Best known for her popular city landscape designs sold on everything from prints to tea towels, Kansas City native and artist Tammy Smith is no stranger to the world of specialty gifts. After working as a Hallmark artist for 20 years, Smith pivoted to sculpture design and took her wares on the road, selling at festivals and fairs around the country for several years.
In 2014, after she stopped traveling, she took what she knew about product development from her time at Hallmark and began making skyline designs—first of her hometown, Kansas City, and later of St. Louis and Chicago.
Before long, requests were pouring in from social media and her Etsy shop to create other towns. Now, Smith has created art for all 50 states and countless cities across the globe, selling the skyline imagery on all types of home goods, including baby onesies and dinner trays. Her work is carried both in stores both locally and nationwide.
It’s been 10 years since Smith created her first KC skyline design, and her designs are ever-popular. We talked with the artist about the inspiration behind and creation of her timeless designs.
“I’ve seen a lot of people maybe not buying as much, but when they do buy it, they want it to last. I’m glad I really don’t make anything that’s throwaway. Everything can last for years.”
Tell us about the process of creating the landscape designs. People love things about their hometown. We’re so Kansas City proud here. So it’s really fun to create an illustration with all the stuff I love about Kansas City. KC has a lot of beautiful landmarks. I’ve always loved going to the Plaza. Visually, it’s really fun to draw. The Kauffman, too—we’ve had some great architects design here.
Our skyline is also changing, and it’s really interesting. People want to see their favorite restaurant or their favorite landmark on the product. I look at the most popular landmarks in each city, then I look at things like weirdest landmarks or offbeat things to do in each city. I want to do something unique to each city, too.
What inspires your art? I love mid-century modern design, and that’s why I use limited colors in my illustrations. If you look at the ’50s, a lot of those illustrations were limited color, and so I want to keep that vibe. That’s why I started my cities with just three colors. Quirky illustrations and sculptures also inspire me, [like] the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas. I also do ceramics, so I have another business called Small Ideas Studio. I have a studio in Brookside where I teach workshops and stuff, and it’s totally different—whimsical with a lot of characters. I do some jewelry, vases, salt and pepper shakers and votive holders—all kinds of different things. I’ll do shows around the city and sell those there.
What trends do you see, and what are people gravitating toward with design or products? I think people are looking at reuse a lot. People don’t want some single-use bag. I’ve seen a lot of people maybe not buying as much, but when they do buy it, they want it to last. I’m glad I really don’t make anything that’s throwaway. Everything can last for years.
