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What do you do? How
did you get started? |
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I consider myself to be an
illustrator, a designer, and a "connector". I enjoy working in both
the children's market and the gift industry. I also love meeting
creative people, learning about how they got started, and introducing them
to other creative people. My art career started in third
grade...actually, my professional life started with my own greeting card and
stationery company, Monica Lee Studios. I attended the New York stationery
Show as a guest and left knowing, "I can do that". I started as a
sales rep for greeting cards and eventually grew to successfully designing, illustrating &
manufacturing my own line of stationery. |
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What type of research did
you do before you got started? Did you have any background in this
work? |
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Research and networking are
essential elements of creative careers. I attended trade shows, I talked to shop owners who in turn mentored me,
I worked as a sales rep in the greeting card industry, and I joined the
SCBWI
(Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators). I have a BS
in Graphic Arts and I always wanted to be an illustrator, but there is no
substitute for hands on experience and the wisdom of others who have already
done it. |
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How did you manage starting
your career financially (loans, pay cuts, savings)? |
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Monica Lee Studios was started
with some stock that my grandmother had given me. I was lucky to have
this initial start, but also had a career as a flight attendant that allowed
me to juggle two jobs. It's never easy getting started and sometimes
you have to "jump without a net". I felt I wanted a career that
allowed me to be creative and the flexibility to raise my son. It
hasn't always been easy, but it has always been worth it. |
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How do you market yourself
and your business? |
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I personally think websites
are invaluable. They are a great tool for representing who you are and
what you are about. In addition to the traditional ways; website,
postcards, my agent, etc, I've refined my "cocktail pitch". This is
the speech that when you meet someone new, you can tell them in less than
two minutes who you are, what you do, and where you are going. This
allows me to network in ways I've never imagined...and if that doesn't work,
hopefully you at least got a cocktail! |
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Describe your work setting. |
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I recently got a new studio!
It's the sunroom in my charming 1929 home. It's lined with windows and
has two inviting chairs for my family to visit me as I'm at my art table.
At last!...my own...shared space. |
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What do you most enjoy
about your work? |
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Bright color on white paper! I love
the brainstorming & end result that comes with the creative process. I
love coffee in the morning at my art table. What I have learned is
that I love inspiring, and being inspired by, other women. I enjoy
learning about their creative process, and I enjoy connecting them to others
when I can. |
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How do you achieve a
balance in your family and personal life? Is your family involved with
your work? |
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One new way is to make my
studio inviting for everyone... homework, games, a late night glass of wine
with my husband. This way I don't feel like I'm neglecting anyone
while I am being creative. I love all the activity! |
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What keeps you inspired? |
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- Books! books! books!
- Pumpkin spice coffee
- My boys laughter
- The colors of flowers &
vegetables
- Rain boots
- Connecting creative women to
each other |
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What advice would you give
to others as they pursue their own creative goals? |
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Well - that's the point of my
website - there are hopefully a lot of suggestions and stories to inspire
others. Spend some time with yourself and find out what keeps you
inspired...make it part of your daily life. |
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What does success mean to
you? |
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When I've inspired somebody to
do something they've always dreamed of doing. |
