Today we’d like to introduce you to Chia Guillory.
Hi Chia, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Art, design & making have always been a part of my life~ starting in childhood with hand-sewn Victorian era fashions for my dolls & drawings of wizards & fairies to my young adulthood with studies in studio art & art history at UT. While working various jobs that were not in the arts, I started designing, making & selling accessories & clothing then was eventually able to support myself full time at my passion. I had a successful clothing line for years & was voted Best Clothing Designer in Austin Chronicle Readers Poll for six years in a row. I also had hat business- Chia Hats. My faux fur hats with ears were sold all over the world.
That was my baby & I worked hard at this business for 15 years until I realized I wasn’t enjoying it any longer, that it took too much out of my body & time. I had a son & wanted to dedicate more focus & attention on this new baby. It was very bittersweet letting go of this business that had such deep connections in the community & brought a lot of joy & for which there was still demand. But I had to follow my gut & know that it was time start to say goodbye. And I was honestly not sure what to do next; I had always felt a call to the fine arts & had enjoyed some success at selling paintings & illustrations. Also, as a side project I had started making fringe earrings out of recycled leather & was loving the process of cutting & assembly. I was ready to start my new creative chapter.
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?
Doing a little of this & a little of that was working out OK. Then in 2017 I was diagnosed with a fast-growing cancer; I had a mass steadily growing in my chest & by the time we knew what was going on it was go time- I needed to be treated immediately & was prescribed seven rounds of chemo that lasted five months. Luckily, I was able to focus on getting better & made that my job. It took a lot out of me (as cancer & chemo & surgeries tend to) & it was quite a while before I felt focused, inspired & able to dive into the creative process again. After recovery, I had to figure out what I wanted to do creatively, as a source of income, & all the while be ultra-patient & accepting of the reality of my situation. It took a lot longer than I expected & that in itself was a huge lesson in being kind to myself & to not try to live up to expectations that were not serving my total health and well being.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
A couple years ago I started exploring the origins & process of Shibori dye techniques; I had long been fascinated by this art form & had always wanted to try it out. Once I finished my first batch I was addicted; the feeling of inspiration had come back & now it’s all I want to do. I love that endless patterns that can be created with the various folds, ties, & binds of fabrics. I’ve been enjoying coming up with some new designs using these fabrics & am excited to share them soon. I’ve been working on launching a line of wearables, home decor, & bedding. There’s no website yet, in the meantime I’m releasing small runs for sale on my Instagram. I think one of the factors of being successful as a working artist, for me, has been to not specialize in just one thing. It’s not always clear how I should present, market, showcase myself & my work when specializing in at least three different mediums at all times…. I make the leather jewelry while painting & illustrating & meanwhile am dying & stitching anything I can get my hands on. But I wouldn’t change that, as I like the variety of mediums & ability to go from one to another. I’d say I’m most known for is the high quality & attention to every detail of each & every piece I put out into the world. I’ve worked on everything from custom wedding dresses, couture fashion, costuming & dance wear to custom illustration & art installations.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
This almost year long experience during the COVID-19 crisis has been quite a test in so many ways…. professionally, to try to keep a small business going, working from home with a 3rd grader doing school at home, trying to process what was happening to our community, & in the nation & world…. just trying to take care of myself so I could take care of my family was definitely challenging at times. But, what we gained was a LOT of time together we would not have otherwise had & when it’s all passed, these will be times we cherish. My business may have suffered, I may have had some dark days, but lessons learned during cancer treatment helped me better weather this challenging time…. to let go, to accept, to be in the moment & try my very best to live for today. And also, if you’re tired- take a nap.
Pricing:
- shibori white denim storage baskets~ sm. $40 lg. $60
- shibori white denim quilted oversize tote~ $150
- leather fringe earrings~ $45
Contact Info:
- Email: chiahats@gmail.com
- Website: http://chia-art.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chia_art_and_design/
- Other: COMING SOON: https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChiaWorld
Image Credits
Alex Hopes, Chia
