Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Williams Galvin.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I am a designer/illustrator living and working in Arlington, MA. I feel very lucky to spend every day in my home studio where I create patterns and illustrations for both home and fashion clients, as well as my own expanding product line, Revel Revel.
I was born into a family of artists, and I grew up in my parents’ home studio. I’ve always known that art was my passion. I studied surface/pattern design and illustration at Syracuse University, and interned for the TJX Companies (TJMaxx, Marshalls, Home Goods) while in school, creating artwork for their private label product lines.
After school, I spent some time working with an amazing vintage apparel shop in Somerville called Artifaktori. The owner, Amy Berkowitz, was an artist and an expert collector of vintage & antique textiles, and she fostered a community of creative collaboration. I worked for her, designing fresh branding, displays, and custom products for the shop(s), organizing and promoting fashion events she hosted around Boston, and cataloging her incredible collection of vintage textiles. Through Artifaktori, I met a lot of like-minded creative folks & had an immersive education in the history of textiles. On the side, I continued designing & illustrating for TJX as well as other local and commercial clients and my freelance business grew.
I’ve been 100% my own boss for about three years now. My work with TJX gave me the technical know-how to eventually launch my own product line, and my work with Artifaktori gave me the creative inspiration and confidence to pursue those dreams.
Has it been a smooth road?
Pursuing a creative career of any sort is not usually easy or lucrative (at least, at the beginning, if not always), so a great deal of passion and perseverance are required. I feel like I have been growing into a place where I am really happy and secure in the creative projects I am working on, but the road has not always been smooth, and I’m sure there are still twists and turns ahead. Earlier in my career, sometimes the struggle was putting myself out there, setting a fair rate for a project, getting out of a rut, or just trying to pay rent while waiting for freelance checks. More often than not, now, the struggle is being excited about too many projects, trying to juggle them all, and not having enough hours in the day. Keeping up with correspondence, social media for my business, and making time for myself outside of work are constant challenges too. Hopefully, there will always be challenges of some sort, and I’m grateful for everything I have learned from them so far.
What kind of projects do you work on for freelance and how did your personal line, Revel Revel, grow from that?
I create patterns and illustrations for both local and commercial clients, and my own product line, Revel Revel. When I’m freelancing, I work on a wide range of projects. I make original artwork for everything from graphic throw pillows, patterned tea towels, wrapping paper, and wallpaper, to reusable bags, floral dresses, and pet accessories. I also work on the occasional branding project, custom wedding invitation, or editorial illustration for local clients. Working on different projects keeps my mind sharp and the creative energy flowing. No matter the project, everything I create starts in my sketchbooks (or at least, some messy pile of art supplies). Although most of my designs are digitally rendered in the end (a necessity for production), I strive to keep a handmade quality in my designs, often scanning in art that I have hand-painted or drawn to work with on the computer. My designs are playful, illustrative and colorful.
I launched Revel Revel in 2015 as an outlet for creative projects I work on outside of my freelance business (it’s a compulsion, I think). It began as a line of greeting cards, but has slowly expanded to include tote bags, art prints and a few more new items coming this fall. I’ve created several “place portraits” for Revel Revel, which are basically illustrated odes to local neighborhoods and towns – my first big hit was an art print of Somerville, MA. The place portraits have been so popular, I’ve started working on custom pieces for some Revel Revel stockists. Salt Supply (Provincetown, MA) sells custom Revel Revel Ptown totes, tees and cards, and Wicked Peacock (Rockport, MA) sells custom Revel Revel Rockport cards and art prints. It’s definitely becoming something I am known for! I am very lucky to have my Mom, Susan, as my business partner in Revel Revel, especially as the business has grown. We are excited to work with local manufacturers to create our products – I am really proud when we can say something has been 100% made in New England.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
I sort of straddle a few different industries, but one thing I can say overall is that I think (& hope) that in the next ten years, there will continue to be more focus on how products are made, including what impact that has on the environment and the communities where that production is based. Consumers are asking more questions and holding companies more accountable for their business practices and production, which is great. There has already been a small renaissance of appreciation for handmade and locally-made items, and I think that will continue to grow. I like to see the energy behind people shopping for Made in USA items – when production is local, we have more opportunity to ensure ethical production and stimulate the local economy.
Contact Info:
- Website: shoprevelrevel.com
- Email: hello@shoprevelrevel.com
- Instagram: revelrevel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shoprevelrevel/
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