New Name, New Look!
Fun variations of my Phoenix Gray logo.
Hello and welcome to my brand new website and blog! Not only did I create a new website and logo, I now go by a new name!
A lot has changed behind the scenes, so I thought I’d talk about it here.
The new name, logo and website is about taking my art practice and creative business further. You’ll find that my logo and “Art by Phoenix Gray” title provides a more cohesive look across all my online platforms. On this new website, you will find testimonials, images, videos, a donation page and links to other websites that were not available on my previous vanessaknott.art website. Overall, it just looks more professional.
A new name…
I had wanted to change my name for some time now, and I did so last month! Legally I am Vanessa Elizabeth Phoenix Gray, and no longer go by Vanessa Elizabeth Knott. I am both happy and thankful to those who have been open and supportive so far.
Gray is my grandmother’s maiden name, and Phoenix (a gender-neutral name), felt right to me. It was the idea of bringing back a family name that had vanished. My great grandmother had three daughters, and of course the Gray surname came to an end through the tradition of taking on the husband’s surname through marriage.
The name Phoenix, being gender-natural, is derived from the mythological bird of the same name. It has been the subject of many myths and beliefs across different cultures since ancient times. As an artist, I am naturally fascinated by this. A name that is not bound by place or time. Also, rekindling an old family name meant that Phoenix gave even more meaning to choosing Gray as my new surname.
Phoenix Gray is my third and last name, and now my chosen artist name. I will be going by Phoenix Gray publicly as an artist, and when trading and working creatively.
A new logo…
To welcome such a significant change, I designed a logo to go across all my online platforms. The phoenix image itself represents the beauty and simplicity of the mark-making and brushwork processes found in both my line and calligraphy work. As a symbol, it also reflects my name too! It’s good to have this easily recognisable image to signify who I am and what I do.
The final logo design was kindly developed and finalised by professional Freelance Graphic Designer Jason Waters. I am very pleased with how the logo turned out, and I am thankful for his help.
Thank you for taking the time to read this special update! A legal name change meant that I could not continue going by Vanessa Knott Visual Arts, but it created an exciting opportunity to have a refreshing “rebrand”.
Once again, thank you everyone for your ongoing support.
To keep up to date on the latest art and news, you can now sign up to The Art of Phoenix Gray newsletter. I promise not to overload your inboxes, so I will be sending out an engaging and informative newsletter once ever quarter. I look forward to sharing with you what I’ll be getting up to over the coming months!
All the best,
Phoenix Gray
