Cindy Lindgren
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Cindy Lindgren
I'm a Twin Cities illustrator who draws nature, local landmarks and common experiences we share here. I sell my art on a line of products for both retail and wholesale. My art is digital so I easily expanded my initial card line to include art prints, posters, magnets, textiles and stickers.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
My Craftsman Nouveau style is graphic, clean and has a rich distinctive color palette. It was originally rooted in the Arts and Crafts Movement and Art Nouveau but with a modern feel.
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
If I got stuck, I'd investigate a new avenue. From freelance illustration, I started an Etsy shop in 2009, attended and showed at Surtex for a few years to learn about licensing. I found my niche with my local wholesale reps in the Midwest in 2013, creating local images for gift shops and museum shops.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
It has been ok because I have multiple creative avenues. I sold a lot of fabric for masks thru Etsy and Spoonflower and I had collaborated with a local Puzzle Company just prior to the pandemic. Those sales helped a lot. My Etsy shop stayed busy and now this summer more small businesses are opening back up and ordering wholesale again.
What is your favorite part of what you do?
I love creating images for small business owners that are unique to Minnesota. I listen to people at art shows and get excited to draw things they suggest to me.
What is your *must do* local activity?
Just look at my art! I love Minnehaha Falls, Como Conservatory, Stone Arch Bridge, biking the trails and skiing the Luminary Loppet. Outside of the Twin Cities, I have a love affair with Paul Bunyan and Babe and Frank Lloyd Wright.
Where to find Cindy Lindgren:
Website: www.cindylindgren.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cslindgren/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CindyLindgren?ref=l2-shop-info-avatar