Meet Leigha Woody

We had the good fortune of connecting with Leigha Woody and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leigha, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was taking a couple months of medical leave from my full-time job after having top surgery and decided to put my art degree to queer use to beat the boredom of not being able to do much.

I wanted to create fun, queer merch that represents a specific group of the queer community: those who are active, sporty, and outdoors.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m an artist at my core, but I’ve struggled in life to earn any substantial money from my work and over time, oil paintings pile up in corners, lino prints fill boxes, and tubs of collage materials takeover spare bedrooms. I reached a point where I pretty much gave up on being a visual artist because the time and money it takes to make it was seeing no reward in profits and I only have so much space to store things I can’t sell. Over the years, I’ve used different mediums for my work but found myself landing at digital art more frequently because it requires much less physical space to create. Photography became more experimental, collages moved from physical to digital platforms, and graphic design work began to be a cost-effective creative outlet. So, designing t-shirts and accessories became my new work.

My artwork has always been queer focused and political. That’s the part of it (to me) that gives my work meaning and power. By pivoting that into designs that also help pay bills, I feel like I can finally say I’ve found a creative avenue that others enjoy buying and wearing just as much as I enjoy creating them.

Being an artist in today’s society is hard. And trying to do it in a way that’s profitable is even harder, but it’s not impossible. It takes time and patience and continuing to believe in yourself and your art. Finding the niche that fits you and gives you purpose or is simply fun to do is important. Following the crowd or the latest fad is overrated. I used to chase them all to make a buck, but I’ve given up now. I stick to my own style and what I know I’m good at and find spaces that have the same values as me.

I don’t have a traditional storefront or even a studio anymore. I take my queer art to queer spaces so I can connect with other queer people. It’s genuinely that simple.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m still discovering the gems of South Carolina, specifically around Columbia. So far, I’ve enjoyed kayaking at Lake Murray and visiting Congaree National Park.

I love supporting queer businesses in the area like Queer Haven Books (who also sells some of my merch) and attending events at the Harriet Hancock Center.

My partner and I love The Hoot and Art Bar and enjoy finding more local coffee shops to try.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve only recently moved to South Carolina from Illinois. Getting plugged into the Harriet Hancock Center in Columbia has been a huge blessing, allowing me to make connections with other trans and folx, opening up business opportunities, and making new friends. The HHC has been a huge asset to making this transition smoother and boost my small business.

Website: gaydayoutdoors.etsy.com

Instagram: @gaydayoutdoors

Facebook: @gaydayoutdoors

Other: https://mailchi.mp/cb74720c6dd4/gay-day-outdoors?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZRseCMAuRfAwS4N3O_rx4woQ1eS7r5q68P6i8fPrxHIrVciSePNxmONAg_aem_aZPKq-8lsTcPZ0fXu9XrBw