Art & Life with Taylor Lee Davis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Taylor Lee Davis.

Taylor Lee, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
Ever since I was a little girl, art was my thing. Unlike some, I didn’t know what I wanted to be when I grew up. I just knew I wanted to be creative. From kindergarten to college, all I wanted to study was art; drawing, painting, charcoal, ceramics, photography, videography, even writing. As long as I was able to create!

Eventually, I got into graphic design. That was the path I chose halfway through college. Everything seemed to be going well in that direction too. I graduated, got married, and had a job only weeks after moving.
I did not love my job.

It’s a devastating feeling when you’ve spent time and money towards something and realize that it might not be what you thought you wanted. Granted, I did learn a lot, I wouldn’t give up my education for the world. My thoughts quickly turned to other artistic endeavors in my past that I enjoyed. One of which was floral design. I worked as a shop-monkey between semesters and loved watching beautiful arrangements put together. And who doesn’t love flowers? Flowers come in incredible colors and textures – sizes and shapes. Finding ways to put them together felt similar to painting.

Before letting myself get stuck in unemployment and self-pity, I found a position as a floral manager at a family-owned grocery store.

I loved it!

The fact that it was a smaller company gave me plenty of room for personal growth and also assisting in the growth of the company. I could tell they were nervous to hire me – I was younger than anyone they’ve previously hired by like thirty years! Never had I received instructions on how to be a floral designer, nor taken any classes. I relied on what I learned from working with other designers.

Within the first four months, I received a plaque! My unique designs brought record sales.

Realizing I could actually be good at this, I branched off to start a small business designing floral arrangements. I craved the creative freedom and the ability to make people happy.

A family is also important to me. Starting my own business appealed to me for the flexible schedule. I knew I wanted a fulfilling career without taking too much time away from my future children.

It took weeks to actually name my brand. My mom had to help me brainstorm (she is also quite creative), but then Cheeky Blooms was born!

Now, I do flower-magic for weddings, special events, and more!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Some people will say – “Hey, these are flowers. It’s not a painting or a sculpture. It’s not art.”

Those might also be the people who say art is a waste of time.

I think floral design is a wonderful, creative outlet using a lovely and natural medium. Sometimes, we are building arches or spending hours creating the statement piece at an event. Fifty tables need fifty beautiful centerpieces that require working late into the night – sometimes without sleep.
And lots of caffeine.

The labor is worth it. Getting to see your creations put smiles on people’s faces is the greatest satisfaction.

I am a floral designer. Weddings and photo shoots are my biggest gigs. Cheeky Blooms, I think, says it all in the brand name. I want my designs to be bold and beautiful.

The wedding industry is so massive that it’s hard to stand out when a million other people are doing what you do. Like many artists, I try to pay attention to the trends, but not get lost in them. I love wild, whimsical, textured, and eye-catching arrangements. Every bride is different, every wedding is different, so the flowers should match in uniqueness.

The very first thing I was known for was creating themed floral bouquets. Every day I would make a different arrangement fitting the elements of either a movie, book, or character. That was before I started doing weddings!

Photo shoots are a new thing. I wanted more reasons to get creative and took to building teams and designing amazing scenes for photographers. It’s a great way to network with local small businesses. And it’s fun!

I want people to see floral arrangements and instantly feel happy. Flowers are already beautiful on their own, so the best way to accomplish designing is to complement each and every element in play. That is my goal. If I could inspire anyone, I just want to say that an artistic dream is worth pursuing. Be your own boss. Take your talents and use them. What made you weird as a kid can make you great if you let it.

How do you think about success, as an artist, and what do quality do you feel is most helpful?
That’s a tough question because success can be subjective, especially in the art world. If we’re talking about becoming world-known or making a substantial income – networking is key. For others, making a decent income and simply creating is enough.

Either way, it requires patience and hard work. Success won’t happen overnight unless you’re a wizard.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can see most of my work on Instagram, Facebook, and online bridal magazines. Or future events! Just search for Cheeky Blooms, @cheekyblooms, and you can follow my designs!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.cheekyblooms.com
• Email: cheekybloomsllc@gmail.com
• Instagram: @cheekyblooms
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cheekyblooms/

Image Credit:
Poppyseed Photography, AZ Goat Yoga, Floralish, Ashly Brown, I Do Rentals, Jade Min Photography, Atlas Rose Photography AZ, Lindsey Stevens, Lovely Bride Phoenix, Gatsby G, Evan Kristiansen Photography, Material Girls Weddings

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.