For those of you who might be wondering about the name of my new site, I thought I'd give a little background.
After two and a half years of blogging under Illustration Avenue, I found myself in a creative rut. I didn’t feel motivated to post on my blog, mostly because the website itself felt stuffy and too strict for my creative needs (I’m NOT a master website builder!). The WIX platform had been popping up here and there and it intrigued me—the website builder fit my needs of:
Flexibility
Comparatively low cost
Timesaver
I figured if I were to re-build my website, why not pick a name that was in-line with my interests?
Thus the brainstorming began! Olivia, my dear sister, friend, and trusted advisor (I always ask her opinion on everything art related—and more!) was such an important part of this. I brainstormed for about two days; I wrote down every word that came to mind that related to my passions, hobbies, and interests.
It came down to “The Painted Peach.” But it was taken (i.e. the domain wasn’t available)! So the brainstorming continued.
I noticed the word “peach” kept sticking around—the soft, fuzzy fruit, the warm color, and the aesthetically pleasing image it created inspired me.
And words like “darling” and “sweetheart” were circling around in my head.
What about the “cherie” part? Anyone who knows me well is aware of my (slight) fascination with the French language and culture. Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head! Chérie means “darling” in French.
Why not combine the two? After all, a peachery is a place where peaches are grown, and it feels to me as if my life has been growing and changing rapidly. This new name suddenly seemed to stick!
I loved the idea of creating a brand that centered around warm fuzziness, growth, and included a bit of a fancy flair—the French language, bien sûr! :)
I’ve also noticed my interests have shifted as I’ve gotten older. I’m no longer a fashion-centric illustrator (although I still love it!). I love drawing everyday charm—the things that make me stop and stare just a little while.
And so a new era began—just in time where I’m stepping out of my teens and into my twenties; seems appropriate, no?
Thank you for following along! Blog posts from Illustration Avenue are still available. Click below to begin reading the 2.5 years of content there!