Meet Emily Wadham

We had the good fortune of connecting with Emily Wadham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Emily, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I have been making art to give to people since I was very young- I’ve always loved bringing someone joy with something I’ve made. I never even really thought about starting a business however until a few years ago. The high school I was working at 6 years ago was holding a small craft fair in the gym, and the lady running it suggested I try it out. So I made some watercolor christmas cards and small paintings and participated. I actually did pretty terrible for my first craft fair lol but I did sell a few cards and it made me happy to make other people happy with my art! From there I got pretty hooked and kept trying new stuff until I reached where I’m at now with Wild Moon Art Studio.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I think the biggest hurdle to an art business is believing in yourself. I’ve always loved art- took classes in school, got my undergrad degree in Fine Art, and now I’m a high school Art Teacher. I love making things! But for a long time I felt like I just wasn’t good enough. I held myself back for a long time because I didn’t see the value in what I was doing. But eventually I got the courage to put myself out there and guess what- customers loved my stuff! It took a little while but I learned that I just need to make what I love, and get my stuff out there, and I’ll find my people! My art is certainly not for everyone, but that’s ok. Art is about love and passion, and as long as you stick with what you love you can succeed.

It’s not always going to be easy though. I still struggle sometimes to do well at craft fairs, and it is hard to find good price points for my items due to the time that it takes to make them. But then someone comes into my booth and absolutely gushes over my clay animals, or they buy an ornament as a present for a loved one, and I’m reminded why I do this- to share happiness. I always do a lot of experimentation- you learn a lot every time you do a craft fair or market.

I’m most proud of my perseverance! Running a business is not easy, especially when I have a day job as well. There are times when my day as a high school teacher is super exhausting, and it can be really hard to come home and sit down and do even more work. But thankfully I make things that I love, so it doesn’t always feel like work. I love painting and sculpting, it can sometimes be its own form of like meditation or relaxation. I’m really inspired by nature, especially landscapes and animals. I have 3 goofy cats at home that inspire a lot of what I make. I am still learning and growing as an artist and business owner all the time. My main take away from the experience of running my own business is to just go for it- work hard and share your passion, and people will gravitate towards that!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Alpine and work even further east and I think a lot of people really don’t realize how awesome my area is. Alpine, Pine Valley, and Mount Laguna are absolutely beautiful, especially in the winter! My high school actually gets snow days in January/February, which is so neat. I would take my guest stargazing on Mount Laguna- being away from all the light pollution of the city, you can see the milky way and so many beautiful stars. Julian is so charming and has a lot to offer, especially if you love cider! I am also a huge fan of sushi, and my absolute favorite restaurant is a place here in Alpine called Panda Machi. It’s a small little restaurant in an unassuming shopping center but their food is so good! There is also a lovely little park in Flinn Springs that is a great place to chill and have a picnic. I haven’t been to the Jacumba Springs Resort yet since they’ve reopened but I plan on checking it out soon because I’ve heard a lot of great things. Obviously the San Diego Zoo and heading to the beach are must-dos, but East East County has a lot to offer!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
So my first and biggest shout out is to my husband! There have been many times throughout the life of my business that I’ve wanted to give up because I didn’t think I was good enough, but he really encouraged me to keep at it and now I’m really happy with where my business is at.

I also want to shout out Michelle Mireles with I Heart Indie Markets and 825 Sticker Designs. She was one of my first vendor friends and supporters, and she has helped me out so many times. I Heart Indie Markets as a company runs a lot of awesome markets here in San Diego as well as some states up north.

Website: https://wildmoonartstudio.square.site

Instagram: @wild_moon_art_studio

Image Credits
Emily Wadham