We recently had the chance to connect with Tess Davies and have shared our conversation below.
Tess, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
I have had a lot of free time over the past two months, for whatever reason August and September are always pretty slow with regards to mural requests. In this time I have been working on my children’s book, which I started 10 years ago. It’s something I put off for a long time. Illustration work is pretty difficult and definitely outside my comfort zone.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tess Davies (formerly Erlenborn) and I am an artist from Nashville, TN. I began painting full- time in 2019. My studio and mural practices include latex painting, with a focus on natural textures, layered spaces and feminine tropes. My clients include Hermès of Paris, Four Seasons, Hilton Hotels, SONY Music, Madewell, and Lululemon. Her work is currently available through Nashville Artist Collective and Design Supply in Birmingham, AL.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I have a BFA and assumed I would have to find a job with benefits in the art adjacent world. Something in marketing or gallery management or teaching would have to be my full- time occupation in order to make ends meet. I worked in both of those roles and my studio practice and mural work really took off to a point I could no longer keep a typical 9-5 in addition to fulfilling client needs. I had to quit my job as a gallery manager in 2019, and although it felt risky, it’s been the best move for me and I’ve learned to really trust myself and my work.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
2020 was a difficult year for all of us. I lost a ton of mural work and had just bought my first house with my husband in March of that year. He is a musician and things felt really dire. I remember really missing the comfort of a steady paycheck and craving that stability again, but we made it through somehow.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I really hate having to do anything on social media. It causes more harm than good for me, I think. It’s a major source of anxiety and insecurity. Anything I post or share feels unnatural. So I honestly don’t really know how I am perceived, but because I feel so awkward using it as a platform to share my work. It’s definitely a necessary evil, it’s been how I get most of my clients and projects, but I can’t honestly say that this projection of me is accurate. I am very critical of myself too, and it’s sometimes hard for me to look at projects I have completed without cringing, but that’s also a good motivator for me on how to improve how I work on future projects.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you tap dancing to work? Have you been that level of excited at any point in your career? If so, please tell us about those days.
My project for Hermès in Nashville was a huge deal for me. I was so excited creating the designs for those murals I could barely sleep. I love their brand and it was a real honor working with them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tessdaviesart.com
- Instagram: tessdaviesart
Image Credits
Mason Goodson Photography
