Mâché Memories

By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Lisa Cheek

The feminine manifestation of originality, paper mâché art’s transformative simplicity meshes humble materials together in evocative forms, designed to elicit emotion from both the beholder’s eyes and heart. The real beauty, Homewood resident Emily Calloway says, is how common, everyday items can be used to create something wonderful, just as one who is new to creating can feel safe in discovering the magic in this handmade craftsmanship.

A self-taught artist, Emily says she never picked up a paintbrush until well after her children were born, when she would volunteer in the art classrooms at her childrens’ schools. When her kids grew up and moved away, Emily found herself with time on her hands and an insatiable itch to create–prompting her to try something new.

After taking a trip to Texas and falling in love with an expensive work of art, Emily attempted to create a similar version of it herself. She ventured to her local arts and crafts store, giddily arriving home with a bounty of ingenuity.

“I haven’t had any formal training, so doing something textural with paper mâché, I could mold it and make it have dimension,” she says. “For me, that was a way to skirt around not having the drawing ability.”

Emily’s first masterpiece featured a delicate boutique of dried flowers she preserved and pasted onto her canvas base, layered in paper mâché. The rose buds were small and subtle in color, but the piece resonated with sentimentality–a memory preserved from a special day.

Pretty soon, Emily began creating pieces for her friends and family, growing her repertoire and her reputation as an artist.

“A very good friend of mine kept on and on and on, and she said, ‘If you don’t do it, I’m going to take your art and take it somewhere,’” Emily says, chuckling. “I did, and the first gallery I approached accepted my art.”

Since she first picked up that brush only six years ago, Emily has created more than 100 pieces–some watercolor or acrylic paintings on plywood and others as paper mâché on canvas. The majority of her art can be seen and purchased at Alabama Goods’ three locations in Homewood, Huntsville and the newly opened Hoover store in Stadium Trace Village.

When she became an empty nester, Emily reached out to Alabama Goods’ co-founder and co-owner, Sherry Hartley, who not only agreed to sell her art in-store, but also hired her as a part-time consultant.

Emily enjoys getting to meet new customers every day, helping them buy handmade gifts from Alabama artists–including herself. The best part, she says, is watching her customer’s face light up when she finds the “right” piece.

“When people buy my art and they’re like, ‘This is exactly what I was looking for! I love this!’ It brings me joy to see them happy with something I made,” Emily says.

One of Emily’s most challenging pieces was actually a pet portrait commission on a Christmas ornament.

“It was a challenge–doing a pet portrait because that’s not what I do,” she says. “I did it, and the woman loved it. After she gave it to this young adult, [the recipient] loved it, and she said, ‘I’ll have this memory of hanging this ornament on my tree every year of my first pet.’”

Being in the business of creating tangible memories, Emily says her artwork has become more than just a hobby–it has become her own, personal charge to impress her inner child, taking advantage of the opportunities she experiences even if they are out of her comfort zone.

Looking back, she says art was not encouraged much in her childhood home. Hobbies were not viewed as career options, so her creativity was stifled.

However, Emily’s daughter Adrianne Calloway says her upbringing could not be further from that of her mother.

“Having my mom’s support to encourage me to do things that made me happy was a huge, fundamental part of my childhood,” she says.

A graduate of the International Institute of Careers, Adrianne earned her degree in fashion design and merchandising. She has since designed several apparel lines and currently works in content creation for small businesses such as Piper and Leaf Tea Co.

Emily’s oldest child, TJ Calloway, was gifted with his mother’s artistic gene, too. He received a scholarship to Berkelee College New York while in high school but instead charted his own path, writing and producing his own music.

TJ is now about to graduate from The Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Emily says she is incredibly proud of both of her children, especially for them navigating their own journeys in life despite the societal pressures of conformity.

This “dare to be different” is evident in Emily’s artwork–each piece distinctive of her style and desire to fulfill her heart’s passion.

“Every piece she creates isn’t a cash grab,” Adrianne says. “It’s something that she spends hours on. It’s something that she critiques herself on. It’s something that’s coming from deep within her membrane of creativity and her heart as well. It was never about the money. It was about doing something that she loved.”

The scariest part about creating art, Emily says, was not her first plunge in the local art store; rather, it was her mustering up the courage to put herself out there, accepting that her art would be at the mercy of the public’s scrutiny.

“When you’re creating something, you’re totally exposing yourself and putting yourself out there for rejection or praise,” Emily says. “Everyone has their own idea of what is good art. You can’t please everyone. You just have to do what makes you happy.”

In her mid-50s and not slowing down, Emily looks forward to creating new works of art and taking commissions from customers. She hopes others her age will be encouraged to take that initial step and not just dream it, but do it.

After all, the only difference between dreams and reality is the courage to try something new.

To view or purchase Emily Calloway Art, visit Alabama Goods at 2933 18th Street South in Homewood. Alabama Goods is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Emily accepts commissions, which can be made through the store by calling 205-803-3900.