By Raiza Giorgi
publisher@santaynezvalleystar.com
Priscilla Wilson said her affinity for art started at a young age. She remembers coming home from watching a Disney movie or watching a cartoon on television and drawing the characters from memory. Her parents also noticed her talent and started putting her in art classes and helping her foster her creativity.
Her creativity and art style has taken her back to her childhood as the Santa Ynez Valley native was recently given the opportunity to create a design for a movie-themed pin for Little Shop of Pins, a “wearable art and lifestyle brand” operating out of Los Angeles.
“I met Jason Liwag (owner of Little Shop of Pins) at an art show and was introduced by a mutual friend,” Wilson said. “I was so excited for this opportunity because I had never created a pin before and it really opened my eyes to a new medium. It’s different designing a pin because it has to be simple, yet standout.”
Wilson created a pin for the character Sarah from “Labyrinth,” the 1986 classic movie starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie.
“I loved that movie growing up, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t,” Wilson said.
Liwag said that Wilson’s style really called to do the artwork for this pin and he was really excited to see it come to life.
Little Shop of Pins has taken off, which Liwag was surprised to see during COVID-19. Little Shop of Pins has pins from “Star Wars,” “The Mandalorian,” “Fraggle Rock,” “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” and more classics. The business is able to do many pop culture pins because of its extensive licensing agreements.
“Getting the license for Jim Henson Company was a dream come true for us,” Liwag said. “We grew up watching ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,’ ‘Fraggle Rock’ and the Muppets, which hopefully people who see our pins will go rewatch them or introduce them to their kids.”
“Priscilla has a more feminine style, which for the character of Sarah was important when I was trying to find an artist,” Liwag added. “I have been watching Priscilla’s art style evolve for the last few years and love seeing her work.”
Wilson got her start in art and graphic design while interning at KraftWerk Design as a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She eventually got a full-time job there, helping to create brand and creative artwork for many companies on the Central Coast.
“I love working there and I also do my own artwork on the side to continue my creative outlet. I love doing prints and illustrations,” Wilson said.
She has created pieces for Threadless, Ray LaMontagne and Dave Matthews Band. She also was invited to host a booth at ComicCon in San Diego last year; however, the pandemic put a kibosh on those plans.
“I was disappointed because ComicCon is the ultimate place to get work seen by a lot of people and get connections,” Wilson said. “The organizers did a great job converting it to virtual in a short amount of time, and I hope I can be a part of it when it can go back to in-person.”
A lot of her personal art has an Asian influence as she loves exploring her Asian heritage.
“I was adopted as a baby and only knew that I was part Korean. It wasn’t until I took a ’23 and Me’ test that I learned I was also Japanese,” Wilson said. “I really have loved exploring my heritage through art and incorporating it into my own style.”
To see more of Wilson’s artwork visit her website at www.valorandvellum.com and to see her pin visit https://littleshopofpins.com/products/sarah-enamel-pin.
