Meet Becca McCoy and Justin Groom | Leafmore Studios – Multi-Disciplinary Creatives

Art had already been everything to us: a proclivity, a hobby, a job, a vocation, a passion. But honestly, it was the pandemic that made us pursue it as a bonafide career. The pandemic honed our desire to live a purpose-filled life, as it did for so many others. Our art gives us the opportunity to express with our authentic selves in service to others, and a creative career creates a pretty extraordinary work/life balance. We also feel very fortunate that our individual strengths and weaknesses balance in a way that makes for a strong partnership – and that we can collaborate artistically. Art is a vital component of humanity, and yet, a very challenging career path. But it is so worth it.

Please tell us more about your art. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Becca: One day back in 2018, I got a friend request from an artist who’d met some of colleagues of mine at a networking event, and I was immediately struck by two things: he was very talented… and very cute. After a few months, we met in person and we fell in love – so when the pandemic made our lives tenuous, it wasn’t a hard decision to move in together and consider our future.

Justin: My family still owned my Nana’s house in Smyrna, where I was brought from the hospital at birth, and Becca and I moved into it, which was a full-circle moment for me. Our studio is named for the street we live on and that’s where we founded and operate the business.

Becca: With the house, we became caretakers of a very pathetic lemon tree – like a twig and five leaves, no joke. And in our first year, it flowered and fruited one single lemon, and that lemon was literally perfect. We made that tree our logo and the little lemon our studio mascot, a cheery symbol of creation and success against the odds.

Justin: So, I’ve been drawing since I was a kid and in high school, found a mentor in a man named Al Shevy, who invited me to illustrate for the periodical WORLD OF FANDOM, and was editor of my comic BIOHAZARD that we self-published. I painted nightclubs in Tampa and illustrated children’s books and then, you know, life happened. And I worked corporate jobs and jobs for family businesses and art was further in the rear-view mirror. Until I met this one.

Becca: I think Justin’s style is singular. He is an illustrator at heart no matter what he’s working on – there’s always a narrative. I love his line work, and his sense of play. I was determined to get him back into full-time art – what a waste otherwise, I mean seriously.

Justin: Well, I used to think I was a good photographer until I met Becca, and then I was like, “Oh, you got this.” Her photos just do something to me I can’t explain. They draw you in, they’re unexpected and nostalgic at the same time. So good.

Becca: So, a big part of our story, and success thus far, is that deep and genuine admiration we have for each other and each other’s artistry. The formal business that is Leafmore Studios, LLC, is still relatively new, and has not been without its challenges. But I am optimistic for our future success because we believe in each other so strongly.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We love the Atlanta area, and because we moved here at the height of the pandemic, we are still exploring it for ourselves! We have memberships to the High Museum, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, and the Center for Puppetry Arts. We did a staycation downtown when Jack White was at the Tabernacle, and that made for a really fun night. We recently did the southern buffet lunch at Green Manor in Union City and love eating dinner by the fire pit at Johnnie Maccracken’s in Downtown Marietta. And, of course, local love to our own Smyrna – don’t miss Rev Coffee Roasters, Zucca Bar & Pizzeria, Vineyard Wine Market, and in season, the Smyrna Handmade Market on Sunday mornings.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Becca: I owe everything to my mom and dad. I have the incredible good fortune of coming from supportive, encouraging champions of parents, and nothing I do, or have done, would be possible without them.

Justin: All the amazing women in my life – my mom, my aunt, my sister, and my girl. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for strong women.

Website: https://leafmore-studios.square.site

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leafmorestudios/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leafmore-studios/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/leafmorestudios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leafmorestudios/

Other: Threadless –https://happyenduser.threadless.com

Image Credits
Photo credits: Becca McCoy, Holland Reid, Joe Mazza/Brave Lux