Conversations with Carole Anne Demachkie

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carole Anne Demachkie.

Hi Carole Anne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always been a maker/crafter/illustrator. During my childhood on Long Island, my sister and I used to paint shells and rocks and sell them to people on our street. My second grade report card contained a statement that I enjoyed coloring more than doing my classwork… I headed off to art school in Colorado after spinning my wheels through high school and Santa Barbara City College, and that’s when my life finally came into focus. I enjoyed a very successful career in graphic design for years before founding The Red Barn Press.

The Red Barn Press began as a lark in 2021 when some crafty friends and I decided to hold a little holiday pop up shop and sell our assorted wares.  As a formally trained graphic designer and illustrator, it was a natural for me to create holiday cards. They were well received, and I had so much fun with the whole process that I didn’t want to stop.  Eventually, I let all my graphic design clients go, and by the end of 2022 I was “all in” on The Red Barn Press.

I illustrate what I know and love – primarily flora and fauna – much of it inspired by my surroundings in the foothills of Santa Barbara, California. My work strives to be upbeat, cheerful, and most of all, colorful. Bold use of color and lively imagery are hallmarks of The Red Barn Press.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Well, creating is easy. Finding the right audience to sell to is more challenging. Running a small business means wearing a lot of hats, and the one that doesn’t fit so well is the self-promoting/selling hat. I’m never comfortable in the cold-calling and cold-pitching arenas. Some people are naturals at it, but I’m not. So, my business has grown more slowly than I would like. But, I am proud to say that most of my customers are repeat buyers. They like what they get from me, and it generally sells well. My work can be found in some of the most beautiful public garden gift shops and popular bookstores in the United States.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I illustrate what I know and love. Mostly, that is the flora and fauna that surrounds me on the Central Coast of California. I started off specializing in botanical illustrations, but I’ve branched out to include woodland and farm animals, and lots of birds and butterflies. I try to instill a sense of movement and sometimes a little whimsy in my work. I think I am known for my bold graphic style, dynamic use of color, and a bit of humor when needed. In the world of stationery, my work is set apart because it is heavily reliant on the imagery with words coming second. So many greeting cards on the market today are snarky/clever words, with maybe a line drawing to accompany them. My pictures tell the story and express the sentiment.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was always a maker, and always a bit of an introvert. I loved nothing better than to spend an afternoon embroidering on some of my overalls, or painting rocks, or sewing something, or baking. I liked to work quietly, by myself, and I still like that. As a kid I was always trying to earn a little extra money, so I’d set up a card table at the bottom of my family’s driveway and try to sell painted rocks and shells, or some jewelry I made from the colorful phone wires that the telephone man cut and gave me on our street.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://theredbarnpress.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redbarnpress/

Image Credits
all image credit: Carole Anne Demachkie