My name is Laura Jane, owner of Chicken Scratch Studio. What started as one business (graphic and website design) took a turn and kind of morphed into a collage of my love of art. I am certainly not the jack of all trades, but I can do a lot... which is prettyfrikkincool. When I was doing only graphic design, while I loved it, I wasn't fulfilled. I wasn't reaching that core of my artistic ability
that I knew was in me and was ready (and screaming) to be unleashed! The last year of my graphic design job, I slowly began accepting less clients, taking on less projects, referring more people to other designers and really spending a lot of time being that "starving artist" while I found what I wanted- no, needed. My family was incredibly supportive of this messy and colorful journey, but weren't quite used to the hit to our finances. I had this passion for art, for unleashing that creativity, for letting my mind wander and my paint flow from my brush, but there was A LOT more to it than that. I wanted to do something with it that made a difference - that gave back - that spoke louder than the art - that was bigger than just my desires to create and "be free". I wanted to really make an impact THROUGH my art. Problem: I'm no Van Gough and I can't really go around handing out canvases on the street. I had to think. The answer was in front of me the whole time. For years, my heart had been broken and burdened for children and orphans in Africa. It started many years ago, but it really was elevated to overwhelming heights when my husband was deployed to Ethiopia. The heartbreak and yearning I had for those children... it made me weep at night and thank God my husband was there to help and be the difference that I could not. I have 3 small children and I can't leave them for mission trips with the type of job my husband has and nothing else, nothing, called to me like the burden God placed on my heart. I remember it was April, time for TOMS' One Day Without Shoes Campaign, and I was thumbing through my facebook album trying to find the graphic I created in the past to spread info about the big day so that I could do it again. As I was looking for it, I saw a photo I posted of children in Ethiopia. At the time I was spreading the word to my friends about what it's like there and how we could help. I didn't get any feedback. The next photo was my TOMS graphic. AND IT HIT ME. If I purchase TOMS, a whole great big bunch of TOMS, that's a whole great big bunch of shoes that will go on those babies' feet! BUT if I paint really rad designs on them, then word will spread, people will buy more, then when they are wearing TOMS that I painted, someone will ask about them and they'll buy more and more and....
Art + Passion + Love. With my ART on people's shoes, and by spreading my PASSION about what I do and why I LOVE it, maybe.... JUST maybe that's one extra pair... no hundreds... of extra pairs of TOMS that were bought that wouldn't have been before!!! And because of TOMS Giving Campaign, that's hundreds of shoes on children's feet who otherwise didn't have any! My art can make a difference, if you help and together we can make it happen! I primarily offer custom artwork on TOMS Shoes, but I also love to paint artwork on hats and other clothing as well. In addition to the clothing side, I also accept and welcome requests for commissioned artwork on canvas, wood, etc. There are times when I also mold a few pieces of clay and make some pretty cool earrings and plugs for modified ears. Sugar Skull wedding cake toppers and painted wine/cocktail glasses have also been known to make it's way out of here! This is all in an environment of fun, laid back and a hot fiery passion for art and helping others. It's a lot to take in, I know. I just am in love with what I do!
