Tori Higa

MY ART JOURNEY

I have loved creating art since childhood. Like many children, I grew up always making things. In high school I realized that my life’s goal was to be a wife, mother, and artist.

I earned a degree in art from Pepperdine University in 1999 and enjoyed my first real job after college as a carpet designer for large public spaces and corporate offices. I loved that job, but felt the nudge to start my own handmade greeting card company a couple years in.

I designed greeting cards for five years under my own name and truly loved the work. My husband and I got to work together and we were able to hire some part time workers-turned-friends to help with manufacturing and shipping. Some highlights are that we made Oprah’s “O list” one year and we even sold to Anthropologie for three years, my dream store to this day.

With a one year old, a changing economy in 2008, and a move across the country for my husband’s career as a college volleyball coach, it was time to change things around again. While I “retired” from the handmade greeting card business, I was glad to get to focus on my family as well as partner with my dear friend’s non profit who took over the card company for a few years (Isanctuary.com). I began licensing my art on the side for greeting cards and stationery companies. I even wrote two books about contemporary stationery design which featured the best of the best in the industry in my opinion.

Motherhood was in full swing with two littles now and I loved those sacred times. Eventually we moved back home to California and I got to work part time for a wall art company and even got to license some of my art to Homegoods (some artists dream of being in gorgeous art galleries, but my dreams came true with my art in Anthropologie and Homegoods!)

Sometime during the little years, the children’s book ideas started flooding my mind and imagination. I started jotting down ideas in the most random places as the inspiration hit (like the Costco aisle). I began taking classes on children’s book illustration and spent a few years learning everything I could about writing and illustrating for kids (and I’m still learning!)

I now have two faith based children’s books out in the world, each one feeling like a huge milestone. I have several more that I have written that I just need to illustrate. So stay tuned! (You can sign up for the newsletter below if you like).

And keep an eye out for a refresh on the greeting cards and stationery that I used to create. Hint, hint. 😉

I hope my little art journey can inspire you to always keep creating, no matter what phase of life you are in. You are never too young and never too old to start your creative dreams. Be a daydream believer!

“The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)