Meet Maggie Chambers | Artist, Illustrator, Designer

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

Hi Maggie, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’m not sure I have a single reason for pursuing a creative life/career. As cliche as it sounds, I feel like it chose me. From a young age and to today, creating has always been a way for me to express myself, feel safe, serve others, and understand the world around me.

I was a pretty shy and introverted child growing up in the middle of 6 siblings. Any large family comes with chaos – and I would find peace and comfort in my arts and crafts projects. It was a smaller world that I could control.

This path always felt like the obvious choice. To be a designer/creative/artist/whatever you want to call it, you have to be curious, constantly learning, listening, questioning, adapting, and asking “what if”, and “why”. This way of being came very naturally.

The eventful journey “formally” started with studying art & design in college (Alma College), then moving to a big city (Washington, DC) to work a variety of different design jobs, and finally branching out on my own as an independent artist, designer, illustrator.

Today, I spend my days doing what I love: imagining what could be and making it a reality; helping people and/or businesses shine in the best light; making something beautiful out of nothing; creating things that connect people and brighten their days; and designing my own life! This is the “why” for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As an artist, illustrator, and designer, my work takes many different forms! I enjoy working with individuals and small businesses that are striving to make a positive impact in their communities. This takes shape in the form of children’s books, posters, logos, websites, packaging, paintings, and more. I work both traditionally and digitally and can adapt my style to best serve the needs of the project. It is always my goal to make the creative process simple, collaborative, and fun for everyone involved.

Generally, my aesthetic is simple, vibrant, and playful. I love exploring themes of nature, nostalgia, humor, and innocence. I create beautiful and imaginative scenes that aim to awaken the inner child in all of us.

I am very excited to say that I’m currently in the process of illustrating my 2nd children’s book! It’s a dream project that’s very close to my heart and I can’t wait to share it with the world.

I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is to trust your gut. Get really good at listening to your instincts, and pay attention to what they are trying to tell you. That little voice in your head is guiding you in the right direction and only wants you to flourish.

Keep creating, keep an open mind, keep saying “yes” to new experiences, keep living, and don’t let fear be in the driver’s seat of your life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’ll describe our perfect Mackinac Island day (but this could easily be spread out over a week).

We’d start super early in the morning – riding our bikes to the Watercolor Cafe (owned and operated by my childhood best friend, Kate Dupre!) for some fuel for the day. I’d recommend a Lilac Latte.

Then, we’d bike halfway around the island to British Landing, where we would jump in the lake and lay on the beach while enjoying a deep-fried pickle and an ice cream cone from the Cannonball.

After that, we’d continue on through the middle of the island to Fort Holmes, where we would do some plein air painting of the incredible view of the Straits of Mackinac.

We’d make a brief visit to the Grand Hotel Pool for some rest, relaxation, and a couple of trips down the water slide.

Then we’d mozy our way back into town toward Marquette Park to enjoy a picnic dinner and a live performance at Music in the Park until the sun goes down.

We’d end the day with a cozy late-night Pecan Ball at the Woods restaurant.

The perfect Mackinac day!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
So many people have helped me along my path. I did not get to where I am today alone.

First, a shoutout to my supportive and encouraging family and community on Mackinac Island. The island has always been a welcoming place for artists, so I was fortunate to have a lot of role models from an early age: my aunt, Summer Porter, my art teacher, Pam Finkel, and my two childhood best friends, Kate Dupre and Jane Spencer (Finkel) to name a few. I’m so blessed that our relationships only continue to flourish to this day!

At Alma College, I was lucky to have many incredible professors, mentors, and peers: my design and new media professors, Sandy Lopez Isnardi and Anthony Collomati; My art professors, Carrie Parks Kirby and Bob Rozeir; and Beth Pellerito and Aimee Brasseur, with whom I worked during my internship at the Alma College Marketing Department.

When I first moved to DC, I was lucky to meet the incredible designer, Paul Dunbar, through a mutual family friend. He’s immensely talented, well-connected, and a limitlessly creative professional who willingly shared his knowledge about the design community. He eventually connected me with Dan Rader, a design director, creative powerhouse, and all-around good human. I was lucky to work directly under Dan and learn from him for 5 years across 2 different companies.

During the pandemic and about 6 years into my design career, I stumbled upon a book that seriously changed my life: shoutout to The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. This book came to me at a time when I was feeling stuck and unfulfilled. It redefined for me what it means to live creatively. It helped me peel back the layers of myself to uncover my authentic inner artist. I started journaling every day (something I had never done before) and it sparked the beginning of an epic inward journey. This inner work then started to transform my external life and relationships. I started to say goodbye to things in my life that were no longer in alignment. This book was a huge driving force for me to shake up my career and find the courage to branch out on my own.

Other book shoutouts include The Way of Integrity by Martha Beck, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert, and How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollen.

These family and friends, mentors, books, and experiences shaped the person I am today in the best way possible. I’m very grateful.

Website: www.maggiechambers.design

Instagram: www.instagram.com/maggiechambers.art

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/chambersmaggie

Image Credits
all images are my own