$50+ USD

Georgia McGain-Harding is a traditional artist based in Kent, UK. The best way to contact her is through Facebook or Instagram @themushroombabes. She generally takes on 10 commissions at a time to be completed within 2 months, which keeps her waiting list simple and gives a clear deadline. Clients will receive the paper original (mailed to them) as well as a digital JPEG copy for their own private use. Prices start at $50.

“I've always been afraid to show my art, I've never felt like what I produce is good enough to build a business from and just kept it a hobby, so putting myself out in to the world to be criticized and judged was terrifying for me. Fortunately, the world embraced what I had to offer and has allowed me to pursue art as my full time career in a short space of time! 

The Mushroom Babes were born out of quarantine boredom. My partner and I had both been furloughed from our jobs and although our daughter kept us busy during the day, we were worried we would end up wasting evenings in front of the TV or simply become bored, so decided to set ourselves a little art challenges to complete each night. We would have random subjects and draw something based of of it. The first night our subject was mushrooms, and I drew my first Babe, my Fly Agaric. She was curvy and joyful and I loved her immediately, I knew I had to draw more! So I drew my Morel Babe, and then my Parasol Babe. It was important to me that they were unique, not just repeated bodies and faces, and that they represented the shape of the mushrooms themselves. I love the idea that the Babes could represent so many body types, as there are so many kinds of mushroom!”

Etsy: themushroombabes

Instagram: @themushroombabes

Facebook: themushroombabes

Email: themushroombabes@gmail.com

“Still scared to really show anyone, I posted them to a Facebook group, and oh boy, they received so much love!! People were asking if I was planning to sell prints of them, so (with a little convincing from my partner) I ordered some prints online, created an Etsy, turned my barely-used art Instagram page into The Mushroom Babes page, and The Mushroom Babes were born! Now I have people asking me to create portraits for them for weddings, Christmas, birthdays, tattoo designs, or simply because they want to be a Mushroom Babe themselves! Reading messages from people telling me my art helps them feel represented and beautiful makes my heart do cartwheels. 

Body positivity, fat positivity, diversity, and sustainability are all important to me on a personal level, and being able to channel that through my work has been an absolute pleasure. All my products are made from sustainable materials and either recycled or recyclable, even my pencils are sustainable wood! I also enjoy foraging and have since I was a little kid, and going on long walks and finding new mushrooms to inspire my art has been a really lovely way to incorporate my love of nature with my love of body positivity.”