With over 2,500+ manufactured and licensed products and a large social media following, Engelbreit is notable for her success because she didn't go to art school and she didn't go to business school, yet she's developed a unique and recognizable artistic style and built a small empire that pulls in around $4 million a year. That's a rare feat for a working artist.
In the Beginning
From the age of 11, Engelbreit says she knew she wanted to be an artist. Born and raised in St. Louis, where her Mary Engelbreit Studio is based, she was inspired by artists who created illustrations for children's books, particularly the late Joan Walsh Anglund. By the time she was in high school, Engelbreit was selling hand-drawn greeting cards to a local shop.
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