Occupation: Artist
Website: www.torihiga.com and www.torihiga.blogspot.com
Biography: Tori Higa started her own handmade greeting card company in 2004. Her cards have been sold to over 300 stores and boutiques including Anthropologie, Kate’s Paperie, and Urban Outfitters Europe. Her work has also been seen in the pages of InStyle, Country Home, Jane, and the “O List” of O Magazine. In addition to her handmade line, she has recently started illustrating stationery for Cardstore.com and has an exciting design collaboration in the works with a non-profit organization called International Sanctuary (where her handmade card designs will directly help survivors of human trafficking in India). She lives a happy and creative life in Southern California with her husband, Branden, and young son.

What do you do and how did you start?
I design greeting cards and stationery. I started with a very small collection of about twelve handmade cards and brought them to three different stationery stores I had scouted out. Two of the three buyers placed orders on the spot. Because of the initial encouragement, I filled the orders, designed a slightly larger collection, and quickly applied to exhibit in a couple of trade shows in order to make more sales and grow my business.

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do and how old were you when you actually began.
I always knew that I wanted to grow up to do something creative. It wasn’t until my first “real” job after college (as a textile designer) that I started obsessing over greeting card design and longing to break into that industry. So I guess I was around 23 when I specifically wanted to become a stationery artist and I was 26 when I officially took that leap.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I definitely took baby steps. I took various art classes in the beginning and did a lot of personal artwork I thought would be suitable for greeting card illustration. I did a lot of research before I finally ventured out on my own. When I felt ready I invested a small amount of money into some supplies, designed my first collection, and started showing my work.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
While attending community college I worked part time at As You Wish (one of those pottery painting places) where I worked on the floor helping customers pick their pieces and in the back with the glazes and kiln. That was the first place I was given the opportunity to do custom artwork. I had an amazing and supportive boss who let me paint samples for the store and out of that came custom design projects on the side. She even had me paint a mural in the store which led to more commissioned art opportunities. At nineteen years old that little part time job coupled with the custom work on the side showed me that people would actually pay me for my art and creativity and that being an artist is a valid profession and the path I am supposed to take.

I went on to earn an art degree from Pepperdine University (where I remember a professor telling me that my paintings were “too cute” and “sweet with sugar on top” – which I guess is a compliment if you want to design greeting cards). After I graduated, I worked as a textile designer for Milliken Carpet, designing carpet patterns for large public spaces and corporate offices. I learned so much about how to be a designer at that job. I’m so thankful for that experience – especially getting to work alongside such inspirational and talented women.

The most relevant job that I had before I started my company was working as a handmade card manufacturer for Studio Daedre, an established stationery company who produces handmade cards and other stationery items with the lino block printing technique. Daedre was truly a great mentor. I learned so much about the ins and outs of working in a small business – so much so that I swore I would NEVER start my own company. It just seemed like way too much work and way too many hats to wear. At that time I really only wanted to be an artist – and not a business owner. I guess a lot of artists who start a company are reluctant business owners at first.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
The very first thing I did was make appointments with buyers to show my designs at local stores. Because selling is not my strong suit, I did a local trade show (Los Angeles) and a few months later did the Stationery Show in NY, which really took my company to the next level

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding aspect to what I do is being able to be creative as well has make my own hours – especially now that I am a mother, being able to work when my baby sleeps is key. The most frustrating part is not having enough time in the day to get everything done.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
My biggest fear has always been dealing with the business side of things. I consider myself an artist and not a businessperson. My way of dealing with this has been a long process but I have reached the solution to the best of my ability at this time, which is that I know what my weaknesses are and that it’s OK to have weaknesses. So I just get the help that I need in the areas that aren’t my strengths and try to focus on the areas that ARE my strengths. Basically my sweet husband does the books – I wouldn’t be here without him.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
If I am experiencing a creative block chances are that I have been sitting in front of a computer way too long and not really getting out much. So the first thing I usually do is get out into the world and start observing and absorbing what is going on. In other words, I people watch and trend spot. Another thing I do is just start sketching – the subject matter isn’t important as long as I can put pencil to paper and am drawing just for the love of drawing.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
My biggest struggle has been trying to do too much. I have the tendency to work too long of hours if left to my own accord which leads to burn out. And that’s not pretty. Having a baby definitely helped change that because a baby needs you whether you have deadlines or not. Suddenly the concept of a “greeting card emergency” seemed rather funny to me. I always knew logically that we all need to have a healthy balance in our lives, but it wasn’t until I had my baby that I learned that first hand.

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have a home office/studio that is separate from the rest of the main living space. That makes such a huge difference for me – no longer do we have envelope boxes stacked up in the bedroom like that first year of business! Now work and personal life don’t get mixed up as much and there is more balance and order in my life – not that my studio is always clean and organized by any means – but it’s freeing to actually have a creative space.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
I think that all small businesses – especially those that are product driven as opposed to service driven – have financial obstacles. Mine is no exception. There actually seem to be a lot of obstacles in my experience – i.e.: stores not paying for their goods when they are supposed to and sometimes (rarely) not ever paying, a large corporate store cancelling their order after you have already put up the money to get the order filled specifically for them (this only happened once to me and thankfully I was able to sell it to another chain and move the inventory anyway – phew!) having to put up large amounts of money in products that you don’t know are going to sell or not, needing to re-invest your profits in your business when you really just want to go and drink a fancy latte and do some shopping like a normal person.

The way I try to overcome those obstacles is to focus on what I do best which is create artwork. The minute I try to guess what is going to sell and invest my money there, I end up loosing in the end. Nothing I have ever designed because a sales rep told me to or I thought I needed to for whatever reason has sold well for me. When I create from the heart, that’s when I make sales as well. Go figure. Also, because my work is handmade, I am able to manufacture things based on individual orders as opposed to having a lot of inventory sitting around which really helps for cash flow. As far as late payments go, I now only work with reps that I trust and that go after those sneaky stores for me (also, getting a valid credit card when the order is placed helps a lot) Lastly, I have recently been learning to overcome those obstacles by focusing more on design and less on manufacturing. Because my priorities have changed a bit after a baby, I now believe my time is much better spent doing custom work (which I love), creating art for art’s sake, and partnering with other manufacturers instead of trying to do it all on my own.

What is your definition of success?
I think that success can be defined as having integrity in what you do. You should have the same integrity in your professional life as you do in your personal life. You may not be “successful” in the corporate world’s eyes if you don’t make a ton of money, but I really believe that as long as you don’t compromise your basic moral structure that you are a bigger success than someone who does shady business deals just to make an extra buck. So if you treat everyone with respect or turn down a big job because of a personal conviction that you can’t ignore, you can count yourself as very successful in your career – and you can sleep well at night, too.

Who or what are your inspirations?
I find inspiration in anything vintage. I especially love vintage textiles – the patterns, colors, textures – everything about the design. I also love mid century fashion. If it was socially acceptable (or practical in any way shape or form) I would walk around with enormous hats, sunglasses, costume jewellery, and three inch heels twenty four seven. But instead, those items just tend to show up in my artwork.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.

Try to carve out a little time for your creative pursuits – even if it’s just a few hours a week. Those few hours can make all the difference. I’ve always been “athletically challenged” to say the least, but I do love NIKE and their famous motto: Just Do It. That’s what you have to do to achieve any creative goal. I say that it’s great to have lots of ideas and daydreams, but if you really want to live your creative ideal you have to make time to do it and not just daydream about doing it. You literally have to Just Do It…and the rest will work itself out.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organisations etc.?
There are so many fantastic business sources and inspirational venues for artists and crafters these days. Hmmm…where to start…

First of all, I really love all of the resources on Another Girl At Play – and I’m not just saying that! There is a wealth of information as well as inspiration here.

My current favourite blog for inspiration and motivation is Creative Thursday; I love Marisa’s art, love her pod casts, and love her insights.

Speaking of pod casts, Craft Sanity is really great for inspiration as well. ()

I have also really been enjoying the Lilla Rogers blog lately.  Click on “thoughts” on the right and scroll down to the title “Can Artists Make a Living?” on the left for an especially good blog entry.

I also love the book Craft Inc, by Meg Mateo Ilasco. I only wish I knew about this book before I started my creative journey – although it was still helpful and inspirational in the midst of it.

Her illustrations clients include Citibank, Anthropologie, Pottery Barn, Gymboree and Ikea, among others. Lorena has written and illustrated several children’s books, the first
one to be released in 2008.

What do you do and how did you start?
I own a company called Petit Collage that sells handmade modern wall decor. I license…I also have a career as an illustrator.

How old were you when you realized you wanted to do and how old were you when you actually began?
I always thought I wanted to be a graphic designer. I started very young during high school, taking classes after school. I later obtained my BA, and opened a Design firm in downtown Buenos Aires. In 2001, when I was 25, I moved to NY. I worked as an art director in the gift publishing industry, and slowly started to build my illustration career on the side. In 2006, I moved to San Francisco and decided to spend more time doing artwork, and less time in the corporate world. Soon after I started my Petit Collage line and dedicated more time to
illustration.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I set up websites pretty early in the game, which was the best decision ever. I feel that a site is the best tool to let people know what you do, but also it is a good way to invent yourself. As you make decisions on website contents, you make decisions in what you have to offer, and you define yourself. It’s a good exercise.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I have a bachelor degree i graphic design. Business wise, my father who is a marketing consultant was a great inspiration and help through the years. Owning my design firm back in Argentina taught me methods of organization and managing that I now apply in my business. Working for Mudpuppy/Galison for 5 years in NY was a huge experience is understanding the American market, I also learned a lot about publishing, licensing and manufacturing. As an art director hiring talent I was lucky to be in the other side of the negotiating table.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
I made a couple of collages for a baby shower, and realized that the idea had potential. I had an upcoming trip to NY, and took a couple of pieces to stores in Brooklyn, and got orders right away.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding is my everyday life in the studio, doing what I love. Also when see my books printed, my art in stores like Anthropologie, I get very excited. The most frustrating fluctuates, sometimes is cash flow, sometimes is legal worries, but mostly is lack
of time.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I have fears related with the liabilities, that come with owning your own business, but in general I’m a wishful thinker borderline in denial, so I just plunge ahead.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
I sit down for hours with a cup of tea and look and my many vintage books, and voila! inspired again.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
Right now I’m wondering if I should move to a bigger space, to expand my line, which will imply a much bigger rent, and possibly not a walking commute. Tough decisions!

What kind of work environment do you have?
I work in a sunny studio in the mission district in San Francisco, it overlooks a garden, it is ten blocks from my home, and i love it.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
I was lucky to have a smooth transition from part time employment. My business is new and doing well so far.

What is your definition of success?
It will have to be a cheesy “doing what you love” answer. Personally i would like to separate myself more from what I do, because I could be working 7 days a week and be happy, but my loved ones don’t seem to think that’s such a good idea.

Who or what are your inspirations?
Mid century designers including Girard, Eames, Nelson. Scandinavian patterns. Japanese everything. American and French vintage children’s books. Graphic magazines from the seventies.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals:
Be original. Don’t procrastinate. Set goals. Make a website. Tell others. Ask for help. Truly believe in what you do, and don’t undersell yourself, even if you are just starting. Ah, and the most important one, which I’m still working on: Learn to say no.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organisations etc.?
Be original. Don’t procrastinate. Set goals. Make a website. Tell others. Ask for help. Truly believe in what you do, and don’t undersell yourself, even if you are just starting. Ah, and the most important one, which I’m still working on: Learn to say no.

For inspiration I love:

• http://www.designspongeonline.com/
• http://bkids.typepad.com/
• http://www.book-by-its-cover.com/

For legal help

• http://nolo.com/
• http://www.gag.org/

What do you do and how did you start?
I am a collage artist and designer who runs my own online shop. I sell my own greeting card line, collage prints, ephemera and design services.

I first got started when a friend took me to her rubber stamp club and I found a piece of vintage sheet music on the table. I grabbed it and spent the whole night cutting it up and using it in little collages — I never even touched a rubber stamp or ink while I was there! The next day I went to an antique shop and found a box of old sheet music for five dollars… the rest, as they say, is history!

How old were you when you realized you wanted to do and how old were you when you actually began?
Since before I can remember I was always cutting up magazines and collaging them together on journals or poster board to hang in my room. I grew up with a creative mother who did craft shows and sold creations made from seashells. It was always a hobby for her, never something she considered as a career so I never really took being creative seriously. Then I found myself creating nonstop after the rubber stamp club night and I started showing people my work. I got such a positive response and several requests to purchase my work so I decided to pursue it. When I first started selling my creations in the summer of 2005 I had just turned 33.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I really did not plan it out, it just all fell into place for me. I got a lot of encouragement from friends who are creative and have their own businesses, and they suggested that I start slow to see how I liked it and how my products would be received. I created a website for myself and offered a couple prints of my collages that I printed myself (I spent hours researching and testing papers to get something high quality). Since I got such a very favourable response, I slowly added more and more products.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I took one art class in collage which helped give me a basic foundation for design, but other than that I have no formal training. I am self taught.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
I created a website, which in itself was a fun and creative project. I then had two good friends help with the item descriptions… one is in marketing, the other a journalism major and they were more than happy to help. I started out just selling prints of my collages and was so shocked when people started purchasing them. Soon after, I moved onto postcards and eventually greeting cards. Some of my first customers, who have seen me grow in products and style, still shop with me today! I am always adding new items as I discover them within me.

I actually love the selling aspect of the business as much as creating the products. I love re-doing my website design and thinking up new ways to market my items. I feel lucky that I’ve taken to both creating the items and running the shop.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The emails from happy customers are always wonderfully rewarding to receive. As a shop owner I strive to offer excellent service. The emails from other artists or people just starting out, finding their creative side, thanking me for being so inspiring, warms my heart and makes it all worth while. The frustrating thing for me is getting my name, work and product lines out there in a world forever dominated by large mass-market companies.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
My biggest fear is that some day what I love to do will turn sour for me, and end up being a heartless means to paying the bills. I really try to focus on the here and now and make decisions for Paper Relics with this in mind. So as I grow as a person, artist and company, I can stay on track and true to myself.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
When I get blocked while working in cut and paste collage, it is time for me to switch to digital work and vice versa. It’s as though I need to do both, and when the balance is tipped one way or the other I just need to change gears. If I am blocked by both, I find that joining a group project helps get me going again. Also picking up my camera and viewing the world through the lens for an hour or afternoon is always refreshing and inspiring and jump starts me.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
My biggest challenge is creating my own niche in the creative world. I am constantly getting off track and looking for that one place I can fit into comfortably instead of working on making a niche of my own.

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have a home studio that I love. It is filled with artwork from all sorts of artists so that when I walk in to start on a project I am always amazed and inspired.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
I really have a lot of ideas that I would love to implement if I had more money to spend. Then again, a year ago there were things I am doing now that were not financially possible, so who knows what I will be able to accomplish a year from today!

What is your definition of success?
Being happy with what I do and who I am in all aspects of my life. I feel strongly that all the aspects of my life are connected – if I am unhappy personally, I find I do not put in 110 percent to my company. So finding balance in my life and being happy is the best definition of success for me.

Who or what are your inspirations?
Oh… So many! Photography really inspires me, the moments Robert Doisneau captured in his work makes my imagination soar. New Orleans makes me see creatively, it was the first place I really discovered my eye for photography which has played a major role in my work today. I love old typology and graphics. The huge network of online blogs and websites of artists small and large. Artist Maggie Taylor. My closet friends. That first warm day of the year. Cupcakes… I could go on and on!

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals:
Follow your heart– It will not lead you astray. Sounds so simple, I know, but I spent such a long time fighting what my heart was telling me and all it did was cause confusion and pain. Once I started paying attention to what my heart wanted, things started to fall into place for me. It is so much easier following the dreams you truly want. You do not put in everything you can when you are chasing false dreams and goals.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organisations etc.?
I find most art, photography, craft books, and magazines to be an inspiration. I love going to the bookstore and just browsing through books as they catch my fancy. The same goes for the internet. Find one blog that interests you and you can lose the whole night following link after link to one inspirational place after another.

What do you do and how did you start?
i draw with colored pens, and sew with various sewing machines! my favorite materials are paper and fabric, though occassionally other types of materials sneak their way into the limited edition stationery and fabric accessories i make.

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do and how old were you when you actually began?
ever since i was small i wanted to be a grown up, draw or make things all day, have a dog and live by a beach and a redwood forest. i have 3 out of 4 of those things now, almost there!

What steps did you take to create your own business?
what i do full-time now is what i’ve always done on nights and weekends after the day jobs. making things gradually took up more and more of my time, and gradually began paying the bills. i still augment my blissen income with other freelance jobs.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
i avoided the “real world” as much as possible by going back to school whenever whatever latest day job i had became too tedious to bear. all of my degrees have been in design: fashion, illustration, design theory, and most of my jobs have been in small companies or freelance.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
i’ve always worn clothes or accessories i’ve made myself, and often would be asked to make more by friends or strangers. it wasn’t until i got my own website and the ccnow payment system, and later paypal came along, that i realized the possibility of having my own “line” or “company.” if it weren’t for the internet, i don’t think i would be where i am now!

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
the most rewarding thing about being self employed is that i can set my own schedule. i’m braindead between 3 – 6 pm, so that’s when i slack off or run errands. i’m most math/planning productive in the morning and most creative at night. generally i love what i do and am thrilled to finally be able to do it just about all day and night, everyday. sometimes i try not to work so much and have a “normal” life with friends and weekends off and vacations and such, but then quickly get bored or broke and get back to work!

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
there’s always the fear of having to return to a crappy day job again, which just makes me work harder!

How do you deal with creative blocks?
i have years of sketchbooks of ideas so i can always consult those. but, generally, my problem is too many ideas and not enough time and money to see them all through!

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
balancing time and money!

What kind of work environment do you have?
my sewing studio is in what’s supposed to be the master bedroom of my converted live/work space, the shipping area is in what’s supposed to be the kitchen/ dining room, and i do all my drawing on the couch in front of the tv at night.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
as i said before, if it weren’t for the internet i probably would not be able to do what i do! before the internet came along, having a small business like mine took a lot more money to start up and maintain. also credit cards have been a big help when orders come in that i don’t have the cash flow to produce.

What is your definition of success?
living where you want to live, doing what you want to do, surrounded by people you want to be surrounded by.

Who or what are your inspirations?
i like to go for walks or hikes, or travel, or read non-fiction books or magazines. anything that gets me out of my usual routine.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals:
i didn’t realize until very recently how helpful it is to make a plan with concrete goals to reach, and outline steps on how to get there from where you are presently. strangely, that’s not something that was really taught in all my years of design school, but it’s the most helpful tip i’ve learned on my own.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organisations etc.?
for essential business and legal stuff, check out the books on nolo.com; for essential graphic design/ illustration business practices check out the graphic artist’s handbook from gag.org. you can also borrow these from any good library if you’re short on funds.

Occupation: Designer and Author
Website: Tera Leigh
Biography: Tera Leigh is the author of The Complete Book of Decorative Painting (North Light Books). She is spokesperson (and co-developer) of the Paintability line of painting products, and the Robert Simmons Sapphire brush line. She also writes columns for four painting magazines, and has had her designs published in many craft and home decor magazines.

What do you do and how did you start?
My first book, The Complete Book of Decorative Painting, was released in October 2001. I currently write columns for PaintWorks and Decorative Artist’s Workbook, and will be adding columns in Quick and Easy Painting and Tole World magazines. I also freelance for many other magazines.

I committed myself to becoming an artist in 1999. My first creative goals were to create a product line and write a reference book to make it easier for people to learn how to paint. I have a real passion for creativity and I want to create products that encourage people to use and explore their own creative potential.

During the transition between my “grown up” job and my dream of being an artist, I wrote a “personal manifesto” of sorts about creativity and living the life you were meant to live. I did it as a way to think through what I really believed about what I could be and what others expected of me. That became a website called “Tera’s Wish” and I continue to explore the topic in a free quarterly newsletter.

My personal motto is borrowed from Virgil, “Fortune Favors the Bold”. I believe that means that if you put your honest intention out to the universe and are willing to follow it up with work, God will honor it. Within six months, I had a book deal with North Light books (for the largest book they’d ever produced) and a product manufacturing deal (with a business partner, Tracia Williams) for a line of painting products. That product (Paintability) won the 2001 Product of the Year award from Craftrends at the Hobby Industry Association convention.

In 1995, I started an online group for decorative painters. That experience connected me with some of the pioneers of the decorative painting industry and they were incredibly generous with their time and knowledge of the industry. It was that online “networking” that gave me the industry support and knowledge to get started.

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do what you’re currently doing and how old were you when you actually began/What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?/How steps did you take to create your own business?
There is a joke in my family that my father told me that I could be anything I wanted to be but that I misheard him and thought he said “everything” I wanted to be. My first job was as a make up artist, then I became and Esthetician, then a secretary, then a law clerk, then attorney.

I loved being a make up artist but my mom wanted me to get my license so that I could work in a salon (which I did not enjoy). I was not very confident as a teenager and pretty much followed what my parents wanted me to do. Eventually I went to work in my father’s law office and became an attorney myself. I loved school – but I hated being an attorney. Living in a world that was all about confrontation and argument was really not healthy for me. I felt myself becoming more and more aggressive.

Happily I met my husband and he wanted to start an internet firm and I quit law and used my business knowledge to help him run it. That gave me flexible hours to explore my own creativity again. He also introduced me to Photoshop and web design. I had discovered decorative painting in 1993 and really fell in love with it. I was blessed to find a man who was more interested in my personal happiness than the money I could contribute to the relationship as an attorney. He encouraged me to take more time for my art. He is a rare gem and I thank God for him everyday.

The real turning point for me was the death of my best friend. In 1998, Debbie was diagnosed with cancer. She had been visiting me when she thought she had an infection. None of us ever dreamed she was seriously ill, and within six months she was dead. She was 42, I was 35. It was devastating. Throughout her illness she kept telling me that I should not take my life and talents for granted but I just didn’t want to hear it. When I got the news of her death, which was from complications of the chemo and was unexpected, I suddenly heard her loud and clear.

I had been in the habit of doing a “goal setting” workshop with myself three or four times a year. About two weeks after her death I sat down and reviewed my goals, and realized that I had been making goals that would make the people in my life happy. After all, I couldn’t just walk away from my law degree and leave “business” for “art”, could I? Well, it turned out that I could, and I did. The irony is that I probably use my law degree knowledge more now than I did answering the same questions over and over in a law office!

After a lot of tears, I sat down and wrote out the first “real” set of goals I probably had ever written. By “real” I mean goals that truly resonated with me – not things I thought would make the people in my life happy. I took them to my husband – and I was really nervous because I knew what I was proposing would mean that I would eventually leave the business we had started together. He could not have been more supportive. When I told him I wanted to write a book he took me to a big book store and together we went through all the craft and home decor books to find a list of three publishers that would be my “first choice” for my book.

From there, I wrote a book proposal and told everyone I knew in the industry that I wanted to write a reference book. (I mean it literally when I said “put your intention out there”!) On the day I was ready to send my book proposal out to my first choice – North Light Books, I got a phone call. It was from an Editor at North Light. They were looking for someone to write a reference book on decorative painting and my name had come up. I asked for her fax number and sent her the outline I had already written. It was a magical day!

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I have very little art training. I studied make up at Joe Blasco in Hollywood. That was an amazing experience and much of what I know about art came from the many talented teachers at the school.

I do believe that my doctorate in law is helpful in terms of my business success. When you are an artist, issues of copyright, intellectual property rights such as licensing, contracts, etc. come up on a regular basis. In general, I have been able to negotiate better contracts for myself simply because I understand business and contract negotiations. As much as I did not enjoy being a lawyer, I would not trade that experience for anything.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
“Fortune Favors the Bold!” If you want to become known, you have to be willing to put yourself out there. That can be extremely daunting because as artists and writers our work is so very personal. Just the other day someone said to me, “I wouldn’t give you .50 cents for that!” referring to a table I had painted. Yikes! Happily, just a week or two before I had been offered $8,000.00 for the same table. You have to take the good with the bad and not take it personally. (To that end, I recommend reading Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” and Don Miguel Ruiz’ “The Four Agreements”.)

The first step to marketing is to get your work seen. I go to the Hobby Industry Association and Society of Craft Designers conventions. I have a website that showcases my writing and artwork. I create and send out visually interesting and unique press kits for the HIA convention and anytime I have a new book or product to promote. I write to and follow up with magazine editors and television producers after I meet them at the shows. I keep good notes of my conversations and use Microsoft Outlook to create reminders to follow up when I say I will. As a result I’ve gained a reputation for being reliable and for making my deadlines.

I personally think you have to be fairly aggressive with your marketing. I don’t mean obnoxious – that will get you nowhere – but you can’t assume that your publisher or manufacturer is going to make sales happen. You have to take responsibility for the success of your product and work with those companies to maximize the PR that you get. One of the best things that I did early on was to hand-write a short letter to people I met at conventions. I would recap our conversation and tell them how much I enjoyed meeting them, etc. People get so few hand-written letters anymore that they made an impact. Being aggressive means putting the time in to follow up with every lead you get. Many – maybe even most – will go no where, but occasionally you will get a “hit” and that is what starts a career.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
Getting an email, or meeting in person, people who have read my book and/or column and felt encouraged by them to get moving with their own creativity is an awesome gift. Knowing that you are making a difference is the best reward I know.

The most frustrating?
I find it very frustrating when people do not value or respect art. Sadly, most freelance designers make little money. (There are exceptions, so hang in there!) It is even more frustrating to see the copyright infringement that goes on online!

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
My biggest struggle is dealing with both the business and art side of work. I spend as much or more time on dealing with paperwork, accounting, and PR than I do on my art. My solution to this has been to hire a virtual assistant (we work together online and she is an independent contractor.), an accountant, a literary agent, etc. Although it was scary at first to pay the money out (or share my percentage), I am actually making more money now that I have more time to do what I do best, and let others do what they do best as they can do it faster and more efficiently. It also takes an emotional burden off my shoulders, and that helps me be more creative and productive!

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have a home studio for my design work. I like to write in bed using my laptop, with lots of pillows behind me, and dogs and cats strewn about all over my reference books and papers.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
There is no way I would be doing what I am doing without the financial support of my husband. I went “full time” as an artist in May of 2000. This year will be the first that I make a profit.

What is your definition of success?
An experience is a success if I learn from it. I believe that successful people are those who make a difference with their lives.

Who or what are your inspirations?
I believe that success is like a path. Every person down it tramples down the foliage a bit making it easier for the next person to walk down it. I am inspired by the stories of Tracy Porter, SARK, Mary Engelbreit, Queen Oprah. I am also inspired by my mother, Marie Gemmil, who is the most generous person I’ve ever met, and my sister, Tonya Mills, who has followed in my mother’s footsteps. Priscilla Hauser (“First Lady of Decorative Painting”) has been my creative mentor since I entered the painting industry and is one of the most incredible women I’ve ever been blessed to meet.

Favorite books: The Artist’s Way (Julia Cameron), The Four Agreements (Don Miguel Ruiz), How Much Joy Can You Stand (Suzanne Falter-Barnes), 12 Secrets of Highly Creative Women (Gail McMeekin) . . . I could go on and on. I love to read!

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but . . . “Fortune Favors the Bold!” If you ask for something and the reply is “no” you aren’t any worse off than you are right now without it. There is no reason not to get started.

Make a difference every day. The best way to survives the inevitable creative slumps is to do something that makes a difference to others. One of my projects was to start a memory box program to provide boxes to for infant bereavement in hospitals. I learned that many hospitals don’t even have a counselor on staff and women were being sent home with their babies effects in a bio-hazard bag! I believe that the best way to repay what your creativity gives to you is to turn around and use it to benefit someone else. I also believe that people who are using their creativity are among the most generous on the planet. We started in 1998 and to date we have provided over 30,000 boxes – free of charge – to hospitals.

My father used to tell a story when people would talk to him about wanting to go to law school. I’m sure it is an old story with lots of variations, but this was his. “A woman wanted to learn piano but after her first lesson she was very frustrated. She told her instructor, “do you know how old I will be when I finally master this?” The response was “the same age you will be if you don’t.” You are never too old, too young, or too anything to follow your dream. Tenacity and passion are generally far more important than talent and skill. How many brilliant people do you know that are working menial jobs? How many successful people do you know that you wonder how they ever got where they are? Put your intention out there, follow up, and keep at it.

Finally, don’t get stuck in a rut. If you are doing it right, you are going to learn along the way. You may find that what you initially wanted isn’t what you thought it was once you learn more. Give yourself permission to be flexible and alter your dream as you go. Every experience will help you in the future if you learn from it. When I started, I thought I wanted to be a painter. Today I know that painting and design is just one of my skills. I think of myself more as a communicator through speaking, writing, and painting. If I had held myself rigidly to being a painter, I wouldn’t have been any happier than I was as an attorney in the long run.

How did you begin?
After graduating in graphic design she spent her early twenties working as a designer for Sir Terence Conran, then moved onto freelance work which enabled Sarah to spend more time working on her collages and paintings. It wasn’t until 1995 that Sarah became a full time artist exhibiting twice a year in New York at the Gift Fair and having gallery shows back in England. The demand for Sarah’s originals lead to her and her husband publishing a series of limited edition prints.

A combination of this and the publicity she has attracted, including being Artist in Residence for Victoria magazine has lead to an ever expanding licensing program of Sarah’s images Worldwide. These include: a large range of stationery, posters, wrapping paper and totes, gift books, paper napkins and plates, calendar, T-shirts, wedding stationery and to be launched Christmas 2002 a large range of Christmas ornaments. 2003 will see Sarah as the lifestyle girl for Marshall Fields.

What do you do and how did you start? How old were you when you realized you wanted to do what you’re currently doing and how old were you when you actually began.
I am an artist who has specialized in mixed media paintings and collages. I am most well known for my ‘tag’ collages, as I say to people I am the ‘Tag Lady’ not to be confused with the ‘Bag lady’!

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I have always wanted to be an artist, that’s why I went to art school. I never thought though that I would be able to earn my living from just painting! It was a commercial decision on my behalf to study graphic design. Iworked as a graphic designer for Conran Design for a couple of years and then freelanced for three years for design companies and a children’s television company. It wasn’t until 1995 that I started working full time as an artist.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
The biggest step I took to get to where I am today came about after a wonderful commission of 60 pieces for the British part of the U.N. in New York. It was after spending all that time painting that I thought there was no way I was going back into a design studio. But how to earn a living? Friends of mine told me about a trade show they were applying for in San Francisco and suggested I gave it a go. I was accepted and was helped by a grant from the British government. This was a massive step for me as I had never exhibited at a trade fair before let alone one several thousand miles away! Anyway my husband and I took ourselves and 20 Sarah Lugg originals off to San Francisco. The response was overwhelming and I guess I’ve never looked back. Not that it was all plain sailing I promise you. The next big step was my husband coming to work with me and going into licensing, this was a hard decision to make, but one I have not regretted for one moment.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
My foundation course and degree in Graphic Design have help enormously, particularly the graphics for two reasons firstly it stopped me from becoming an introverted artist and secondly helps me enormously from a design view point with my licensing partners especially as I become more and more involved with three dimensional products. I would say that my Mother has been the most influential person for my work and career. She too was an artist and embroider. She is the one who taught me how to really see things and how to express myself artistically.

I first sold my work in galleries and I didn’t do very much to market myself due to lack of confidence. I soon realized this had to change, if I wanted people to know about me I need to get some exposure. I have used the gallery shows as a way of introduction to magazines and the response has been wonderful.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding part of what I do is the response from people to my work, it seems to enchant people which is always very pleasing. The most frustrating thing about what I do is there isn’t enough time to do all the things I want. Too many ideas and too many projects and only one me!

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I guess my main fear is that I the creativity may dry up. I experienced this to a certain degree last year when my beloved Mother died. She and I were very close, both artist and both only children. For months I drew a blank over my collages, this was very scary but I knew it was part of the mourning process. Luckily I’m painting again now but I don’t want to go there again I can tell you.

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have a lovely studio in my home. this is my choice to work from home, no time wasted traveling and enables me to combine running a home and business. I generally work an 8 -9 hour day working off a huge table about 5′ x 8′, of course you can’t see a square inch of the surface.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
So far I have not encountered too many financial difficulties, obviously there were times when one had to do some serious budgeting and juggling, but fortunately not too many. My husband always says that the one advantage of working so hard you don’t have time to go shopping!

What is your definition of success?
My definition of success changes as my business grows, the more I achieve the more I want to achieve. I think my summing up of success would be doing what you love and being appreciated for it.

Who or what are your inspirations?
My inspirations are wide and varied, my Mother taught me to keep my mind open. Here are some of my influences – Nature both wide and in the confines of a garden. Traveling seeing new places meeting new people. Junk shops and flee markets. As for artists, Mary Feddon, Lenore Tawney and Mary Newcomb to mention just a few.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
As for words of advice to those pursing their own creative goals I would say don’t loose sight of what you are and what you want to be, believe in yourself. If there are tasks to do which are not your forte in my case finance and contracts let someone else do it. A piece of advice given to me at the beginning was get a good lawyer and they will save you money in the future, this was a very sound piece of advice and I’m still to this day grateful for it.

What do you do and how did you start?
I cut paper freehand and use it for all kinds of interesting things- framed artwork, garden gates, candles, stationery & greeting cards, and more. I also print my own work and reproduce vintage pieces on an antique printing press in my studio.

I started cutting paper when I needed to amuse my two wiggly toddler sons in a rowboat on an afternoon fishing trip. I had no idea that it would turn into such a huge part of my life.

How old were you when you realized what you wanted to do and when you actually began?
This is the second career of my adult life, but I can look back and see the roots of this business in my very early childhood.

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I used to design fine jewelry. Another in-your-dreams job!

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I started small, with just the pair of scissors from my mother’s kitchen junk drawer and any paper to be tossed in the trash- old phone books, magazines, and letters. It grew from there.

I’ve been willing to take more risks than most people, and to work killer hours to achieve my goals. I like to think have a huge amount of determination and stamina but maybe the truth is that I am just very stubborn!

What kind of formal education, training, or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I have a degree in marketing but the best education I got was the hours I worked for my father, a wonderful businessman who believed in hard work and the strictest business ethics ever.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
With fear & trepidation I showed my work at local art shows and then began to get the courage to branch out. Beginning to show one’s art is like showing the essence of your very self- I found it terrifying- but once I got past that I was fine. I have always welcomed constructive criticism, and use it to strengthen my work and business practices.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The endless challenge and the freedom to fly as high as I can are wonderful. People’s appreciation of what I do never ceases to amaze me. Communicating my sense of wonder at the miracles that surround us daily is a constant joy. Frustration sometimes comes with people who don’t understand.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I worry that I’m not good enough. Like many women, I struggle with self esteem.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
Exhaustion is the cause of most of my blocks, so a good night’s sleep and some time off usually cures it for me. I am very careful to feed my eyes and imagination with library books, walks in the woods and by the sea, and hours in the garden.

What kind of work environment do you have?
My studio is a tiny rose-covered cottage in the garden behind my home, built with love by friends and family. It’s jam packed with snips and scraps of paper, a collection of antique type, and an old printing press I named Alice.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
Financial obstacles are a constant. Determined to view each problem as a challenge, I forge through with a smile. Looking back, I think God must be really smiling at me because of how well things have gone.

What is your definition of success?
I keep on raising the bar! But apart from business success, I want to be successful as a human being- a woman of integrity, wisdom and kindness.

Who or what are your inspirations?
Everyday miracles surround us if we just take time to look. Waving blades of grass and a dead beetle in the garden inspired a fairy series & a walk along the beach fueled my imagination for seaside images. Even a rotten meal with an arrogant waiter inspired me to create a series of chefs and waiters for a poster series! I love to carefully observe the life around me. There is inspiration everywhere if one is simply aware of it.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
Never copy, never, never, never under any circumstances copy someone else. Have the courage to be yourself; don’t be afraid to take chances. Work hard and don’t expect people to seek you out. Be true to your goals and dreams and never worry about what other people think.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organizations, etc?
The library is my favorite resource. I read a vast sea of books that are not related to my work in any obvious way. I follow my inner muse and try to lead a healthy, balanced life with a generous helping of imagination.

I don’t believe in looking at the work of my competition; I might accidentally copy them, and I would much prefer to be simply myself.

Occupation: Artist and Writer
Website: Keri Smith
Biography: Keri Smith is an award winning illustrator and writer living in Canada. She has a wide following of clients in North America, Europe, and Japan. Most recently Forbes, The Boston Globe, Better Homes and Gardens, Ford Motor Co,, The Body Shop, The Washington Post, Teen People Magazine, Yahoo, Bon-Appetit, Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, Canadian Airlines, Utne Reader, and The Canadian Opera Company. She currently resides in a “magic cottage” outside of Toronto, painting, illustrating, creating, writing, reading, and living out loud.

What do you do and how did you start?/How old were you when you realised you wanted to do what you’re currently doing and how old were you when you actually began./What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I think I knew what I wanted to do when I was nine years old. We were reading a book called “Jacob Two-two Meets the Hooded fang” by Mordecai Richler, illustrated by Fritz Wegner. I loved the illustrations and tried to copy them with some success. Early on in my schooling I realized that school was not a place to be creative, so I creatively came up with many excuses not to go.

I think I had the worst attendance record for my school. At home I could create freely, making something from nothing, using anything I could find, garbage, wool, egg cartons, etc. I failed art badly in high school, a point which everyone finds most amusing now. I had one really great teacher in high school who said, “You should pursue that which most moves you in this world.”

I did not graduate from high school, (which blew my chances at university) so I worked at a bookstore for two years and read. And read. I educated myself and studied anything I was drawn to. After two years I was ready to try art school, I applied as a mature student and surprised myself by getting into The Ontario College of Art.

After majoring in Illustration for three years I realized (and so did the head of the program), that my work “did not belong in the illustration program”. They had a problem with bike parts. I was craving outside influence. So I went to other areas of the college for my last year and had fun, got dirty! I tried printmaking, paper making, experimental painting, bookbinding, sculpture. All these things I could apply to illustration. When I was done I got my first big job with the Canadian Opera Company. And the rest has really fallen into place.

One of my favourite authors Joseph Campbell says, “When you are on your path, and it is truly your path, doors will open for you where there were no doors for someone else.” This has been very true for me. And it is not an easy path, riddled with uncertainties, doubts, mistakes, pain, but it is worth it. And it is the one thing I have always wanted to do. Katherine Mansfield said, “Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself, face the truth.”

How steps did you take to create your own business?/What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I think I answered this already but I’d like to add where I feel I’m headed in the next few years…. I am starting into a new phase in my work, one of self direction. In the beginning as an illustrator you really just want to get regular work, make a steady income, and get your name out there. I’m now at a point (after 7 years of doing this full time) where I feel like I’m reinventing what it means to be an illustrator for me. I’m doing more of my own work and ideas and selling them to people and companies, as opposed to waiting for someone to hire me for my services.

I still do editorial and advertising work, but there is a definite shift happening and I see that eventually tapering off. I want to continue to create things and ideas that move me. I see my role as a writer growing, (I have as many people responding to my writing now as my illustrating.) This shift into self direction is extremely fulfilling and empowering and the new possibilities for work seem to be unlimited.

I also am starting into the world of licensing, selling my designs to various companies. This new phase started over a year ago when I left my agent to pursue self representation. I found it important to market myself more as a “brand name” as opposed to being marketed in a group setting (the brand being the rep’s name). It appeared to me that I was growing and needed really target specific areas that my work was suited to. This just wouldn’t happen while being a part of a larger group.

Also, my focus is really not on making the money, it is more important for me to do work that I enjoy and feel passionate about. It became harder for my rep to understand the more I grew in confidence, so it was a natural progression to go out on my own.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The freedom to pursue whatever I am drawn to. I feel myself being drawn into some exciting and scary places and it’s wonderful. I am really enjoying sell my ideas to people and am always surprised when I get a “hit”. At this stage the most frustrating is probably the negotiating, contracts, royalties, etc. I never know if I have done the right thing. I am in the process right now of considering an agent to handle this part. I have never been big on agents in the past, but I would like to have more time to focus on the fun stuff.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
Hundreds weekly. Keep going. Every time I meet a professional creative person I ask them about this subject, THEY ALL HAVE FEAR STILL, no matter how long they’ve been doing it. The trick is to keep doing it. Fear is natural, make it your friend. I recently had a popular Canadian author up for tea, when I asked her how she got through all the public appearances she replied, “Grin and bear it.” I am finding doing public speaking the hardest thing for me right now, but I’m getting better.

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have just built a new barn studio in the back yard which is almost complete. Situated amongst the trees it is really my dream studio with more space than I am used to, natural light and a view of my gardens. My partner is a furniture designer/maker so he has the first floor, and I have the second floor. It is our first “designated artist space”, so it is very exciting.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
Several years ago my partner and I decided to move to the country to pursue a different quality of life and also to scale down our overhead. I always wanted a small cottage in the country to create in, one that I could really make my own. Ironically this move cut our living expenses in half, (as compared to the big city lifestyle.) So this has really taken the pressure off to live up to a certain income. I no longer have to take on every job that comes in just to make ends meet.

It’s really great being able to choose to work commercially or say “this week I’m going to do some personal projects”. I also like to live as simply as possible so I try not to fall into the need to aquire “things”. You know the quote, “If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Books are my main indulgence.

Who or what are your inspirations?
I read a LOT. I have an illustration mentor, Linda Montgomery. She was my teacher at O.C.A. and she had a wonderfully spiritual approach to illustrating. My favourite teachers in life have always asked the question, “what moves you?”, your work should be about that…… suck it up into your work. I like to sing, pursue modern dance, paint, write in my journal, drink tea, cook, ride my bike, swing on my hammock, send and receive snail mail and email. The simple things are the best for me.

I usually revolve my vacations around my reading interests. I love modern art and sculpture/installation, Rauschenberg, Basquiat, Rothko, I love new artists who are using technology in a way that I’ve never considered, or who help to me see the world with new eyes. I love experiential art, something I can interact with, work that doesn’t take itself too seriously, has a sense of fun and lightheartedness. Tim Hawkinson’s Uber Organ http://www.massmoca.org/ excites me to no end. I got to see this piece in person last year at Mass Moca (my current favourite gallery in the world), it makes you afraid, it makes you curious, and it makes you laugh all at once.

Favourite authors include May Sarton, Henry Miller, Opal Whiteley, Euel Gibbons, Ann Lamott, Anne Frank, Cortia Kent, Chip Kidd, Dan Price, Anais Nin, Sark, Carl Jung, almost all Canadian fiction, Nathalie Goldberg, Joseph Campbell, to name a few. There is nothing better than a novel you can’t put down. All my web pen pals, many listed here, are a constant source of connection and life for me. I love people who live by example. Creative inspiration is contagious! I am so moved by this little circle of women.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
Begin Now. Dream big. Keep moving forward. Research. Acknowledge successes. Connect with others on the path. Work at loving yourself. Trust. Cry (it’s o.k.) Connect again with others. Trust. Let go. Take time to fill yourself up again (down time). Reinvent when necessary. Trust.

Oh, I should also mention this one…All of my best ideas come when I am in the midst of playing or letting go. That relaxed state when we are not attached to outcomes, trying to impress, or needing to do good work. It took me many years (and a lot of bad art) to figure this one out. I’m still working on it.

They now live on Apifera Farm in the Willamette Valley where they farm 3000 lavender plants, and raise sheep. She is grateful to be living out her dreams and internal myths.. Her work is shown in Oregon, Santa Barbara and Santa Fe. She also has a variety of print and card lines.

How did you start?
I was always a free spirit. I remember once painting my radiator in my bathroom with finger paints. My father was an architect, so we always had wonderful books around. I never really thought, “I’m going to be a painter”, I was more interested in being a vet as a child. I spent most of my time alone in nature. What is odd is I do remember not liking art class in grade school. I majored in ceramics and was forced to take one painting course for a requirement.

I got my art degree, but then fell in love with NYC and moved there, worked in a cheese shop, lived all over, got a job in an ad agency. I did the ” I’ll just work in a creative setting ” thing for years, architectural offices, design firms, photo assistants. Each job was fun, but I lost interest. And then, one night after moving back to Minneapolis, I stumbled on Bill Moyer’s interview series with Joseph Campbell, and within the next 8 hours, I had decided, “I will now be a full time painter”.

It really happened that way. I was 36 years old. I resigned from my marketing job soon after, within months sold the condo, bought a teeny tiny run down house, sold the car for a used one…It was scary, but fabulous too. I never looked back. Doors just blew open all around me. I got a national rep within three months, got some jobs…I was very fortunate as I never had to work elsewhere-but I had made sacrifices and got my overhead down. I was living in a 600 SF bungalow, worked/lived in 2 rooms basically. It was great.

Fears & Creative Blocks
My biggest fears are on a personal level – if I die will the animals be OK, what if one of us gets disabled, etc. I have fewer fears about my art and business – I think because I’ve done this for 10 years, and I lived through one really hard transition time after 9/11. ‘What’s the worst that will happen?’ is a good question I ask myself. There is a solution to every problem and I have power to choose certain paths over others. We all do.

Usually if I’ve been forced to ‘over paint" for a period of time, I can get burned out. For me, I’ve been doing this long enough that I’ve learned to just stop painting for awhile and not worry about it. Different mediums allow me to be creative in different ways – gardening, farming, building things,training my horse. Nature, being in it and around the animals brings me back to balance.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
After 10 years of being a freelance artist, the biggest challenge is to keep on hustling the next project, the next chunk of money.

For me, I had one really down time, about a year after 9/11 where illustration market had really dwindled. I had to reinvent myself a bit. I had been wanting to do more gallery kind of work, and it was a forced transition. The change in the illustration market over the past years has made me diversify how I sell art – I now have a nursery line of framed prints "Shepherd Girl", paintings, illustration, several galleries, archive prints and now a new card line. I have had to work harder for less money than in the early 90′s.

Other challenges are finding balance and room for my art in the busy life of farming! I have never worked harder in my life! I have learned though, that there are times I need and allow myself to farm, or work with the animals and then I also need intense periods of art…

But I am mellowing in late 40′s – and I am not as hard on myself when I’m not painting. "I should be painting" enters my head less and less – after all, fencing, building barns, helping lambs, nurturing the land, harvesting lavender – this is also my creation. I spend enormous amounts of time tending our little bird/rodent cemetery, creating hand painted tombstones for each…I get great satisfaction from this!

I also am challenged to allow myself to listen to my inner zone when I paint, and shield myself from gallery owners who say things like ‘You know, people really like the red ones" and they do this all the time, as they care about what sells, not what moves people emotionally]

Inspirations
Nature and animals are my muses. Since living in the country, I have never "lived" more – in that I am much more aware of the ‘chain’ here, the cycle, of both life and death- It’s more primordial here. Death/survival is everywhere here, right in front of you. It’s in the city too of course, but it is on one’s eye level here.

I am inspired by the stories of the many people that are also in transitions and seeking balance in turmoils of life/work/the world. The many couples who have also left the city to farm for the first time. People that have ‘fallen’ and keep on re-inventing themselves, especially as artists. People that speak up without anger but with conviction and clarity are inspirations and role models – People not swayed by the majority, but who allow to dance their own beat even if unpopular at the moment.

Music – -all of it, generally, but anyone that knows me knows Neil Young has come to me many times through his music to lift me through something, above something to clarity, to the ‘zone’. He follows his own muse in a crass business and world, and creates no matter what, on his terms. I still list ‘Cinama Paradiso" as a movie that says something very important to me.

Invisible People: I met two women painters in my 20′s, they were both in their 70′s but they made livings as painters, and I thought, "someday I think I can do this". 15 years later I did. We all make impacts like that without knowing. I love that.

My Work Environment
We moved to our farm in 2004 and my studio is a converted carport on the house that faces some of our pastures. 13′ tall ceilings and 84" square windows give me natural light, and I look out at the pastures of our sheep, goats and horses. I am surrounded by fields and nature, the coastal range, smells of the farm.

And we installed a gas fireplace which is wonderful in the rainy season. I have painted for 10 years, and this is my dream studio. It’s still being worked on, but it is wonderful, and gosh darn it, after many winters without good light or heat, I think I deserve it!

Hardest part of what I do Well, I really am fortunate to do what I do. I know, because I did the 9 to 5 thing. I think this all the time, when I’m busy or slow. Working alone can get isolating. I have created a pretty nice network of freelancer friends. Isolation is one of the key frustrations I hear from them too. I was always a companion to nature even as a young child, so I am really used to being alone, and actually like it for the most part.

But I do make an effort to reach out, get together for coffee or walks weekly with people. Email is a great way to connect and I love it. But it can’t take the place of a touch or a smile. I take my Pug to visit a 95 year old woman in a home to stay connected and grounded to what’s really important in life, which is very simply, love.

In Closing
I try to be open, kind and helpful to people that email me asking for guidance. I have witnessed for myself that when I extend in kindness, it comes back to me. Many were helpful to me when I started. Some weren’t. Everyone has an opinion based on their assessments and experiences. I ask myself what my feelings are about something, and understand they might be different than someone else’s – it’s not personal.

Advice
I am not always good at choosing the right words for advice. I recommend you watch ‘Cinema Paradiso’ , read Joseph Campbell, ask questions,
give and take, look up at the sky a lot.

Words of Inspiration
None of us really has the ability to understand our path until its over.
Keep on rockin’ in the free world.
Who says?

Occupation: Artist and Writer
Website: Crafty Chica
Biography: I’m a self taught artist who tries to have no boundaries or limits!! I have a full time Chicano art business, I’m a newspaper movie and craft columnist and I’m an author of artsy craft books. I do tv segments on DIY stuff every Friday on the local news. And I’m a mom!

What do you do and how did you start?
After being thwarted by teachers in art and music during my grade school years I grew up believing I had no artistic talent whatsoever. But I was always the girl who was asked to “make the posters”.

It wasn’t until I met my husband that I began to dabble in crafts. I was the manager of his band (we were just friends then) and he inspired me to make stuff and sell my wares at his gigs – to keep me from dancing with cute guys bet! During the first set, I felt like an idiot because no one bought anything. As the night went on I ended up being the hit of the gig, I sold out of everything and finally deemed myself artistically worthy, in a beginner’s sort of way!

My work evolved into being representative of my Mexican-American culture. My husband is an artist too and together we have created a line of art that we sell all over the country. It makes us closer in our relationship too! We donate our art to all sorts of organizations to help in the community too.

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do what you’re currently doing and how old were you when you actually began.
I was about 23 at the time and I began that very day and have never stopped since!

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I worked as a bailiff’s assistant in traffic for several years. I realized then that I did not want to spend 40 hours of my precious week doing something I didn’t enjoy. What a waste of perfectly good living time! I also worked as an event coordinator for a gourmet and specialty shop after I came back from traveling around Europe. I worked as a barrista and a wine/cheese attendant. I loved it! I quit to do art full time, but even that drove me crazy after a while because we got too many orders too soon. I took a job at the local newspaper shredding papers. I eventually worked my way to up to being a features writer. Again, I made it a job I enjoyed – I volunteered to do a craft column – my passion! Now I actually get paid to come up with craft projects for our 500,000 readers. It’s a dream come true, and it’s not even like a job because I enjoy it so much!

How steps did you take to create your own business?
I always see people procrastinating until they get a five-inch thick business plan together. I say no way – I mean it’s good to plan ahead but don’t get so much into it that you neglect the whole reason you are making the plan – to make art! The steps I took were making samples and taking them to shop owners. When we got a sales rep, I got my business license so I could purchase my materials wholesale. I then visited all sorts of local shops to get them to carry my work.

It grew from there. Every so often I refresh my line so it stays new and fun. I ALWAYS carry around small items that I made to hand out when I meet interesting people.

You never know when you’ll meet the right person to network with!

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
Working retail was awesome because it taught me to see what customers purchased, they way they picked things up and looked at them, Etc. I’ve recently finished my BA in Business Management to help with my career. But if you don’t have formal training, don’t let that stop you. If you feel the need to express yourself go for it and if people like it they will buy it and you will flourish. I’ve met people along the way who say “I want to make something and sell it, but I don’t know what”. I kinda cringe at that. I think art should come from the heart to bring pleasure and inspiration and thought. I guess thats why I not rich!

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
I set up a table at local concerts and festivals. I then took samples into boutiques and met with the buyers. a couple of times I saved up and bought a space at a huge gift trade show. But now we have a website and it does the work for us.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding is when I see how happy people are when they look at or buy my art. And its rewarding that I’ve turned into my livelihood and that I do this with my husband. However, I do get frustrated because there are so many things I want to do and so little time. I also have two kids, so with them being my first priority, I can’t always get to my ideas. It’s hard to juggle so much. Often times I sacrifice my sleep! Can you say “quad mocha”? That’s how I get by!

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I don’t have any fears because I don’t have time to think about them, that’s time I could be making stuff! If anything it would be how long I can go on before m hands give out or my eyesight! I do wear Ace bandages if I’m working on a big order.

What kind of work environment do you have?
We transformed our pristine living into our rough and tumble art studio. We threw up a wall and a door to close it off from visitors. It’sgreat because it gives us a lot of room for storage and creativity. We loaded in a stereo so we could paint to groovy tunes while we work! i also have a portable set up that fits into a tote bag for art on the go. That’s mostly wire stuff, crocheting and beads.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
When there is a will there is a way. We made a vow to stick to our plan of art -therefore we stretch that concept out 10-fold. We teach workshops to adults and kids, we sell at festivals, we hustle for orders and promote ourselves online a lot. It does pay off. I have my writing gig during the day but that all relates to my art too because of the craft column and the movie stories I write – I get the info by watching the boob tube while I paint!

What is your definition of success?
Doing what you like to do and sticking to it. Being able to not second guess your dreams/goals. However, there are sacrifices along the way – you’ve to prioritize what is important to you. If its obtaining material things, this is not the business for you. But if it is finding joy and satisfaction in living modestly off of your original creations, life can be real swell. I still have a long way to go, I’d love to go on HGTV or DIY network and shares craft projects and ideas. I’m pursuing it now, all they can say is no. I’m cool with that, but at least I can say I tried!

Who or what are your inspirations?
All the crafty women on the web are one of my main inspirations. Even though we don’t “see” each other we know each other and offer such a sense of community. I always try to link them on my site as soon as I find them to spread the news! My husband and kids are also a big source of my inspiration.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
Make a To Do list. Write a paragraph at the top detailing what you want to do. Make a list underneath of what you need to do to get there. Dreams won’ come to reality unless you actively pursue them. Put that critical thinking cap on and jot down all your resources. Create a step by step plan and don’t stress if it takes longer than you’d like! Your goal is to do what you love and don’t be afraid to pursue it. Don’t ever make excuses. Make the most of it, leave a mark of yourself on this world!!!