Today we’d like to introduce you to Theresa LaVelle.
Hi Theresa, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Some of my earliest memories actually come from a screen-printing shop where my mom used to work. I remember the smell of the ink, the heat of the dryer, and screens stacked high around the shop. I would sit in the corner, draw, and watch Sesame Street on a small TV while she worked.
Years later, I found myself drawn back to screen printing, but this time creating something of my own. Hell and High Water started in my garage in 2013 as a return to the raw, hands-on roots of T-shirt making. I wanted to put my drawings on people. I wanted to blur the lines between styles. I didn’t want to be confined to one box. I was looking for something I wanted to wear, and I couldn’t find it.
At its core, Hell and High Water is about what happens when you give yourself the freedom to create. After spending years creating for the Action Sports industry, I wanted something of my own, without creative restrictions. Art has helped me through some of the toughest moments in my life, and I truly believe in its ability to help others through difficult times. That’s why a portion of every sale goes toward art supplies for a program that uses art therapy to help young cancer patients and their families cope with the emotional stress of the disease and its treatment.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth road, but I would definitely call it an educational road. I’ve taught myself almost everything along the way, from Photoshop and Illustrator to screen printing and figuring out the business side of running a brand.
I didn’t want to have to rely on other people to make my vision happen. If there was something I didn’t know how to do, I learned it. That’s definitely made the journey longer, but it’s also given me complete creative control over what Hell and High Water is and what it can become.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I don’t fit into just one style, and I don’t feel like you should have to. That’s a big part of why I’ve always been drawn to the mix of country and rock n roll, and that’s exactly what Hell and High Water captures. There’s something about the attitude, storytelling, individuality, and rebelliousness of both that really resonates with me.
I grew up surrounded by surf, skate, graffiti, music, and the culture that came with all of it, so those influences have always found their way into my work. Over the years, I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work across the Action Sports, beverage, and music industries, which has allowed me to work with some pretty amazing brands, musicians, and stylists along the way.
Most of my work begins with a pencil before it ever makes its way onto a computer, and I feel like that’s becoming a bit of a lost art these days. There’s something about starting with a blank piece of paper and your own hand that gives the work a personality you just can’t replicate. That hands-on, cross-genre approach is really at the heart of Hell and High Water, and that’s become a big part of what I’m known for.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be willing to learn things that have nothing to do with what you originally thought your job was going to be. I taught myself everything from design software to screen printing and the business side of running a brand because I didn’t want not knowing something to stop me.
And probably most importantly, don’t be afraid to have your own style. The things that make you different are usually the things that make your work memorable.
You don’t have to fit into one box. Find what makes your perspective unique and lean into it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hellandhighwater.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: hell_and_high_water
