Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerri Brown.
Hi Kerri, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m Kerri, the creator, designer, and maker behind Skullywagg. The brand originates from my quirky love of Jolly Roger flags and pirates combined with my passion for dogs, hence the wordplay on “scallywag”. My creative journey began at a young age with a love of drawing and block printing. My first block printing designs were in grade school using foam trays and a pencil which eventually transitioned into linoleum carvings. I have continued to grow and evolve with the block printing process. More recently, it has led me toward textile design and printmaking. I originally grew the brand with commissioned pet portrait paintings and slowly branched out into a full line of giftware and stationary. I continued my art and printmaking as a hobby and in 2025 officially launched the Skullywagg brand. I now participate in local markets on the Eastern Shore, have my art on display at The Market at Dover Station in Easton, MD, The Artisans’ Gallery in St. Micheals, MD, as well as have my designs available online at Skullywagg.com.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a long road with lots of detours and speed bumps along the way. Transitioning a lifelong hobby into a business requires significant commitment and courage. I moved to the Eastern Shore over two years ago not knowing anyone or anything about this area. Soon after moving here, I stepped out of my comfort zone and committed to my first pop-up market with the encouragement and support of a total stranger, now a friend. We met doing a “meet and greet” for a pet sitting gig. Julie convinced me that my work was worthy enough and that she would be by my side at the market if I needed her. After the market (and only selling 2 items), she also convinced me to submit an application along with samples of my work to The Market at Dover Station, a new market that was opening in Easton, MD. I have been privileged enough to be a vendor there since they opened in 2024 and eventually had my work in multiple stores in the Baltimore area and the Eastern Shore. With the incredible support from the “maker” community across Maryland and my boyfriend’s (Andrew) constant encouragement reminding me of how many people love my work and have it hanging in their homes, I haven’t waved the flag. Believe me, there were many times I wanted to give up. It has all helped my confidence to lay the foundation and continue to successfully build my business. As a business owner and working solo, there are so many hats to wear. Building a website, sales, merchandising, and advertising are just a few jobs I’ve had to learn and/or teach myself along the way while still designing and printing everything by hand. Another continuous struggle is filtering through what designs and products fit each market. One thing that is popular on the Eastern Shore isn’t necessarily the same in Baltimore. I’ve had so many grand ideas and believed it would be the next big seller, sell none and then have to pivot to something else. It’s everchanging, so I have to be too!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am most proud of my pet portraits because they are so personal, detailed, and satisfying. Unfortunately with AI now, anyone can create that style of art in seconds vs. the weeks it takes me to paint one. I do still accept commissions but have recently shifted my focus to design and block printing. Lately, I have been exploring the combination of my two passions by carving pet portraits in block and printing them, rather than painting them on canvas. If you are unfamiliar with block printing, it is the traditional technique of printmaking where an image is hand carved in a block of material like wood, rubber, or linoleum. Then a rubber brayer is used to coat the carving with ink and transferred onto a surface like paper or fabric by hand or a press. Everything I do is by hand and in small batches so it sets me apart from screen printers and digital artists that use vinyl transfers or stencils. For me, this shift is about bringing art into everyday life. I love that my work feels personal, and makes people smile. With my hand carved block printed art and textiles, I can still offer unique art that is not only functional, but also affordable. I love creating designs that are simple enough to complement almost anyone’s style while still having enough personality to make people smile. My favorite reaction is when someone sees a design and immediately says, “That reminds me of someone,” or “I know someone who would love this.” That connection is exactly what I hope to create.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is my first block print of a girl holding flowers that I had carved out of a foam tray that came from some sort of food packaging. I made it for a school project to print an illustration along with a poem my sister wrote.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.skullywagg.com
- Instagram: @skullywaggart
- Other: https://skullywagg.myshopify.com/
