Meet Terra Andrews | Artist & Owner of Andrews Craft Arts

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

Hi Terra, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
My grandmother once told me that her belief was that God bases whether or not we get into Heaven by the amount of love in our hearts. That has stuck with me for many years. My grandmother felt that regardless of what beliefs any of us hold, love is the key and that is what I want my legacy to be- that I was a loving individual. I want the people in my life to know that they were loved fully and completely by me- that they genuinely felt my love for them. I want my artwork to reflect my love for nature and the beauty that surrounds us. Years from I want people to see my artwork and feel inspired to love the beauties of nature that surround each of us daily no matter where we live.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always seemed to have a hoard of crafting and art supplies ready for the next project, but until very recently, crafting and art was something that I did when I had the time or need as a fun hobby here and there at home and at work. I am a self-taught artist. I have a Bachelor’s of Science degree (University of Florida ’98) in nutritional sciences and a Master of Arts in Teaching (Armstrong State University, now Georgia Southern-Armstrong, ’15). I initially worked in childhood nutritional education and public assistance and then transitioned to elementary education, primarily as a third grade teacher. In 2019, my husband and I realized a dream and purchased a 1910 Victorian house in our home city of Savannah, Georgia. So much of my creative inspiration leading to establishing Andrews Craft Art was inspired by that home- from the antique windows I painted to create unique, artistic privacy screens on the porches to the seven foot long glass bead chains I made to channel rain away from the house. Andrews Craft Arts was officially established in November of 2020 with jewelry and coastal home decor design as the primary focus.

In the spring of 2021, my family moved from Savannah to Atlanta, Georgia. This has been an opportunity for me to step away from teaching and focus solely on creative endeavors. More and more I find inspiration to paint and draw the natural beauty I see in the world around me, even in the middle of the city. In fact, with living in such an urban environment, I have become almost hyper-focused in observing and identifying with the smallest of natural details, and then sharing that with others through my artwork. For me, my greatest accomplishment is when something I’ve created brings a smile to another’s face. I hope to continue to spread joy through my nature inspired art for many years to come.

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?
I am still so new to Atlanta and just soaking everything up! Continuing to live in a highly “walkable” area was of utmost importance for my family when we moved here and how we like to share Atlanta with others. We live in Virginia-Highland within walking distance to the Eastside Beltline and Ponce City Market, so that is my point of reference when friends and family visit. Anything and everything along the Beltline from the Krog tunnel up to and including Piedmont Park is a must see. I would include Old Fourth Ward Park in that too. Of course, the businesses of Virginia-Highland are on the agenda for each visitor as well! The public artwork everywhere along the Beltline, Virginia-Highland, Poncey Highland, and Old Fourth Ward is fantastic and shouldn’t be missed! Eating at El Super Pan in Ponce City Market is basically a requirement when you come see me. The rooftop bar and Tiny Lou’s at Hotel Clermont, Two Urban Licks, A Mano, Pancake Social, and Savage Pizza are all also on our list for local eats. Little Five Points is fun to explore when my young adult children are in town. Finally, the Atlanta Botanical Garden is a top spot to bring friends and family of all ages!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Well, of course, it all started out with my family! My mom and dad taught my siblings and me to think both critically and creatively to solve any problems. That with enough thought, ingenuity, and perseverance we could prevail over any obstacle we encountered. That and they gave me the freedom to craft and paint just about anything that I wanted to as well! That said, I didn’t seek art as a career until very recently. Me pursuing art as a career meant some pretty big changes for my family, despite that my husband, daughter, and stepchildren have supported me and encouraged me to never give up. They see my happiness and fulfillment as an artist whether I am making sales or not, and are the reason I keep going. Finally, besides my husband and daughter, my sister, brother, and friend Maria are always ready to take a look at my work and let me know what they think!

Website: andrewscraftarts.com

Instagram: @AndrewsCraftArts