Meet Anne Lehman Stolpe | Artist, Illustrator and Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne Lehman Stolpe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Making art has always been a part of me. Since I first picked up a crayon, I’ve been drawing and creating. It was my favorite pastime as a child and it still is! I pursued art in college, majoring in Art Education and received a degree in Fine Arts. Soon after, I became interested in Graphic Design and digital art. I also felt like it would be a sustainable career for me, so it became my focus for about 15 years. I worked as a Graphic Designer for several companies, large and small. I would switch companies eager to find something that was a better fit. I think I was searching for a job where I could have more artistic freedom and find my voice as a designer. Feeling somewhat unfulfilled creatively, I started making art again in my spare time which eventually led to opening my Etsy Shop, Sunny Spot Studio. I created custom art prints for special occasions, drawn by hand with watercolor pencils. This allowed me to get back to my love of making art. I started to dream of turning this into a full time job, but I didn’t see how I could make a living on my art alone. It wasn’t until I took an online course offered by Make Art That Sells, that I learned of Art Licensing and the world of creating art for products. This was a turning point for me and opened up a whole new door. I connected with so many like minded creatives and some of them were living my dream and actually making a living as an artist! I felt really inspired and more motivated than ever. The instructor and Art Agent, Lilla Rogers, said something in class that has stayed with me. She said, “Turn your fear into excitement.” It took me some time after that and several courses to help build my portfolio, but I eventually left my Graphic Design job in early 2020 and Sunny Spot Studio became my full time employment. I’ve never worked so hard, but I’ve also never felt more fulfilled in my career. I’ve had the opportunity to work on creative graphic design projects with new clients, while creating lots of new art and pattern designs for art licensing and other opportunities.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been drawn to bright colors, beautiful textures and patterns. I love when you can see the paint strokes, line work and expression in someone’s work. You can have an immediate reaction such as feeling peaceful or happy. There is no better compliment to me than hearing that something I made brightened someone’s day. That’s the best thing about designing and art licensing to me – being able to have my work out there that I hope will make someone smile or lift their mood. I believe it is important to follow your joy and be true to yourself. It will shine through in your art and your unique style will emerge. I try to stick with drawing things that make me happy. Some of my favorite things to draw are flowers, plants, and animals and you will often find them in my work! Making pattern designs has recently become my favorite creative outlet. I feel like it brings all of my art and design experience full circle. My passion for drawing, color, and design merge together to create my patterns.

Looking back, there have been some bumps in the road, but the greatest lesson I have learned is to try and stay present and enjoy the journey. For years, I worked as a graphic designer and I spent so much of my time focused on the future and trying to get to the next opportunity. I wanted to go out on my own, but I was afraid to make the leap. I was also frustrated at myself for staying in the same role for so long. Instead, I should have appreciated where I was at that stage in life. Everything is a process. I have since realized that what I did in those years led to where I am now. I learned so much—I met amazing friends and mentors, and I grew in each role. Each opportunity wouldn’t have been possible without the ones before. I know there are challenges and setbacks along the way with all career paths. As an artist, it can be scary to put your work out there, rejection will happen and some people might discourage you, but if you focus, keep doing what you love and surround yourself with people who understand and encourage you, good things will start to happen. Over the past couple of years, while there have been some rejections, I’ve also licensed my work on greeting cards, various stationery items, wall art, gift packaging, and soon on clothing. Hopefully more to come!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are lots of great day trips we could go on during the warmer months here in New Hampshire! I live in the seacoast area and there are many places that I love within an hour or two. Portsmouth is nearby and one of my all time favorite places – it is a quaint coastal city that offers small and unique shops, amazing restaurants, historic homes and parks on the waterfront. We would spend the day walking around the downtown area, visiting the shops, enjoying some good food at a local restaurant, and hopefully catching a concert, movie or play at Prescott Park, A visit would not be complete without a trip down to Boston. We would go to the Museum of Fine Arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and then dinner (and treats!) in the North End.  For fresh seafood and a scenic drive along the Atlantic Ocean, I would take them up the coast of southern Maine for the day, ending in Portland. There are lots of beautiful seaside towns, beaches and restaurants to stop along the way. By the end of the week, we would relax and stay near home visiting lake areas and scenic walking trails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It feels impossible for me to dedicate this to one person or group! Throughout my life, there have been certain people that have been instrumental in my art journey.

When I was young, it was my mom who always embraced my creative side. She encouraged me to pursue art and knew it was all I wanted to do. In high school, she helped me enroll in art classes at a local college so I could build a portfolio to apply to art schools. I still wonder if I would have gone to art school if it wasn’t for her. I am fortunate that both my parents are extremely supportive of my career and encouraged me to start my own business.

I met my husband, Matt, around the same time that I opened my Etsy Shop. From the very beginning, he thought I could make a living as an artist and encouraged me to take the leap. Knowing that it was hard for me to work on my art with my full time job, he researched different tools and surprised me with an iPad and Apple Pencil. After the first time I used Procreate, I knew it was going to change my life. I started creating all of my artwork on the iPad, allowing me to be more productive in a shorter timeframe. Within the year, I was able to reach my goal of building my portfolio and website to a place where I felt ready to go out on my own. He has been with me every step of the way, celebrating each success, while always staying optimistic and helping me during the challenging times.

My sister, Karen, is one of my biggest supporters. She started a business a small business around the same time that I went out on my own in 2020. Months before, we would spend hours on the phone dreaming about working for ourselves, but also talking about all the fear that held us back. She helped me through the ups and downs and is still one of my biggest inspirations!

I can’t talk about my success without acknowledging a deep gratitude and appreciation for the fellow designers and artists I’ve met through the years. I have been fortunate to have found these people through previous jobs and creative endeavors. Working by yourself can feel isolating at times, but having these friends has been a constant source of support, comfort and inspiration.

Website: https://www.sunnyspotstudio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunnyspotstudio/

Image Credits
Bunnies in the Garden image is from Minted.com