Today we’d like to introduce you to Aly Winningham.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, how did you get started?
After years of studying art and practicing my art as a back-burner pastime, I started a small business in 2004. At first, it was slow and simple, but my confidence grew as I learned how to run a small business. After a few years of this, I decided to believe in myself and my desire to create art for a living and quit my corporate job. Landing some larger installation works, such as the mosaic installation at the chocolate counter at the flagship Wholefoods in downtown Austin and some other corporate installations, gave me the confidence to take that leap. I needed more than installation work to keep me busy, so I participated in events such as the E.A.S.T. (east Austin studio tours) and other art shows. I enjoyed making smaller pieces that could be sold as works to hang in homes or private spaces. Shortly after that, I began to outgrow my tiny home studio in central East Austin. I met my future wife, Amy, in 2007. We joined forces, and in 2010 we bought some acreage and moved to Cedar Creek, TX (another 15 miles past the airport). I built a large studio space on the profits from my east Austin home, which I had purchased in 1997. Today, I work in my 1400 sq ft space in the woods of Cedar Creek. I have open studio events, teach workshops, take commissions, do installations, travel to art shows, and sell online from my website. I manage to stay very busy.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
The road was much smoother than I thought it would be. I am not a superstitious or religious person. I don’t believe “everything happens for a reason.” But I believe in forces of energy and the power of believing in yourself. The universe will reward you if you ask for it or demand it. I remember being terrified once I realized I had to take a chance or I would live in regret and self-doubt, always wondering: what if? So I jumped, and the net did appear. But in reality, that net was of my own making, and it was scary to weave it because I had no way of knowing if it would hold. Fake it til you make it was my motto in the beginning, I remember making up reasons I couldn’t meet designers or firms at my studio when I didn’t want them to see how sad and tiny my space was back then. It’s a determination I had, a passion. Art shows, job sites, and working with groups of people can all be very challenging. Often the weather is not your friend; traveling with precious cargo can be stressful. Generally, reinventing the wheel with each project is alluring and stimulating and can also be uncertain.
We’ve been impressed with Terra Firma Studios, but for folks who might need to be more familiar, what can you share about what you do and what sets you apart?
TFS is owned and operated by me. I specialize in mosaic art. I have been practicing mosaics for over 2 decades. I have a recognizable style that has evolved from my passion for sheet glass, semi-precious stones, and the incorporation of found objects. Over my career, I have added a glass and ceramic kiln to my space. The glass kiln allows me to fuse glass elements into striking bold glass tiles that I can incorporate into my designs. The clay kiln allows me to create clay tiles that celebrate more textures than glass can. The found elements that I add bring that (often sentimental) surprise where you aren’t expecting it. My mosaic art tells stories. Sometimes the stories are about earth justice and nature’s harmonious beauty. I have been studying art my entire life. I was a metal artist for many years and built sculptures and functional items, such as gates, tables, railings, etc., out of steel. I studied blacksmithing for several years. In college, I worked at a stained glass shop where the owners would restore church windows and sell supplies. We would make rubbings of the original windows, dismantle them and then completely rebuild them. I also make kinetic art and have created many small and very large mobiles for people worldwide. These skills train your eyes and hands and give you a deep understanding of your materials. All those past experiences are latent in my mosaics and help define my style.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
If you know what you want and are able bodied, you can get it. It may mean sacrificing things, such as what neighborhood you live in or how much time you have with your friends, etc. But it is attainable. If I was, once again, young and poor in Austin, but it was 2023 instead of the 90s, I would move away. Somewhere where life was much easier (affordable), I could build my skills with the needed time. When I moved into east Austin, it was a huge risk.Very few people were willing to invest in the area, so real estate was very affordable. No one thought I should live there; people were worried about my choices. I even had a realtor quit on me because he couldn’t support my choice! He was an old conservative white man from the other side of town, so we were poorly matched anyway. He nervously peeked out the windows as if a boogeyman would jump out. But I was determined to have the space I needed for my creativity and had very little money or support, so I did what I needed to do. In hindsight, my resolve and dedication were stronger than any other motivation, and the need to take calculated risks is a reality when starting a business.
Pricing:
- ranges from 100-5000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.terrafirmastudios.com
- Instagram: aly winningham
- Facebook: aly winningham mosaics
