Today we’d like to introduce you to Townes Lucy
Hi Townes, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always loved animals. Growing up, I remember having traditional pets like our dog and guinea pigs, as well as more unexpected companions, like Stinky the crawfish and Lightning the snake. Animals have always been a big part of my life, along with art. Naturally, as I grew up, I was drawn to using animals as the subjects of my artwork. Before long, people began asking me to draw their animals too.
I attended Sam Houston State University, where I initially studied graphic design. However, I later discovered that Studio Art was more aligned with my passions. I eventually returned to school to study graphic design, hoping to apply these skills in a corporate or business setting. Once again, I found myself switching paths—this time to focus on Video and Post Production.
My art has always been done on the side, though I’d love to have a studio somewhere where I could make a living from my art, but until then I will work towards that goal one piece at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
When any parent hears, ‘I want to be an artist when I grow up,’ I’m sure part of them starts to worry a bit—after all, most artists face an uphill battle to make it in the big world. But no matter what, I knew I would never give up.
For a few years, I was really into doing markets. Each seasonal market would fill me with excitement, but something always seemed to happen the week before. I’d realize I hadn’t prepped enough, and I’d spend the entire week stressing, trying to make sure I had enough inventory. Then, I’d sell only one or two things—or sometimes nothing at all. On the other hand I’d have some visitors or other vendors that recognized me from previous shows, I remember one in particular shouted “THE DOG LADY IS HERE!” I have a lot of great memories from those markets.
Even the negative experiences taught me a few important lessons: Not everyone is going to love your work, and that’s okay. Not everything will be a hit, and sometimes you need to let go of certain ideas. Recently, I started my own booth at a Painted Tree location, and surprisingly, some of the items I had just about given up on started selling. For example, I paint dog and cat noses and call them ‘snoot studies.’ Most people look at me funny when I explain the concept, but I’ve already sold two this month!
Whatever field you’re in—art, music, or anything else—you’ll find your supporters, and you’ll find your critics. The key is to keep going, keep experimenting, and, most importantly, enjoy the journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Though I’m mostly known for my pet portraits, I occasionally paint humans and houses as well. Working in real estate has given me opportunities to create unique buyer gifts for agents to present to their clients—often custom portraits of their new homes.
When it comes to my pet portraits, I’ve worked on pieces as large as 3’x3’ and as small as a sticker. Just before COVID, I got my iPad and began learning how to translate my traditional art skills into digital media. Now, my digital portraits have become my most popular offering. While I primarily focus on animal busts, I’ve started studying anatomy to expand into full-body paintings, along with landscapes.
Another signature aspect of my work is my eye portraits. While 99% of them are animal or pet eyes, I’ve also had requests for human eyes. Over the years, I’ve consistently heard the comment, ‘Wow, you really captured the eyes!’ in my pet and human portraits. When I discovered uniquely shaped canvases, I decided to experiment, and the result has been a big hit!
I’ve noticed other artists exploring eye portraits recently, but I believe my attention to detail and the emotion in my work still set me apart. With so many pet portrait artists out there, finding small ways to stand out—like highlighting the eyes and noses—has been a fun and rewarding journey.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
A lot of people are shocked when I mention I have a pet snake named Hiccup. As of right now, it’s just me and him. I’m not in a place where I can get a cat or a dog at the moment, so I get to hang out with him and he’s the coolest little dude. I think people think I have an 18 foot python when I say the word snake, but he’s probably at maybe 2 ft. I’ve had him for 6.5 years.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://senwotstudio.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/senwotstudio/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/SenwotStudio
Image Credits
All images were created by me, taken by me or imported into canva for the mockup.
