They say hard work and dedication pay off, and Richmond-based artist Norman Wyatt Jr. has experienced this in a big way. Wyatt’s eponymous collection with home furnishings company StyleCraft debuted at North Carolina’s High Point Market last April. The Norman Wyatt Home collection features artwork, lamps, chairs, tables and accessories in three looks – coastal, glam and rustic.
R•HOME: How did your collaboration with StyleCraft begin?
Norman Wyatt Jr.: I was looking around on LinkedIn and came across the StyleCraft page. I liked everything they were doing and reached out to the CEO directly. From our first meeting, he liked the examples of my work that I shared on my social media and asked me what I wanted to do with his company. My answer was, “Everything!” I’ve always had a vision to design much more than just wall art, so the opportunity to work with StyleCraft was a perfect fit.
R•Home: How did it feel for you when your collection made its debut?
Wyatt: I spent 2 1/2 years sketching, conceptualizing, planning and selecting materials. It was an incredible feeling to finally walk into the StyleCraft showroom and see all 150+ items I had designed in one place and arranged in groups. It was surreal to actually touch and feel them. It was a 20 year journey from my first art publishing contract to realizing I was the owner and designer of my very own lifestyle collection.
R•Home: To what extent are you involved in the process from design to delivery of the piece to the client or to the exhibition space?
Wyatt: Very involved. I design the products in my collection with the idea of creating something very unique, high quality designed, but still suitable for the average home. This involves a lot of planning on my part to ensure I create a well designed group of home furnishings that clients, whether designers or store buyers, are happy and proud to choose. I see and approve the items from the initial graphic representation to the production of the final sample.
R•Home: What is your design process?
Wyatt: Depending on the category or type of product I’m designing, I usually start with a mental image of the concept and sketch out the idea roughly, playing around with shapes and lines until the idea comes to life. Then I choose materials, metals, woods, finishes, textures, etc. to finalize the design. Pretty much everything I draw on paper becomes an actual product. It’s so exciting!
R•Home: How do you want people to feel when they look at your collection?
Wyatt: When people see my collection, I hope they are excited and inspired. I met with the StyleCraft sellers before launching to discuss the items, the inspiration and the vision behind them. When I finished, they all clapped enthusiastically. One took me aside and said everything was so different and unique, a breath of fresh air. That’s the feeling I want to capture.
