. While I am reminded of her case and think of her constantly, I am able to handle my mental health differently. My mentality is much better now, but I will forever love and miss my niece, Samantha Valentine Humphrey.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have struggled for years to figure out what my art style is called. It is somewhere between abstract, trippy/psychedelic, contemporary and retro-inspired/retro-revival, but usually, I just say I make trippy art. I mostly do acrylic and acrylic paint pen paintings on canvas or wood. Sometimes, I use special UV reactive or color shifting acrylic paint in my art. I occasionally add texture with dots or lines.
I paint lots of mushrooms, lines, abstract versions of everyday animals or items. I have started to draw intricate, trippy digital portraits of rappers, influencers and friends/Instagram mutuals in the last two years or so.
I like to paint functional or non-traditional shaped items for people who want a piece of art that they can use. I have painted wooden boxes (recipe box, jewelry box, stash box), trays, signs, flower pots, and more. I have had people ask me to paint on their random household items or shoes, as well, and I love it all. I use my own functional art daily.
I started doing digital drawings in 2021 and eventually began turning them into stickers, magnets, pins, and my best seller, lighters. When I was doing more events in person, they were always the first to go, and I often sold out in the first few hours, and online, I restock a few times a year.
I believe my intricate line work, mushroom designs, use of bold colors, texture, functionality, and varying art styles are some of the things that make my artwork unique. I love exploring new products to make with my art and will continue to produce them in the future. I hope one day to expand to painting murals and making album cover art.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I believe resilience and innovative thinking are crucial in my business journey. As an artist, I have had people say rude things to my face and online about my art, which can definitely hurt. I go through periods where my likes and followers drop, my sales go dry for months, but I don’t stop creating. I use the setbacks to move forward and come up with new ideas. Of course, breaks are needed on occasion, but I am always thinking of ideas for new products.
To be an art business owner in 2024, you must be able to deal with balancing social media, negativity, artist’s block, and dry spells in sales. The positives of owning a business where I get to share my creations with the world completely overweigh the negative, therefore, I believe resilience is the most important characteristic to have.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/EffervescentArtShop
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/effervescentartshop
- LinkedIn: https://linktr.ee/effervescentartshop
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@adddair
