I draw people and I draw clothes. Always have. I attended Saturday morning figure drawing classes when I was in high school. (How many teenagers do you know that would be in drawing class at 9:00am on Saturday mornings?) I studied Fashion Illustration in college because I wanted to make the drawings that I saw on the fronts of sewing pattern envelopes. My master’s thesis subject was paper doll illustration and illustrators.

I never illustrated a sewing pattern envelope (there was a shift to photography) but I have designed logos, ads, t-shirts, social posts, and packaging for clients as diverse as: Boyd Gaming, JCPenney, Belk stores, Matco Tools, NAPA Auto Parts, and the Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. I’ve taught graphic design and illustration for 4 colleges. I’m a 7-time ADDY Award winner for illustration and design.

I continue to send paper dolls to doll and paper doll publications and participate in the International Paper Doll Convention, sometimes as a judge, sometimes as a presenter. Three years ago I started making ink drawings on paper plates as a creative discipline. The growing number of paper plate drawings have been included in two art exhibitions.

I currently live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi with my family and 3 spoiled cats. I have a studio in the attic where I draw, design, paint, and create paper dolls until it is time to sew my next cosplay.

Follow me on Instagram for art, turtles, cats, odds and ends: https://www.instagram.com/aceytray/