Rebecca Willoughby partners with the university Lion Athletic Association. Only 75 prints by WIlloughby were available to purchase. Courtesy of Rebecca Willoughby

Rebecca Willoughby, a Ponchatoula native, runs a business in the Hammond area where she uses her artistic abilities to represent the southeast Louisiana area.

Willoughby Studios offers a variety of prints from posters, to t-shirts and even handbags. She graduated from Ponchatoula High before pursuing an art degree at the university for three years. Willoughby then transferred to Atlanta for a year before finishing her degree at Louisiana State University. However, she chose to relocate back to Hammond.

“Hammond is just awesome with things to do,” said Willoughby. “There is Southeastern, and opportunities to explore. My oldest does sports, my middle child is in drama, and my youngest does dance and gymnastics. There is just so much to do.”

Willoughby knew from a young age that art was her calling.

“I always knew it was what I wanted to do,” said Willoughby. “Most of my art is animal related. I have a passion for animals and wildlife. I knew I was either going to be a veterinarian or an artist, and I don’t like seeing animals in pain. So I went for the art route.”

Willoughby likes to use her prints to emphasize Louisiana culture. Her art is also a way for her to give back to the community. 

In the past, she has created a print for the city of Hammond where the proceeds went toward the Restoration House. She also created a print for Ponchatoula High School where the proceeds benefited Ponchatoula High’s “Project Graduation.” Both were limited edition prints with only 1,000 available for purchase.

“Some are open edition and we’ll print as people order,” said Willoughby. “Others are more exclusive. Often times if we do one for a school, they’ll say they probably won’t be able to sell more than a certain amount, so we’ll tailor it to them.”

A print for the Southeastern football team went on sale Oct.13. It features Roomie standing on Strawberry Field with a helmet in the foreground as well as an American and Southeastern flag in the background. A portion of the proceeds from the print will go towards the Lion Athletic Association. The print is a limited edition, and by Oct.14 there were 55 prints out of 75 already reserved.

“How my creative process works is I usually think on what I want to do,” said Willoughby. “I’ll make sketches, and research buildings or animals. And I’ll put it together in a drawing. Then, I’ll go to the computer and utilize Photoshop, and put it all together. If I’m satisfied, then I’ll draw it out on a canvas, or a board. I use a lot of boards. I’ll tweak it as I go. When I’m done I’ll take the original and photograph it.”

Willoughby’s business has its own Facebook page under “Rebecca Willoughby Studios.” Her prints, including the university football print, are available to purchase from http://willoughbyartstudio.com/.