Meet Louisville Artist Maizie Clarke

Creating designs at her kitchen table has evolved into a thriving business for Virginia native and illustrator Maizie Clarke, whose custom products can be found in museum shops, distilleries, and retailers across the country. 

With a bachelor’s degree in interior design and a master’s in exhibition design, the entrepreneur approaches her work with a specific goal in mind: every product should tell a story. Originally known for her watercolor house portraits (which she still does by request), Maizie’s focus has shifted toward wholesale partnerships, bringing original artwork to tea towels, ceramics, scarves, and more.

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Do you describe yourself as a business owner, illustrator, artist, or all of the above?

I usually say I’m a small business owner first. That’s how I tend to identify, and then I’ll add that I’m an illustrator. I create products featuring my original illustrations, and we work with brands and museum stores to develop custom merchandise for their shops.

That business side is really what I’m focused on growing — especially the wholesale side. I do have a direct-to-consumer e-commerce component, but a big part of what I’m doing is creating products at scale and partnering with retailers to bring those designs to a wider audience.

How did your business come to be?

I started the business at my kitchen table in 2016 while working a full-time job. I’ve always been entrepreneurial, and I was doing watercolor house portraits — something I had started in graduate school. It really grew organically through Instagram. I would post what I was working on, and people would message me asking if I could paint their home or a family member’s home. I was literally taking orders through DMs and email.

At a certain point, I started thinking about how to grow beyond that one-to-one model. I love doing house portraits — I still do them — but I wanted to figure out how to scale my artwork into products. My first product was tea towels, and at first I sewed them myself. I would order printed fabric, cut it, and hem each one on a sewing machine.

It was not sustainable, and I quickly realized I needed to look into wholesale manufacturing. From there, things grew step by step. I added ceramics, explored wholesale, and started working with museum shops and larger clients. 

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Where do you find inspiration?

I look across a lot of different design fields. Retail moves quickly, but I try to create work that feels more timeless and classic. I pull inspiration from interior design and architecture, because those tend to have a longer life cycle than fast-moving trends.

Working with museums is especially fun because the inspiration often comes directly from their collections. I might be illustrating fossils for a site like the Falls of the Ohio, or something tied to a historic property. Sometimes the inspiration finds me through those projects, and other times I go looking for it.

I think every design discipline can inform another; it’s all connected.

Are there any misconceptions about what you do?

I think a big one is that people assume I spend all day painting. I wish! In reality, being a small business owner means wearing all the hats. There are a lot of logistics — managing production, dealing with printers, coordinating fulfillment, and handling emails.

The creative part is just one piece of it. There’s also a misconception around creativity itself. People will say, “I’m not creative,” but I really believe everyone is. Creativity shows up in so many ways — how you set a table, wrap a gift, solve a problem. Mine just happens to be very visual.

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What’s one item on your desk or in your office that you can’t live without?

Definitely my noise-canceling headphones. They help me get into a deep work mode and block out distractions, especially when I’m working somewhere like a library or other shared space.

I also use something called Brick, which locks me out of certain apps — like Instagram — so I don’t get stuck scrolling. It’s been really helpful for staying focused.

What’s next for your business?

I’m working on a few new product lines. One is a collection of mahjong mats, which has been fun to explore since there’s so much interest in mahjong right now. I’m also developing silk twillies — those long, skinny scarves that can be worn in your hair or wrapped around a handbag.

Those will likely launch later this summer. Right now, I’m focused on a busy stretch of events, including Derby and a major museum store show, so product development is queued up for when things slow down a bit.

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If you weren’t running your own business, what would you be doing?

I would probably be working as a designer at a firm, either in exhibit design or something similar. After graduate school, I actually worked designing trade show exhibits, which is very similar to museum work in terms of storytelling, just more focused on branding and marketing.

Long term, I think it would be fun to go back to school and become an art therapist or even a small business consultant. I love brainstorming and talking through ideas — maybe a little too much!

What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

I’ve always been interested in business. My first “business” was when I was 9. I had a traveling snack bar that I brought to my brother’s sports games. In high school, I made jewelry and even had a few wholesale accounts by the time I was 18.

So while people might think of me primarily as an artist, the business side has always been just as important to me.

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What are your favorite hidden gems in Louisville?

My husband and I love the parks. Cherokee and Seneca are favorites when the weather is nice. I’m also a huge fan of the Louisville Free Public Library. I think libraries are such incredible community spaces, and I’ve even had the chance to work with them on some projects.

For food, Pizza Lupo is amazing, and Vietnam Kitchen is one of our go-to spots. It was actually my first meal in Louisville when I moved here, and it’s still a favorite.

What is the best advice you’ve ever given or received?

My mom always says, “Things always look brighter in the morning.” I think that applies both literally and figuratively. When something feels overwhelming or difficult, it helps to step away and come back to it with a fresh perspective. It’s a simple idea, but it’s been really grounding — in business and in life.

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