I’m a little late for the start of #MarchMeetTheMaker this year, so I’m going to try to catch up! Here are three posts in one!
I told my origin story last year at this time, so here’s my current story. I currently work full time (for myself) doing web design, branding and other various graphic design work. I’m also working nearly full time on my art.
I’m constantly struggling to balance the two and feeling like I’m neglecting one side of my business (or even one side of myself). Lately, I’ve been working on a project in my web design business that is a huge undertaking while also trying to do new things with my art and illustration. While it’s definitely possible to work on both at the same time, it’s really hard to grow both and feel like I’m getting traction on either.
Although I really love both sides of my business, I’ve decided to focus on the one that is most meaningful to me and work on growing the art side. I will still do the branding and web design but put the big project on the back burner for now. I want to focus on getting licensing deals and creating digital products with my art to sell online.
I’m 52 and feel like I’m just beginning to really focus on how I can make art a career. I feel pressure to finally take it seriously and not just do it on the side. I quit a fairly high paying prestigious job and moved from Atlanta to Paducah so I could focus on my art, and while I’ve been making art consistently since that time, and showing and selling more than I ever did before, I still have always put it further down the list and focused more on client design work.
Now’s the time to change that! I love my clients and the work I do for them – and will continue to do it – but it’s time to focus on the business side of my art and see if I can get real traction there.
I’ve invested in a couple of big courses with two women who are living my dreams – @bonniechristine and @emily_jeffords. I’ll be working through their brilliant exercises and sharing the results here. So stay tuned!
1 Story + 2 Hands at Work + 3 Time
