Meet Natalie Kilgore | Graphic designer and artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Kilgore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, what do you attribute your success to?
Loving what I do, and being myself — creating original artwork with whimsical touches. A lot of what I’ve made over the years are products and art I wanted to give as gifts to my friends and family — things that weren’t already on the market. I’m a nostalgic person, and I try to incorporate little details into my artwork of maps and skylines that I hope mean something to others, too.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur or full-time creative. While I was an art student at the University of Georgia for a short time, I bounced around and eventually graduated with a degree in communications. I worked in advertising and marketing after I graduated, working at “Cooking Light” magazine and later, at an ad agency. Both jobs ended up giving me valuable experience that I still use today — managing clients, the value of good customer service, understanding the market and supply and demand. I also worked part-time on weekends with family friends who ran a storefront at Americas Mart in Atlanta, where I learned how a retail business sells their products wholesale in today’s marketplace. A hardship I overcame early on in business was when I lost my job during the recession in 2008. It was extremely hard to find a job in advertising at that time, and while I was searching for new employment, I decided to open an Etsy shop on the side to help make some extra money. A shop owner around the corner from where I lived in the Virginia-Highland neighborhood at the time, Dabberdoo, loved some of the card designs I’d created and gave me my first wholesale order. She gave me the boost of confidence I needed to really pursue my Etsy shop and my line of stationery. I worked with many brides during that time on invitations and illustrated maps for invitation suites, which really took off and supplemented the income I’d lost when my advertising job ended due to the recession. I decided to stop looking for another corporate job and put all of my time and efforts into growing my business, and I was so happy doing something I loved! I think a key to my success is that my artwork is unique, and the products I put my artwork on aren’t something you can find anywhere else.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I personally love Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market — you can’t beat a Chocolate Sea Salt popsicle from King of Pops, and the tacos at Superica are the best around. I love The Merchant and Citizen Supply — both shops that support local artists’ work. The Beltline is a fun way to spend a beautiful day outdoors, and you can walk or ride your bike right up to New Realm Brewing for a cold beer and a view of the Midtown skyline. Dinner at nearby Ladybird off the Beltline is another favorite!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family is full of artists — my cousins and my aunt have always loved to draw and paint and inspired me at an early age. My aunt introduced me to watercolor pencils when I was young, which is my favorite medium today. All of my art teachers throughout the years, from elementary school all the way through college at UGA have left lasting impressions on me through their passion for their crafts. Mary Porter was my painting teacher at the University of Georgia, and she was fabulous. I learned color theory and composition from one of the best! Margot Ecke is another artist I learned a lot from in terms of letterpress, and through her class I was inspired to dive into product design using some of my artwork.

Website: www.nattymichellepaperie.com

Instagram: @nattymichelle

Image Credits
Kaitie Bryant took the 3 pictures of me in my old studio. The rest are by me and from Instagram @nattymichelle