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.