Today we’d like to introduce you to Cora Worthington.
Hi Cora, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! My name is Cora Worthington. I am a stippling artist from Marissa, IL.
I have been drawing since I was a very young child, and I have always had a particular interest in art. I had a great love for dogs and animals as a child, and I grew up in the country just outside of Red Bud, IL, so much of my drawings were inspired by that.
As I grew older and entered high school, my primary focus was learning to draw realism. I mainly wanted to use pencil since that is what I was most comfortable with then. My art teacher, to my dismay at the time, had us start practicing a project with a pen technique called stippling- drawing with dots- in 2015. I was nervous to start- I’ve never drawn with a pen, and you can’t erase it. However, since stippling forces you to take your time, avoiding mistakes was easier than I expected. It was also a soothing way to draw during a difficult time in my life because it really forced me to slow down, so I had a lot of patience for it. My teacher seemed impressed with my practice projects, so with her encouragement and from my family and friends, I continued to perfect my newfound technique, which eventually became my niche. Much of my work involves things I love or find inspiration from, including animals, cars, flowers, and things representing my love of life in the country and nature. And eventually, people began commissioning me, which included a vast array of pets, family portraits, and cars, among other things!
A few years after I began my stippling journey, in 2019, I accepted Jesus as my savior and became a Christian! Since then, my focus has been more on how I can please Him with my work, creating things that show His goodness and creative hand in my work and bring happiness to others. I try to be a light in the world’s darkness, as the Bible teaches! I have this talent because of Him, and He blessed me with the ability to become a full-time artist in June 2022. Since then, my art has taken off! I am so grateful to Him, and I hope my diligence in my work speaks volumes to His glory! Nowadays, I spend about 3-5 hours a day working on art, countless hours on marketing and organization, and teaching bluegrass and country music! My life is hectic, but I am so blessed by it!
You can find me at weekend flea markets, craft fairs, vendor fairs, art shows, and online- anywhere to spread my work and the love of Christ! You will also find my husband, Matthew, in many places. He helped me find Christ and has been such a help to me as an artist- especially where marketing is concerned! He has even helped me color some of my prints to add variety to my work. I couldn’t be the artist I am today without his encouragement and encouragement from my family and fans!
I hope my work and story bless you today, bringing you peace and happiness! When I feel discouraged, God reminds me that He has created me for a purpose. Even when I don’t know what that purpose is or how he will use my talents, He is always there to direct my paths and help me create good things that honor Him and bless others.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was hard getting things off the ground at first. It is hard being an artist from a small town in Illinois. Even being so close to St. Louis, there are a lot of other competing voices in the world, and since my work lacks color and takes so long to complete, it is hard to stand out above the noise of the world. For the first few years as an artist, I had to work full-time to make ends meet. I also attended college, which helped give me some credibility, but it kept me from doing the art I loved for a couple of years. However, I have always had consistent work to do since I graduated high school in 2018. I took a leap of faith when I quit my job to do art full-time. But since God had been giving me a lot of work to do, I needed to focus more on my art! Since I quit, my art income has significantly increased, my online following has grown exponentially, and I am never without a commission! Even if I don’t become a big-name artist, I am happy doing what I love and spreading happiness where I go! God has taken care of me, and I am sure he wants me to do this with my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might need to become more familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a stippling artist. Most of my art, except a few designs and special commissions, is made of dots! I am most proud that I can succeed as a full-time artist with the support of God, my husband, my family, and my friends! I never thought it would be possible for me to be an artist. What sets me apart from others is the nature of my work. Many people are drawn to unique forms of art. Many people have never heard of stippling, except for the people who learned about stippling in an art class in high school. My work also takes many hours to create. Just an 8-inch by 10-inch drawing alone can take 10-60 hours, depending on the detail and shadows in the drawing. This shocks many people, who marvel at how someone has the patience to sit and draw the same drawing for hours.
Additionally, since I mainly draw realism, I stand alone in art. Certainly, many artists also draw realism, but many people in the art world aren’t interested in realism since so many people can do it and want something with more creativity. I understand their point and have tried to focus on more of my henna and silhouette drawings instead of just realism. However, I want my drawings to appeal to the everyday person. Many people I talk to at shows are in awe of how realistic I can make a bunch of dots look, and they are only sometimes interested in the abstracted nature of modern art today. In that way, I stand alone and blend in, depending on who you speak to.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
That is a tough question to answer! I have many happy memories of my childhood, but many of my memories blend together since I have gone through some trauma in my teenage years. Some of my happier memories were when we went on family vacations. My favorite was when my parents, twin brother, and little sister went to Yellowstone. I didn’t appreciate it as much as I do now, but it was beautiful. The colors in the springs, the stunning wildlife of the park itself- everything about it was beautiful and truly a testament to God’s creativity! I loved seeing the animals, especially the wolves! We also camped there, which we did a lot as a family, and I still enjoy it today. Now that I am married, I plan to return with my husband and some little ones!
Pricing:
- Prints of my originals typically range from $20-$40, depending on the print size and if it is being shipped.
- Commissions have a wide range depending on size and detail. They can be as little as $50 to more than $1000. For more information about commissions, please message me directly!
Contact Info:
- Website: coraworthingtonart.square.site
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/coraworthingtonart?igshid=ZDdkNTZiNTM=
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coraworthingtonart?mibextid=ZbWKwL
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@coraspenart2322
- Other: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1tOGzRIv8Qy5pIA5x-xFIREzTNOP-hBrzmrGhOFR40cs/edit?chromeless=1
