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June 16, 2017 by Terran 4 Comments

A Family Heritage of Art // Westway’s New Brand

I come from a long line of artists. My mom’s mother (my nana) is an amazing pen and ink artist, one of my aunts is a photographer, another aunt is an oil painter, my dad was a talented musician, and his mother (my grandma) was a master painter. My grandma and I shared many things — a love for the country, animals (she loved her kitty cats!), and colorful art. When she passed, I took a few of her paintings home and hid them in the closet; it was too painful to have them out. After a few months, my husband dug one out that he knew to be a top favorite (oddly enough, a cityscape) and hung it above my desk. I sobbed when I saw it and cried, “I’m not ready!” but he reminded me that displaying her art keeps her alive and our bond unbroken. I’m pretty sure that made me cry even harder.

When I embarked on rebranding Westway Studio, I dug deep, deep into my soul to figure out the true meaning of Westway. It turns out, it’s all about family, heritage, doing good, and pioneering new trails.

As I brainstormed ideas for my new logo, I first decided on the bison — the spirit of the American West. The silhouette came from a photograph I captured on one of my many trips to Yellowstone. Bison are strong, determined, and can persevere through the harshest conditions Mother Nature can throw at them. To me, they represent all that is still wild in this world and I knew there was no better totem for my business.

But the bison alone wasn’t enough.

I kept looking for inspiration everywhere I could think of, but nothing fit… until I pulled out my grandmother’s paintings again. When I found one of her watercolors depicting a quintessential old red country barn in a perfectly idyllic autumn northeast landscape, it was like a bolt of lighting hit me from above; this is what I was searching for! It was my way to celebrate where I came from, my family, childhood memories, and my grandmother’s legacy.

I photographed her painting up close, focusing in on areas with a rich variety of colors. When I found the perfect spot, I adjusted the colors on the computer to more closely match the colors found in my own artwork. I put the watercolor and bison silhouette together and it became the perfect blend of her art and mine; a true celebration of her legacy and the path I’m pioneering.

So, welcome to the brand new Westway… filled with heart, soul, and the desire to leave a legacy as special as my family left me.

 

Filed Under: field notes

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Auntie Joannie says

    June 19, 2017 at 2:02 pm

    You make me cry I’m so proud of you.

    Reply
  2. Sophie says

    July 13, 2017 at 4:42 pm

    So amazing, Terran! You are truly talented!

    Reply
  3. Jasmine says

    July 19, 2017 at 2:44 pm

    OMG, I adore the story of how your brand came to be. So significant to be able to infuse it with so much history, meaning, and love!

    Reply
  4. Laura Mertz says

    July 20, 2017 at 12:53 am

    This is so beautiful! Such a talent!

    Reply

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Based in San Diego, CA
Traveling the U.S. in 2022
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Hi there! In the age of social media, we all scrol Hi there! In the age of social media, we all scroll... a lot. Since we've had a bunch of new followers lately, I wanted to take a moment to say hi, introduce myself, and get to know you a little!​​​​​​​​
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I'm Terran, the Crazy Dog Mom behind Westway Studio. My hubby, senior pup, and I live in San Diego for six months of the year and travel the US in our Airstream for the other six. We love being on the road, meeting new people, seeing new places, eating new foods, and experiencing this beautiful country we call home.​​​​​​​​
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I'd love if you would share a little something about you and your pets with me — like where you're from, your animal companion's favorite vacation destination, a silly story, or anything else! :)
It's your last chance to apply for our upcoming We It's your last chance to apply for our upcoming West Paw photo shoot! The casting call closes this afternoon! Don't miss out - photo shoots are TONS of fun for people and pets! Link in bio or https://www.westpaw.com/pages/model-call
*Knocks on door* Hello! Can your dog come out to p *Knocks on door* Hello! Can your dog come out to play?​​​​​​​​
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We're holding an open casting model call for our next playtime-filled shoot with West Paw! Apply at the link in my bio or https://www.westpaw.com/pages/model-call. Let's have some FUN!
Who LOVES treats? 🙋‍♀️ We're holding an o Who LOVES treats? 🙋‍♀️ We're holding an open casting model call for our next shoot with West Paw that'll be all about — you guessed it — TREATS! Apply through the link in my bio or at https://www.westpaw.com/pages/model-call
YahoOOoOooOoo!!! We are planning our next photo sh YahoOOoOooOoo!!! We are planning our next photo shoot with West Paw at the end of January! We're looking for dogs + their people to participate. Dogs should be well-trained and love treat toys! We are looking for pups of all breeds, mixes, and ages. Link in bio to apply or https://www.westpaw.com/pages/model-call​​​​​​​​​
#westwaypets #westwaystudio #opencasting #modelcall #dogmodel @westpawus
Sorry, boss, I'm gonna be late today... or I might Sorry, boss, I'm gonna be late today... or I might not make it in at all... it's National Cuddle Day, which means I can't move 'til my four-legged best friend does. 🤷‍♀️ Does your animal companion love to cuddle or is it more of an exercise in futility?
Hello. It's Wednesday. The holidays are over. Whic Hello. It's Wednesday. The holidays are over. Which way is up? Do you have any treats?
Mid-session puppy kisses always make for the silli Mid-session puppy kisses always make for the silliest and sweetest photos! Do your pups give you kisses, too?
Happy New Year, friends! What are you most looking Happy New Year, friends! What are you most looking forward to this year?​​​​​​​​
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Two things I'm really excited for are (1) getting back out on the open road in the Airstream and (2) teaching at the Shutterhound Conference in September alongside some of the world's greatest pet photographers. Seriously, the speaker lineup is i-n-c-r-e-d-I-b-l-e! Pinch me, I must be dreaming! (Sign up with crazy-special pricing through 11:59pm Eastern time tonight!!!)
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