The PatchCast is an audio series in which social media influencers across the country chat about what they do, how they do it and more. Joining us this week is muralist and letterer Lisa Quine, the artsy influencer inspiring Cleveland to “dream big,” “live epic,” and “be bold.” If you’re interested in appearing on the PatchCast, email [email protected] and tell us what makes you an influencer.
CLEVELAND — Lisa Quine, a Mentor native, moved to downtown Cleveland at a pivotal moment in the city’s history: Cavaliers superstar LeBron James had just returned from a fling with the Miami Heat, and, in her words, the city was experiencing a “renaissance.” And while she might not have known it then, Quine would soon become a key part of that revival, her work spreading from local street corners and underpasses to corporate hallways and eventually crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
Quine, a Lake Catholic High School graduate who went to the University of Dayton, doesn’t consider herself an influencer. Not in the traditional sense, anyway. She doesn’t do the whole sponsored post thing, and she pretty much ignores direct messages from brands offering free swag in exchange for a shout out on Instagram.
But her influence is undeniable. Tens of thousands of pedestrians gaze upon her messages and scenes every day, and that’s before she shares them with her 34,000-plus Instagram followers.
In 2017, things were going well for Quine. Working as an art director at an advertising agency, Quine honed her skills with managing time and juggling projects. She also painted murals here and there, and shared them on Instagram. As the months ticked by and the year was nearing its end, her life was upended.
A brand found her art on Instagram and reached out with an idea. A company was revamping its headquarters, and the CEO wanted to surprise his employees with something special: murals. Lots of them. They wanted her to paint them. It was an opportunity she couldn’t resist, but she knew what that would mean for her career.
Click Here: cheap kanken backpack
“And I was like ‘OK, I can’t work full-time and do this project. So I think this is a sign from the universe to quit my job and just see where I can take freelance life,'” Quine said.
And so she did. With the new title of creative consultant, she got to work covering seven walls over three floors. It took 153 hours.
153 hours of painting! I took video to show the beautiful environment the murals are in. And also because they are in narrow hallways, making it hard to photograph. Instagram only allows 1 minute so I had to speed it up a tad The narrow hallways also made projecting the design impossible, so everything was done freehand Mural at GBX Group HQ. Floor 3: all about the company; Floor 4: all about the historical garment district where the building is located; Floor 5: Greetings from Cleveland and map of GBX properties
A post shared by Lettering Mural Artist, Lisa Q (@lisa_quine) on Apr 17, 2018 at 6:03pm PDT
Since then, Quine has become a bona fide A-lister in the mural industry. Her work has been featured all over the city, from the Gordon Square Arts District to the old-school ice cream parlor Tremont Scoops.
The Gordon Square Arts District is hosting its annual Hip 2Be Square fundraiser on Tuesday night.
She also showed off her skills at a 2018 Public Library Association conference in Philadelphia, where she was asked to create a mural live in front of an audience as a marching band played nearby.
“It was so loud and distracting,” Quine said with a laugh. “But other than that, it was really fun. Librarians are the nicest people.”
She’s even won a bid to paint in the picturesque city of Rouen, located in the northern France region of Normandy, about 70 miles northwest of Paris.
Being a muralist means Quine’s job is to brighten spaces with color and a positive message. That’s why her work often features simple, yet far-reaching words of wisdom: Be kind. Live epic. Dream big. Words that everyone can live by.
“It’s putting artwork on the wall that’s meant to inspire the audience,” she said.
And while she’s shy about using the term to describe herself, Quine admits being a social media influencer has its perks. She sometimes gets free paint and chalk. But more importantly, creatives who visit her feed can immediately tell she’s the real deal. She has a portfolio. Followers. Experience. Talent.
“It definitely helps give me a little credibility in the mural game,” said Quine.