We find that it’s the simple things in life that spark our creativity, and when we came across Lucy’ Halcomb’s Instagram (@lucy_mail), we instantly felt a shared connection. Enamored by her playful illustrations on envelopes, we reached out to Lucy to learn more about where she draws inspiration from and why staying creative matters.
I’ve been drawing since I can remember. In early elementary school, before our family had a computer (and a constant supply of blank white printer paper), we very rarely had anything to draw on around the house. One Christmas, my Mimi gave my brothers and I several pads of mint green paper, and it was such a big deal! We went through those so fast. After college, I would very rarely draw except in these spurts when I would send out Valentines or Christmas cards or random postcards to friends, and then my friend Nim encouraged me to start documenting my mail drawings. It’s become an almost daily practice, and it’s very fulfilling to make a little object multiple times a week.
I love to draw food and little things that you remember from growing up but kind of forget about. I keep a long list in Evernote of upcoming envelope ideas. It will take me several years to get through them all! But I usually have good ideas when I try not to think of them and go for a walk or do a mundane chore.
I try to keep a sketchbook of ideas and drawings from life, but I’m usually too self conscious to draw unless I’m traveling. Every year I get a little better at filling a few more pages.
My absolute favorite thing to draw is people. I love figure drawing from life. On envelopes my favorite thing to draw is food and food packaging like cellophane wrappers.
-Lucy Holcomb
We loved chatting with Lucy and hearing about her creative process. Another fun thing she shared with us? If she could only use 3 colors for the rest of her life, they’d be “flame red, opaque white and pink.”
Stay tuned for more features on our favorite makers and designers, and let our collection inspire you to To Something Creative Every Day!
Would like so send a catalog of your work to my cousin, I think she would love your work she writes letter constantly to a lot of people in her life. Just has no computer and my email may not be right but we are old so be patient.