In addition to being a full-time student, junior graphic design major Cecilia Nutt also managed her own Etsy shop, The Paper Blonde Studio, where she primarily sold original canvas and watercolor art. Etsy served as an online craft fair where vendors from all over the world could upload pictures of their art and crafts to sell. Nutt said she was studying with her friends in a local coffee shop one night when one of her friends suggested she make her art a business. The women started brainstorming names for Nutt's Etsy shop by listing adjectives that described Nutt. Junior Jordan McDonald, Nutt's roonunate and friend, said Nutt stayed busy with her Etsy shop. McDonald explained she enjoyed living with Nutt because it gave her the opportunity to watch her roommate create. "It's so neat to have an artist as a best friend," McDonald said. "Sometimes when we're watching television and she has a notepad out and it looks amazing, but those are just her doodles. We sit next to each other in Bible, and sometimes I'll compare our doodles and I'm like, ok I don't even hold a candle. She's definitely talented." McDonald said there was an entire wall covered with Nutt's artwork in their apartment. Before opening her Etsy store, Nutt gave pieces of her art as birthday and Christmas presents to her family and friends. "It started out as me just selling canvases and watercolor prints, but then over the summer it took off, and I was not even expecting it," Nutt said. "It was super successful, and I was really excited about it. I was thinking that nobody would ever see it, and then some of my best friends, my mom and family friends put it on social media, and people started reposting it, and I was in shock." Tim Cox, creative coordinator of public relations and one of Nutt's graphic design instructors, believed Nutt's Etsy store reflected her strong work ethic in the classroom and the dedication she had for her craft. "She would take the ideas as inspiration and build on them for her own style," Cox said. "She was quiet but would always ask questions when she needed them and would work past the end of class to make sure she was understanding the programs. She always was working to be better than the day before, something every teacher wants from a student." Nutt said she had sold roughly 30 watercolor paintings and 50 canvases, but she believed those numbers would continue to grow. Last summer, Nutt said there were days when her shop would get up to 700 online views. "People started contacting me and saying, 'Hey, I love this design. Can you do it?' and as I got into it, I started doing bigger stuff and commission pieces," Nutt said. "I started charging more. I feel like a real artist now." Nutt said her most exciting project was one she painted for a man in Nashville, Tennessee. She had previously painted a canvas of a guitar for her sister's birthday and posted a picture of it online. The man contacted her and asked if he could have the same painting, but much larger. Nutt said she spent weeks looking for a canvas that was as big as he wanted. In addition to a financial boost, Nutt said her Etsy store gave her the opportunity to pursue her Godgiven passion. "I really enjoy it," Nutt said. "I feel content with what I do, and I have a purpose through it. I'm meant to create, and I'm creating. It's my gift from God. I wake up every day thinking, 'I really want to make something.' I encourage everybody to find something that they have that passion for.'' Junior Cecilio Null begun selling her artwo,.k in spring 201..J. lhrnuyh By Michulie Hrown [ 1'.ristino Kise,· her online Etsy store, Poper Blonc/e Studio. j Photo liy Owen Brown 1'10 PEOPLE
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