BIZ UPDATES

Excited AND Scared! On HOMEGROWN and Transitions

Morgan Summers ·

As I’m writing this, it’s the day before my first Kickstarter campaign is set to launch. I’m about 70% excited, 10% proud of all the work that’s already gone into this, and a not-quite-crippling 20% terrified of failing very publicly.

You see, I’m trying out something new– something similar to work I’m already pretty good at, but in different enough of a model that I feel like I’ve been dropped off on an alien planet. I haven’t felt this many butterflies in my stomach since a similar diagonal transition almost three years ago. But I’m getting ahead of myself– let me offer a short backstory.

My career as a creative so far can be boiled down to a series of pivots: from engineering to design student, from design student to ad/marketing designer, from graphic designer to hand-letterer, from letterer to muralist, and most recently– from lettering/design-focused person to someone others refer to as an “artist.” From the outside looking in I’m sure this appears to be tiny sidesteps under one big umbrella, but those in this field will recognize– these roles all have vastly different goals, measurements of success, and implications on what my life looks like every day. I have a mild case of metaphorical whiplash from all this frequent change in just a few short years!

That is not to say that I’m not grateful for all of these opportunities in different areas, frankly it’s just something I never expected or saw coming. I fully recognize that my journey has been pushed forward and challenged for the better by my clients' trust in me to try new things on every project. With their help and those opportunities, I’ve accomplished things I never even dreamed I would be able to do… But, the time has come that I would like the chance to steer my own boat, for a spell.

It is out of this sentiment that my first solo art show and this Kickstarter, titled HOMEGROWN, was conceived and is being produced. I’ve been honing my craft and skills for a few years now, and as I’m learning is inherent to the nature of artists– I finally feel ready and want to use them to communicate some things from my perspective.

The pieces in this show will explore concepts and themes of what home means to me as a small-town artist, native Floridian, and someone who has fallen back in love with the Panhandle after a return home I never expected. Some pieces will be deeply personal, some will be designed to resonate with people from this community, but all will tug on the heartstrings one way or another.


As I am not independently wealthy (and, life is expensive, ya know!) I’ve developed this Kickstarter campaign to help me offset the expenses of Homegrown by offering Florida-related physical goods, backer preview events, sponsorship opportunities, and an exclusive feed of updates to folks who believe in this project and want to see my work in a new format. I hope you’ll consider backing the campaign or sharing it with your friends if you want to see this project come to life in September!

There’s so much more to share (even this early in the game!), but I’ll save it for the Behind the Show feed a little later ;) For now, let me leave you with a few tasty previews of the physical rewards you could earn for backing HOMEGROWN.

Thanks so much for reading, sharing, and supporting however you are able– 

Talk soon,
Morgan

 

Art on Every Corner (of the Sidewalk) – FLLUXE 2024 Recap

Morgan Summers ·

I’m no longer sore and finally back to walking normally– which means it must be time for a recap of FLLUXE 2024!

I was so grateful to be accepted back as a participating artist for my third year at FLLUXE in Downtown Panama City. For those of you unfamiliar with the event, FLLUXE is an annual block party and festival held by the PC Center for the Arts to further their mission of putting Art on Every Corner (i.e. making high-quality art accessible and available to everyone in the community, no matter their means or social station.)

FLLUXE always gives me warm and fuzzy feelings because participating in the event in 2021 was my first time collaborating with Jayson Kretzer and the lovely team at the Center for the Arts– some of the best (and, my favorite) folks around. They do so much hard work al year to not only promote local artists (visual and otherwise), host incredible events, and activate community support– but also to compensate EVERYONE involved fairly. This is a huge distinguishing factor for them as a nonprofit in my eyes, and I will always give kudos for their actively fighting the “starving artist” stereotype with both their words and actions.

FLLUXE occurred over March 1st & 2nd, and I’m so glad that we escaped the expected rainy forecast (for the most part!) Between transferring my design using pounce patterns, filling in the background, tidying up after the rain, and finishing the piece on Saturday, I spent about 17 hrs on the installation of my super-saturated froggy pond. It was a time crunch, fun challenge, and overall great time getting to share my process with everyone who stopped by while I was working.

The piece will be on display as long as it lasts through the rain, as of today (03/06) it is still there and holding up okay! I highly encourage anyone visiting the piece to sit on the central lilypad and become one with their inner froggy spirit.

Thanks again to all of my friends and family who came out to see my piece (and to deliver snacks to this working girl!) This was my favorite year of FLLUXE yet, and I just can’t wait for next year’s already. See you on the sidewalk again next March!!

Chalk soon ;)
M

(Now, for the pretty pics! Many thanks to photographer friends Eric Darnell, Michael Booini, Lou Columbus, Alex Fernandez, and of course my partner Matt Miller for these and lots of other stunning shots throughout the day— thanks ya’ll!!)

Out of the Darkness and Into the Light – How I’m Embracing Spring In My Art Practice

Morgan Summers ·

Our warm breezes are returning, afternoon sunshowers are trickling in, and the tree outside my window finally has itty-bitty buds forming– this can only mean one thing. We’ve made it through Winter, and Spring is *almost* here!

I, for one, could not be more excited for warmer weather and the longer daylight hours ahead. Is it just me, or was this past winter exceptionally dreary? No matter– I am so grateful for the pretty days we’ve had so far, and the small silver of Spring-weather left for us here in Florida (before Summer comes and I’m wishing for 50-degree weather again, hah!)

With this change of seasons, I’m feeling especially keen to embrace the growth and freshness of Spring in new ways in my creative practice! Starting with…


SPRING CLEANING!

I may have jumped the gun on ~physical~ spring cleaning this year (don’t look now, but my bags for donation may or may not be sitting in the back of my van as I type this)-- but there’s certainly still more “cleaning” to do on the creative side of my creative career.

This year one of my goals is to hone in on what ~my style~ of art looks and feels like– from mediums to subject matter, to formats and color choices. So far this Spring, that’s meant a whole lot of intentionally letting go of techniques that I may like in others’ work, but that don’t suit how I enjoy making work or the final feel I’m looking for. It can be a bit daunting to narrow my focus when I really love creative exploration! But finding my style has always been a balancing act between throwing everything at the wall to see what happens, vs. paring down to what feels the most essentially “me.” This Spring so far has got me solidly in the “cleaning” phase 🙂

(P.S. I also quietly rolled out a sight brand refresh with a change of fonts in order. This is a great time of year to do some ~brand~ cleaning if you have your own business!!)

SUBJECT AND COLOR INSPIRATION

You guys know I am ALWAYS a bright-saturated-color girly, 365 days a year… But something about Spring coming around the bend makes that feel so much more appropriate and exciting! 

Not only am I leaning into the bright happy colors I associate with this season– I’m also drawing a lot of what feels like Spring-focused art as far as subject matter goes. My sketchbook is quickly filling up with tons of animal moms & babies, washes of bright pastels, and so. many. florals! These are things I love to draw all year long, but the new growth outside, the sun on my face, and cute animal baby videos popping up on the internet are all inspiring me to make a lot of art this season. I couldn't be happier about it, and TOP SECRET– some of these sketches have turned into pieces, which are currency turning into products I’ll be selling in a Spring collection coming mid/late March!

FROM SURVIVING TO THRIVING

Without fully stepping back into the depths of midwinter, I can share that it was not the most fulfilling season for me and my creative career. I had some wonderful projects to be sure, but for most of the end of 2023, I was working through a backlog of delayed projects. I felt pushed around by a career that I was supposed to be steering the “ship” of! There were a lot of days I struggled to get up and get going, several days I resented the work that I was doing, and a few days where I wanted to give up on everything and call the whole thing off.

Now how much of that was circumstantial vs. how much was general sadness because the sun was setting at 4:30 PM?? Who’s to say in retrospect? All I know is I’m so glad to be ending Winter with a plan to move forward in a direction that I am *legitimately* so excited about– and I’m equally thrilled to be starting off Spring on the right foot, working on projects I hope you'll enjoy as much as I have been so far!!

CHEERS TO WARMER DAYS AHEAD!

As I open windows every day to let in the breeze and morning birdsong, I’m reminded by the world that this is the time of year designed to nurture new things– to support the growth of sprouts from seeds planted ahead of time. I’m so grateful for these little natural “notifications”– they keep reminding me that this is the *perfect* time to start something new to tend in the months ahead. 

So here's to a season of growth, creativity, and flourishing in new ways! What seeds or sprouts are you watering right now? Or better yet, which tidings of Spring are you enjoying the most so far this year? Would love to hear all about it in the comments below 🙂

Wishing you sunshine and warmth (or that it comes soon if you’re still in deep Winter where you are!) 

Talk soon–

M




BIZ UPDATES

UBM State of the Biz Address (Start of 2024)

Morgan Summers ·

“WELCOME TO DOWNTOWN” BREEZEWAY MURAL & SIGNS IN PROGRESS, JAN.2024.
PHOTOS BY JESSICA MOORE, LIGHT + LENS PHOTOGRAPHY.

Hiya friends! OKAY– I’ll admit, your eyes are not deceiving you! It’s me, Morgan, here with a blog post a short TWO YEARS AFTER my last one. You know, that post where I promised to write “at a minimum, quarterly- but probably something closer to monthly or even biweekly” (insert eye-roll here.) Past Morgan was a big fat dirty liar, but I promise Current Morgan won’t make the same lofty/unachievable promises again.

The truth of the matter is, I enjoy writing/filming long-form content! See also my Youtube that burned bright and quickly flopped-before-it-grew-wings this time last year. In a world and industry dominated by social media popularity, viral reels, and bite-sized formats attracting more leads, it can be tough to justify the time it takes to produce more thoughtful work. So I won’t promise a level of consistency that I can’t live up to again… But I will vow to at least make a better effort to show up here for my diehard friendlies and future self.

A that being said, here’s the State of UBM during this transition from ‘23-’24 in a few categories, beginning with–


MURALS!

Still love makin’ ‘em, two and a half years in. However, lately I’ve been itching to ~diversify~ my offerings, for a few reasons. Practically speaking, murals are *really* physically taxing!! After painting most of the last few years, lemme tell you  I am FEELING the ramifications of not working out to support that kind of labor!!! Additionally, the more I understand myself as an artist and also a Normal Person With Values, the more I realize how important it is to me to have affordable and approachable art available on top of my commercial work. One of the primary goals of my business is to add more color to everyday life in unexpected places. As proud as I am of how my mural projects help to accomplish this goal, it’s important to me to also have offerings available that don’t require a blank wall or “capitol” to share with folks!

WHEN PEOPLE DO HAVE A BLANK WALL OR TWO AVAILABLE, I’M HAPPY TO OBLIGE—
THANKS FOR HAVING ME IN YOUR HOME TAMARA!

Therefore, while I am absolutely still taking on mural projects (clients, don’t run!) I’m also aiming to diversify my portfolio and offerings more this year than ever before. Last year 90% of my income came from painting murals, all but one of those being commercially driven work. This year, I’d love for mural work to account for closer to 75% of my business, by also working on–



MERCH! SOLO SHOW!

Okay HERE is what I’ve been amped about since the clock struck midnight on January 1st! (Yes, I am into New Year’s Resolutions, sue me.)

I have two honkin’ huge goals for this year, and for the first time, they’re very much based on my sheer output more than measurable metric-based achievements. Drum roll, please…

This year I aim to hold (or at the very least, fully prep)  a solo art show, as well as hosting four seasonal collection “store drops” here on this very site! The first store drop is already in the works/at the printers and is tentatively scheduled for the first day of Spring– March 19th. I am *so excited* to share with you all what’s been cooking so far!

As far as the show goes, I am slowly transitioning from the planning phase into building it out as a proposal. My current estimates set it at requiring about 1000 hours of self-initiated work— and that’s on the artwork alone! The big question is if/how/when I’ll be able to finance the time I’d have to take “off” from client work to build out this big of a catalog. So it may be a 2024 show, it may be a 2025 show, we’ll see. But now that a plan and general theme is in place, I could not be more excited!! The creative side of my work feels more invigorated than it has in a really, really long time.

( working title… “HOMEGROWN: The Journey So Far” but that is BETWEEN US!!! hehehe)


~*PERSONALLY*~

I, like a lot of my friends, am feeling very grateful that the days are finally getting longer again! The seasonal SADs definitely snuck up on me this year– but with a new exciting plan in place and a few great Spring events coming up, I'm looking on the bright side of life at the moment (and looking at you, FLLUXE 2024 and Redfish Fim Fest!)

VIDEO BY BOO MEDIA 2023, COURTESY OF FLLUXE ARTS FESTIVAL

Currently, I’m spinning three potential projects on precarious plates as well which always gives me an odd mix of excitement and nerves that turns my stomach. But I’m trying to inhale/exhale, remember “what will be, will be” and all that other zen BS that’s supposed to help, too. ;)

IN CLOSING

If you made it this far, thank you so much for having a vested interest in how me and my business are doing! If being a small art-based business owner has taught me anything over these two-years-and-change, it is that people are generally SO very generous with their time and help when you are working hard towards achieving your goals. I could not dream of a better or more supportive community, and I could not be luckier to do what I do every day (even when issues arise, things get tough, and the way forward is sometimes hard to find!)

I think that’s everything I’ve got so… yeah! How are you faring so far in 2024?

… talk soon!


(OH! P.S. if you really want to hear about everything going on first— join my newsletter through the form below! I promise, no spam (who has the time ???) and only 100% unadulterated good stuff & occasional memes.)




Funny seeing you here!

Morgan Summers ·

Howdy ya’ll!

Morgan here- the artist behind this small corner of the internet and the studio known as UH BEAUTIFUL MES. But if you’re here, you probably already knew that ;)

This is the part where I tell you WELCOME to my shiny new blog! This is where I’ll post the most up-to-date info on this site- the real nitty-gritty, not-your-father’s-case-study kinda stuff.

That begs a few questions, which I’ll try my best to resolve swiftly without *too* much cringe:


Who is this, realLY?

Alright, now that you know what goes down easily on paper- who am I, really? Well for starters- a formerly gifted kid turned engineering student, turned graphic design student, turned college dropout, and student of LIFE baby! That’s a long story in and of itself, but I’ll save it for another day.

These days, I am a letter-obsessed nerd who is particularly interested in the intersection of custom type and history, and/or music. I’m also fascinated by the marriage of digital and analog technology used in signpainting and mural installation… All of which led me to this point, I suppose!

Left to right: Goose, Salem

Outside of things directly related to work, I am intrigued by the science of personality, the interaction between fear/hope/action, adventure and the Hero’s Journey, as well as living a life under the (good! motivating!) pressure of inevitable death. SUPER light stuff, right?

On an *actually* lighter note, I really love playing guitar, eating cilantro and garbanzo beans as snacks, analogous color palettes, and my two dumpster babies- Goose & Salem.


What will you be posting?

Full disclosure- I’m going to let this be my most ~free form~ platform for sharing longer-form content on any and all things I am fascinated by. This can/may/probably will look like a smorgasbord of content containing but not limited to:

  • Freelance/career updates!

  • Featuring client work!

  • Sharing resources/tips and tricks!

  • Miscellaneous (nonfiction) book reviews!

  • Other work I’m inspired by!

  • General musings on life and the state of my world!

Like I said, a real buffet of lots of things that may or may not be interesting to the same people (outside of myself.) I’m trying to take the pressure valve waaay off in here, largely to serve my “why” of posting on this platform at all.


Ooh okay. So what *is* the why?

You might be shocked to discover- these disparate musings are *not* here to serve the all-knowing SEO powers that be! Primarily because I do not understand them, but also because I think that’s the lamest motivation behind writing things someone else may end up ever reading. No buzzwords for buzzwords’ sake in this stew of posts, guaranteed.

My primary “why” behind sharing on this platform is to serve as an example of someone imperfect, vast and varied, who can over time find success in this kind of career. I hope others can see me being an *actual human* and think to themselves “Hey! If this wackjob can figure out how to build a life on following what she loves… then golly gee I probably can too!”

A secondary, more selfish reason I’m posting here is to have an archive of my own thoughts and progress over time. In the past, I’ve used social media to serve that end. But after the latest #InstagramShutdown on top of my own personal account getting deleted by hackers after a decade of posting frequently (RIP @morganelyce) I realized it’s time to move on to something I can have a little more control over.

Plus, this gives me a space to nerd out over whatever I’m inspired by or projects that take a *little* longer to get on the main site. Gets a lot of the professional thoughts/books/ideas I stew over out of my noggin’ and onto the page… It feels like a step in the right direction, at least.


Alright so… when are you posting again?

Well… starting today! Unlike my project Small Town Walls, which had a lofty weekly goal that has fallen waaaay by the wayside (whoops) I’m going to keep things as casual as possible over here. Let’s aim for at a minimum, quarterly- but probably something closer to monthly or even biweekly if things are staying interesting!

Okie dokie, so I hope that’s answered a few main questions about what on Earth this space is for, what I’ll be sharing, and the like. Decide for yourself if you care to tune in for the grab bag of content that is sure to follow- and if you have any further questions or ideas of content you’d like to see, feel free to drop them down below.

As is STW tradition, I think I’ll end each post here with a favorite (and relevent) quote of mine. This is gonna be a doozy, but it’s one I come back to again and again... just seems right somehow.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
— Theodore Roosevelt, April 23, 1910