Maggie Weakley

I gathered all my courage and went up to Ms. Bassett and asked her “Do you think I could apply to art school?” and she responded with a smile “I thought you would never ask!” She said that I could have applied last year, but I had to believe I was ready. My heart sank, and then a scary thought came into my mind, How was I going to persuade my parents to let me go? I figured I would work really hard and get my portfolio together and send it out and see if I would even be accepted to any of the art schools and then I would tell them. I continued studying hard at UCF even making the Honor Roll each of the semesters. Then “the letters” arrived. I applied to Rhode Island School of Design, The School of Visual Arts, and Columbus College of Art and Design. I was accepted to all 3 schools, but CCAD in Columbus Ohio, offered me a scholarship, I about fainted! Now, how do I tell my parents? I took a deep breath and we all sat down at the dinner table and as you might suspect they were shocked when I explained everything and that I wanted to go to CCAD in Columbus Ohio. My dad’s biggest concern was “What are you going to do with an Arts Degree?” and I pointed out to him that art is all around us. It is in the pictures we hang, in the chairs we sit, in the house we live in, art is everywhere. I know this was really hard for them, especially for my mom, to have their daughter go off to a distant land without them there to keep her safe, but they did let me go and they helped with all my finances. My Scholarship helped and I worked for my expenses, but they supported me 100% and I am still thankful for this day because if it wasn’t for their sacrifice not only financial but emotional support I would not have the career I have today. I feel very blessed to have them as my parents!

When I was in CCAD and I had saved a little money the first thing I did was to buy my first dog, a Westie (West Highland Terrier) I named Perry. I graduated from CCAD with a BFA in Illustration, and became an Art Director for Shoebox Greetings at Hallmark Cards Inc., in Kansas City, Missouri. I was in charge for the Everyday Line, which included Birthday, Friendship and Special Occasions. When I was working there, I decided it was time to get a big dog for protection. That’s when Fe (pronounced Fay), a white German Shepherd, came into my life. Life was great with Perry & Fe, we went everywhere together. I worked at Shoebox for 3 years developing the line and learning all about the industry, but I knew this would not be my permanent career. I married my best friend from CCAD in 1993, and moved back to Columbus Ohio and became a Freelance Artist, working for other Greeting Card Companies, and also working for my husband’s company Blue Sky Graphic Communication, Inc. as an Illustrator.

Perry and Fe were the two greatest companions that anyone could ever dream of. Perry passed away in 2002, at the age of 14. It’s hard to think of him without my eyes watering, I still miss him very much. Fe passed away in February 2005, she was 2 months shy of turning 15 years old. It was the hardest day of my life. I am grateful they both lived such long and great lives. They were with me through my college years, my first job, my wedding, my becoming a mother, and all the different places we lived. They were with me all the time, even during vacations. They even helped me raise “Carter” a Guide Dog I raised for Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.

We moved to Ocala in 1998, it was an exciting and scary time because we didn’t know if we could make our businesses work here. At first, it was tough and work was slow, but we soon became established and it has all worked out. We love Ocala, everything about it, the people, the environment, it is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

I am blessed to have a loving husband and two marvelous sons Lucas and Max. I’ve also been extremely fortunate to have had amazing animals in my life like my Overo Paint horse Luna, my Palomino named Apollo, my Paso Fino named Spirit, my two Pygmy-Nigerian goats named Lightning and Trixie, my son’s Albino Parakeet Dove, an Australian Shepherd named Sky, and my little Westie named Angel. Now we have 2 little Chihuahuas named Mio and Coco, who fill our farm full of joy.

I was still Freelancing and doing all different kinds of artwork. My style of drawing was all over the place and I knew I had to find a Style of Art that would identify me so that people could recognize a Maggie Weakley painting. In 2000 I came up with the idea of Maggie’s Angels. I wrote it all out in a notebook. Every detail was carefully planned and it wasn’t until 2005 when The Marion Cultural Alliance had a local art show called “Bark About Art” that the next huge moment in my life would happen. I am one of those people that needs a deadline, the more pressure and stress I have the better art I create, and even though I had written out my whole Maggie’s Angel’s plan, I had not yet done a single painting. The woman that was chairing the event asked me if I would paint her dog Holly a little Chihuahua, and the painting would be used for all the promotional items, like posters billboards, etc. I took that opportunity and created 3 “Holly” paintings, Holly Red, Holly Blue, and Holly Green. As soon as I created “Holly Blue,”

Maggie with Holly for the Bark About Art Show

I knew that is what my style was going to be. I had 2 months to create artwork for the show. I ended up having 35 paintings that looked terrific together. Bright, happy and really animated these dogs drew all kinds of people to my booth and the show was a huge success, A few months later the local magazine, Ocala Style, did a story about me and published it in the January 2006 issue and put my Bulldog on the cover. That was the next turning point. It was received so well that the phone calls started coming and I became swamped with Commissions. I have really been blessed because I am not only doing what I love, but the people I have met through my work are just wonderful. I’ve been a part of many community projects the biggest was Horse Fever in 2011 where I created Horsefly and Celeste.

On July 8, 2014, I started working part-time for Fine Arts For Ocala, FAFO. They are a Non-For Profit organization that puts on 2 events a year, the Symphony Under The Stars, on Mother’s Day and the Ocala Arts Festival on the 4th weekend in October. These are huge events and I feel honored to be the Administrative Coordinator for FAFO. FAFO.org

Even though I have a job outside my home, I continue my freelance career creating the Pet Portraits that make up most of Maggie’s Angels. I am also currently working on a variety of other paintings, sketches, and illustrations with a variety of themes and styles. So stay tuned to see where that all leads me. Follow me on Instagram, I post daily there and you can see what I’m up to.

Thanks for visiting my colorful world.

Hope you stop often!