Phoebe Thomas is a freelance artist and designer who is passionate about making her clients’ dreams a reality.
Nonahood News: What kind of artist are you?
Phoebe Thomas: My business started as calligraphy. I was a calligrapher for weddings, notations, customer work, things like that. I still do some of that, but lately I’ve been more into graphic design. I design business logos, marketing materials, and I dabble in watercolors, which is fun.
NHN: When did you start creating art?
PT: I started working professionally as an artist in 2013 after I graduated from college. There was a woman I knew from church and school who was a calligrapher. I asked her if she would teach me. I would go to her house in the evenings after her kids went to bed and play around while she was working. That really sparked my interest. I got my first professional job shortly thereafter because a friend of mine saw I pinned a lot of calligraphy things on Pinterest. She asked if I did calligraphy. I said yeah and I addressed her wedding invitations. That was my first job and where I started this as a more professional business. Graphic design came in about five years ago. I got an iPad with the pencil and started playing around with the Procreate app. I got really into that for a while. Through my day job, I got access to a license to the Adobe Suite, Photoshop and Illustrator. I started teaching myself and working my way through it as projects came up or people asked for certain things.
NHN: What inspired you to create art in Lake Nona?
PT: I enjoy it. It’s something that’s fun for me. I enjoy working with my hands and I enjoy the creative process. It’s one of those things that’s a hobby or a part of you and so, wherever you are, that’s what you’re going to do.
NHN: How did you realize art was something you wanted to pursue?
PT: It all happened on its own. I don’t think I ever decided I wanted to do it professionally. I just took one opportunity after another and, 10 years later, I’m doing it professionally.
NHN: How long did it take you to discover your ideal medium(s) and your style?
PT: It’s such an interesting question. Especially in the era of social media, you want to have your style. We can put a lot of pressure on ourselves to figure out what that is. I think your style is something you find along the way. You keep trying things until you find what you enjoy. Your style tends to be the thing that stays the same throughout. I think I’m a fairly simplistic designer. My art is pretty simple and clean.
NHN: Recent artistic accomplishments?
PT: I had a big design project at my day job earlier this year. I was the art director and lead designer on a book that just came out. The book is a devotional book, and there were a lot of artistic elements in it. It was a huge challenge. But it came out really nice.
NHN: Most rewarding project?
PT: I have a small t-shirt business with a friend, and in 2020 we launched a fundraiser for Hurricane Laura. That hit in Southwest Louisiana, which is where I’m from. It affected a lot of my family and friends, and my hometown was where it made landfall. That fundraiser was phenomenally successful. We sold almost 1,000 shirts and raised $11,000. We’d never expected it to be so successful. As someone who designs products, anytime you see something you’ve made that someone wants to pay for, or wear, it’s really satisfying because a lot of people can like stuff, but to wear it, it’s really encouraging.
NHN: Who inspires your art?
PT: Some artists, several that I follow on Instagram. One is Jenna Rainey. She’s a watercolor artist in California. She’s incredibly talented. She has a lot of great learning resources. Another one is a lettering artist based in Switzerland, Stefan Kunz, who is incredible. His skill level and creativity is off the charts. Because I work as a freelancer, sometimes the inspiration comes from the client. It’s my job to help make their dream a reality. Clients are very inspiring. A lot of times they have the idea in their mind, but they don’t know how to express or explain it. So, my job is to guide them through that process and unlock what’s in their mind.
NHN: Besides art, what are your passions?
PT: I love Disney World. I’m a passholder and I love being at Disney. I also really enjoy baking, gardening and quilting. I like working with my hands.
NHN: Where can people find you/your art?PT: My website phoebethomas.com or Instagram @phoeberuth.
