Featured Mom-preneur: Liz Clay of Cici Art Factory

When I first checked out Cici Art Factory's web site I was instantly drawn to the bold and seriously bright whimsical themes that appear across all of their product lines. Then I was charmed with their theory that "little eyes deserve to see the chunky paint, pure pigment and clean design of original art". How perfect? The hand-made panels and fresh paintings will truly entertain and engage both little and big eyes alike...

Liz Clay, the incredible talent behind Cici Art Factory, is the mom of three girls. Read on to learn what keeps this busy mom, our second featured mom-prenuer, going and how she still finds time to stop, be silly and search for fairies with her girls. We hope you'll find her as creatively cool as we do.

Here's our interview with Liz...

1. Tell us a little about yourself, your family, and/or your business.
I'm a mom of three girls (almost 4, 2 and 6 mos.) I’m from Vancouver and still live here!

I've always loved everything to do with art but it took me awhile to decide to focus on it full-time. In university I studied business and then went on to do another degree in Visual Arts from Emily Carr Institute of Art & Design in Vancouver. Following graduation I spent several years working overseas in Singapore and eventually Vancouver in the advertising and design business.

After the birth of my second daughter, I started painting again but in a style that was for both of us – girls with rosy cheeks and wild hair, trees with wise owls, girl’s in old-fashioned bathtubs with tones of bubbles.

I stumbled across etsy somehow... started an online store and things started to sell. Eventually I decided to have my own website to sell to both retailers and customers directly.

2. If you had to describe your business in less than 15 words, how would you do it?
I aim to activate rooms and spark imaginations with original art for kids rooms.

3. What is your inspiration for your business? Your products?
My kids (this is an obvious one!), old-fashioned things (clawfoot bathtubs, 1920’s cars, dresses), children’s books from the 70’s with fabulous design in it (orange and brown owls, bold and vibrant patterns).

4. What is the most rewarding thing about being a mom? A mom-preneur?
Getting to spend this much time with my girls is absolutely fabulous. I know pretty much everything about them as I’ve been with them all day long. I love that I can be around my girls but still have the challenge of figuring out the next steps for my business.

5. What advice would you give to someone considering becoming a mom-preneur?
Just go for it and enjoy it! It’s an amazing learning experience – from figuring out how to get your products made, how to sell them, what your unique selling point is, how to market them, build a website etc. etc.

There’s also an amazing support network of other mom’s doing the same thing.

6. What keeps you motivated?
I simply enjoy it and it’s the right thing for me at this time. So… if I had to choose between watching TV at night and working on my art, the art is a natural choice.

7. What is your next big goal?
I’m looking into getting the portraits printed on canvas so they would be ready-to-hang, rather than require framing. The main challenge here is that I’d love to have them printed on an organic canvas using non-toxic paints, stretched over wood from a sustainable source. The problem is that I’ve yet to find a printer that can do giclee quality printing on organic canvas. The demand just isn’t there yet and my quantities are so small its hard to find someone willing to do it.

Art wise, I have an 8 x 8 foot painting hanging over my oldest daughter’s bed and I love the scale of it. Right now all of my work is small scale – for shipping and painting purposes mainly but I’d love to do a series of really big trees for kids rooms. Trees where the seasons were ambiguous – apples on snowy branches, or trees with crazy little houses in their branches.

8. What is your guilty pleasure?

Popcorn, movies and chocolate chip cookies. Maybe even all at once.

9. Name a product that you can't live without, for you or your baby?
I’m loving my Mountain Buggy urban double stroller with a kiddie step on the back. I live in a neighbourhood where everything is within walking distance – the beach, the drop-ins, shops. I love just being able to walk out my front door and get around quickly with my girls if I need to.

10. What is the most valuable lesson you have learned as a mom {so far}?
To slow down and to be silly. Today on our walk we stopped by a tree and looked in the moss for fairies.

We have three of these fabulous prints to giveaway!
{Thanks, Liz!}

One lucky True Cuddles subscriber will win
one of these fabulous prints from Cici Art Factory!

Each print measures 8" x 10" and is digitally printed on 110 lb archival paper.

It's signed and dated on the front and has a white border for framing.

Enter to win by...

1. Visiting Cici Art Factory's gallery and choose your favorite piece

2. Simply make a comment on our blog below telling us what it is!

Don't forget to leave your email address
so we can notify the lucky winner!

Please only leave one comment. Winner must be a True Cuddles Subscriber!
Winner will be selected at random. Contest Ends 11/30/08