Episode 163: From Cancer to Full-Time Creator with Chris Lewis of BARITUS Catholic
What You’ll Find
Baritus Catholic (01:00)
So, as we all gear up for the fast approaching holiday season, Tiff and I wanted to highlight a few shops (and the people behind them!) so you can get some great ideas for gifts, and so WE can share some amazing fellow small businesses that we love.
Which brings us to Chris Lewis…he's a Catholic illustrator and the owner of BARITUS, a Catholic illustration studio devoted to creating works of art that “promote the Good, True and Beautiful of the Catholic Faith.”
Working in a digital medium, Chris is dedicated to bringing the Catholic Faith to life through illustration in a way that is reverent and true to the rich artistic legacy of the Catholic Church, with a unique modern style that resonates with the faithful today. Which I can attest to, because we've loved everything we've bought from him!
The Lewis Family (01:50)
Chris has been married to his wife for 22 years, and they have 5 children! The oldest just graduated high school, and they’ve homeschooled the entire time. They just moved to the country a year ago and now have a small homestead.
The Inspiration for BARITUS (02:30)
Chris has been an artist his whole life, he spent a lot of time drawing. He would do freelance work, which is what led him to graphic design. But there was always a nudge back to simple illustration.
Chris’ faith (he’s a Catholic convert) was part of his journey towards BARITUS. He gained experiences and KNEW he wanted to be an illustrator, but he didn’t know he wanted to be a Catholic illustrator.
A Diagnosis Turned Blessing (04:40)
Grace stepped in when Chris was diagnosed with lung cancer in his early 30’s, and in the recovery period, he began drawing. He realized that God brought him through the journey, and he could use his God-given talents in service to the faith.
BARITUS (06:00)
BARITUS began about 7 years ago in Chris’ “free” time after his 9-5 job. The social media account started shortly after and took off! Before he knew it, he had 2 full-time jobs and took a leap of faith and left the corporate marketing world to grow BARITUS.
Chris’ wife was integral in the beginning of BARITUS. As he was discerning his career change, she told him, “Do it, we’ll make it work!” And they did! Currently, his wife has taken over a large part of the business operations, and his daughter is involved as well.
Business Operations (09:45)
BARITUS is split between the shop and client work (publishers, parishes, and archdiocese). Chris’ daughter does fulfillment, his wife does the operations work, and Chris can do the artwork. Setting simple goals allows him to keep the business going and make the time to do the stuff he loves to do. Keeping up with social media gets difficult, but it’s an important part of the business where Chris interacts with his customers and clients.
Setting up for Success (11:45)
Chris and his wife begin the days with prayer and a cup of coffee together. He tries to seize the moment and use the mornings for the more involved projects (because it's more difficult to get work done in the afternoons). Chris is also a night-owl, so he gets some work done then as well.
Favorite Part of the Business (13:45)
Chris’ favorite part of BARITUS is illustrating. He’ll be in scripture, or reading the history of the Church and he’ll dive into that world and make it come alive. He also enjoys finding products that are new…papers people haven’t seen or materials that can be used in a different way. Those are the pieces of work that attract new clients and keep the business moving forward.
As a creator, Chris feels the best way to figure out a product is to begin with the end in mind…
Least Favorite Part of the Business (15:55)
The least enjoyable parts of the business are all the things Chris handed over to his wife (actually…she willingly took them off his hands). This is helpful in business (and in life in general), when you can find a person who has different gifts than you.
Product Offerings (17:25)
BARITUS began with smaller products like stickers…then expanded to glow in the dark and holographic stickers. Then Holy Cards were something that had to be a part of the business, because Chris enjoyed making decks of cards in art school.
T-shirts were also another product that came naturally due to Chris’ time in the apparel industry. He typically releases 2-3 t-shirts each month (he screen prints each of them, and they DO sell out pretty quickly).
There are also posters, phone cases, and Chris is always evaluating other product possibilities (so make sure to follow him on Instagram to stay up to date on new releases!)
Favorite Product (23:50)
The new Saint Paul & Saint Peter t-shirt is Chris’ favorite. When he found out that Saint Peter was the first pope, it’s one of the biggest parts of his conversion. Saint Peter is also the patron of BARITUS.
There’s something to love about all the products for Chris, because he really enjoys the glow in the dark Saint Michael sticker as well.
Chris gets so many comments about the t-shirts especially, even from non-religious people. The business is a way to promote the Catholic faith with beauty that can speak right to the heart (rather than needing to be argumentative).
Best Sellers (25:20)
BARITUS sells more stickers than anything (college kids love them!) but the t-shirts are the most in demand. People keep coming back to the shop for the t-shirts. Perhaps the limited supply is what keeps the demand higher. There’s a bit more work that goes into the t-shirts (because there ARE limitations for colors and details).
Future Projects (27:05)
There is a book in the works, and while Chris can’t share the details, he CAN say that it is something he will get to in the coming year. The t-shirt (with Saints Peter & Paul) is something he WILL put in the shop.
Products that Didn't Make the Cut (28:20)
Two products didn’t make the cut. The first was masks during COVID. Many people asked Chris to make them, but he didn’t feel it fit with his company. He also receives requests for patches, and they’re pretty difficult to produce. A difficult part of running a Catholic business is meeting the demand for products of lesser-known or less-popular Saints.
A's to Our Q's (30:15)
One thing that makes the Lewis family unique is that they’re homeschoolers living (and learning on a farm). They also run a family business together.
The go-to dinner in a pinch or backup meal in the household is loaded nachos or burritos, not only because they’re delicious, but they’re easy and it’s hard to get sick of them. Breakfast for dinner is another hit with the kids.
Chris’ guilty pleasure is a really rich dark bourbon-aged Belgian beer, and he enjoys working with wood and doing carpentry.
The favorite book that Chris has never read is The Divine Comedy (he hadn’t found a good translation until his priest supplied him with one recently), he read it every day on vacation and it was everything he knew it would be.
The product that Chris has gifted or given away the most would have to be the stickers (in the beginning), but lately, it’s been more posters.
More from BARITUS
You can find all the products on the BARITUS website, and you can keep up with Chris and BARITUS on Instagram!
