Meet Alex Houghton | Artist & Animal Enthusiast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Houghton and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
When creating Simply Sketching, it was very important for me to have creative freedom with my work. I found that instead of trying to please others, I would create what I wanted, and eventually, I attracted like-minded people. Having my own business has enabled me to be my own boss, make my own creative decisions, and not be confined to specific ideas. Drawing my favorite things and sharing them with others has brought me so much fulfillment, which is very important to me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work features lots of animals and creatures with fun and bright coloring. I like to think of witty and curious ways to depict them that not only are appealing but also encourage people to learn about them. What I’m most proud of is the ability to show someone a piece of artwork about an animal, and get to share facts about it because they want to learn more. As for my journey, I started up an Etsy shop years ago to sell small items like stickers and prints, with no rhyme or reason to what I made; I just made things that I thought would sell. Any sales I had were few and far between, and I wasn’t enjoying the process. Fast forward a few years, I took a class in college that made me realize I loved something; paleontology. I fell down a scientific rabbit hole and was absolutely obsessed with prehistoric life. I couldn’t stop drawing, creating characters, learning about these animals, and sharing what I’d learned with others. My passion for these creatures caught the attention of like-minded people and I’d like to think I’ve built up a nice group of friends and people that share the same interests as me. My business is definitely still a work in progress and is still a challenge for me, but I’ve learned to be absolutely authentic and make what I love, and the right people will find me. I hope that my artistic journey will inspire others to pursue their passions, no matter what age.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
While I’m not someone that “goes out” often, I do have a few places I frequent. I would definitely have my friends eat at the restaurant Chuy’s, as it’s actually the first place I visited when I came to Texas. My husband and I go there often to share burritos, and I’m obsessed with their queso. If visiting the hill country, Jester King is a great place to visit. They have nearly everything; beer, wine, cider, pizza, walking trails, and goats! My favorite coffee spot is Lampost Coffee in downtown Hutto, their iced coffee is wonderful and it’s a great place to host artist meetups. Lastly, I would take my out-of-town friends to Old Taylor High, where I teach several different art classes. The building has such an incredible history and has so many things to offer, such as a pinball arcade, a bar and tap room, a coffee shop, live music, and several restaurants and stores.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be anywhere without my incredible friends and family. My husband, Zack, does so much for me. Whether it’s giving me feedback on my ideas or helping with travel and setup for shows, he’s there with a smile. My long-time friends Cindy and Courtney. Although we are states away, both of them are always a phone call away should I need it. Of course, my Mom, who swears she can’t draw a stick figure, is always rooting me on. And lastly, I cannot forget my new friends, Kristy and Shay. Both of them made me so welcome when I moved here when I didn’t know anyone, and we bonded over a shared love of artwork. I’m so glad to have met them.

Website: https://www.simplysketching.com/

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