Meet Gretchen North | Professional Artists

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

Hi Gretchen, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Pursuing an art career was a very easy and obvious choice for me. I am from a very creative and artistic large family. When I was just ten years old, I would go with my dad to art shows and draw portraits. Once I drew eighty portraits in one day.

I’ve always been drawn to anything creative and artistic. Many years ago, I worked in a bakery and loved the creative side of cake and pastry design. I also had started a business sculpting and painting Santa’s and other Christmas related items.
After ten years of working in the bakery, I knew it was time to focus solely on my art. I moved to San Diego from Illinois and started working as a muralist and faux finisher. All the while, sculpting and painting my Christmas pieces.
You can find some of them on Etsy under Santas by Gretchen.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a very eclectic kind of artist. It’s hard for me to create in just one style. Mostly, I tend to work in a more traditional way, but love to challenge myself once in awhile to step outside the box a little. I’ve always loved to draw and paint just about anything. I’m definitely influenced by other people around me as well as nature. There really is inspiration everywhere you look.

When I first moved to California, I worked a lot for my sister Amy, who is a remarkable designer of incredible spaces. She gave me many opportunities to grow my artistic portfolio as she made good use of my skills as an artist in mural work and various finishes. I started to branch out more and have painted in many homes in San Diego.
It’s been a great experience to work with other craftsmen on many homes that were either being renovated or built new.
It was not always easy though. As an artist working for yourself, you have to constantly be searching for the next job and hope that it leads to another one. I’ve been fortunate to make a living doing what I love.
I am retired from certain types of jobs. Not interested in climbing scaffolding or carrying heavy equipment anymore, but I love to work from home, where I can take on smaller commissions and continue to grown my Santa business.
For thirty four years now, I have created my kindred spirits (Santa’s by Gretchen). They are primarily made of paper mache’ and driftwood. Every year, there is a new collection which consists of Santas, snowmen, angels, owls, polar bears, penguins, and many other creatures. Each item is a one of a kind, handmade creation. I collect driftwood from Illinois and Washington. It’s always fun to see a piece of twisted wood become a sweet Santa.
The paper mache items are all recycled materials, which I like. There are no molds used, so each one is unique.
I was published in the Better Home and Gardens Santa Claus book in the year 2000, where I could showcase some of my work.
For many years, I would have a private showing of my kindred spirits in my hometown of Carlyle Illinois. The community there was outstanding in supporting me and many are still collecting as well as their children and grandchildren. Interest in my Santa sculptures has grown and now I ship to all parts of the United State as well as Canada.
I’m hoping to get my website up soon to showcase my work and sell directly online in addition to my Etsy site. Stay tuned!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are so many lovely places to visit while in San Diego, but I prefer North county. The people here, feel more like home to me. When friends and family come to visit, I like to show them the beach of course. I take my walks along the Carlsbad beach. It makes me feel very alive.
One of my favorite places to show friends is the Lynn Forbes school of sculpture. This is where I get to spend many hours working on clay sculpture and constantly learning and sharpening my skills as a sculptor.
My husband and I like to stop by Compass for dinner sometimes as well as La Papagayo in Carlsbad. So many great restaurants in north county.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There really are so many people that have been encouraging and supportive as I’ve pursued my artistic goals. I suppose it would begin with my parents who both were amazing artists. Particularly my dad, who took me along with him to art shows and helped me to believe in myself, as well as my brother Michael, who always encouraged me to keep moving forward. All of my siblings have been very supportive and helpful at different points in my life. My dear friend Bonnie who made it easy for me to continue my Santa business long after I left Illinois, and my extremely supportive husband that continually encourages me every day.

Website: Gretchennorthart.com

Instagram: Gretchen North

Facebook: Gretchen North