What do you do?  How did you get started?

I am an illustrator. I actually got my start in advertising as an Art Director. I liked my job for the most part, but wasn’t challenged enough creatively. I wanted my job to be more like fine art. So, I would hire illustrators, look through illustration books and get mailers from illustrators constantly. One day it just hit me: “Hey! I can be an illustrator, too. I don’t need to just admire from afar.” And I started making the necessary arrangements to make the “leap”, as I call it. It was one of the scariest things I have done.

What type of research did you do before you got started?  Did you have any background in this work?

I did lots of research to find out what I could about the field of illustration. I checked out every book the library had on the business of illustration. I emailed some illustrators I admired and asked questions. I asked local illustrators out for coffee to chat and to pick their brains. I was hungry for information.

My  background is in fine art and design. I went to school for graphic art, but took every imaginable fine art course. There were no illustration classes, though. I just learned about illustration through watching and experimenting on my own. 

I also got a lot of knowledge from my job in advertising. I saw how business worked from that standpoint, and I think it taught me a lot. It taught me how to approach an Art Director, how to organize and present my portfolio, how to present to clients and how the business side of things works. It made me look at things from a different perspective.

How did you manage starting your career financially (loans, pay cuts, savings)?

I was really scared of switching to illustration because that meant no more steady paychecks. No 401k. No stability. I tried to save up some money, but I’m not great at that, so it was sort of pointless. I’m really fortunate to have my husband, though, who has a steady job and health insurance. When I am having a slow time, it’s still okay. We have had to adjust our standard of living though. No more going out to dinner whenever we want. No more movies. We live on a tight budget. But it’s worth it because I am doing something I love every day.

How do you market yourself and your business?

I maintain my website, updating frequently to keep things fresh (and so I don’t get bored). And most of my business comes through the site and through word of mouth. I’ve sent out postcard mailers as well, but probably not as often as I should. Word of mouth seems to get me by, though. Despite that, I have lots of ideas for self promotion. I just have yet to manifest any of them.

Describe your work setting.

I took over the dining room of my house. It’s a small space, but has one wall full of windows and another with French doors so I get a lot of light. I have my art table in the middle, and it’s always a mess. One advantage of working out of your house is when a good idea strikes, you are close to your studio to write it down or work it out right then. But that has a flip side. I find it difficult to stop working. My studio is always there and there’s no door keeping me out. I turn into a workaholic.

What do you most enjoy about your work?

I love creating. I love seeing what falls off the end of my pencil. I love giving a piece of art to a client and having them smile from ear to ear. It’s very satisfying. I also love evolving. Illustration, for me, is something that I keep getting better at. It gets easier each day. The ideas flow more smoothly and I like that a whole lot.

Another thing that I enjoy a lot is creative community. I try to talk honestly and openly on my website and it’s great to feel like people “get it” and are going through the same things. I also run illustrationfriday.com. That has been a wonderful experience in getting to know other creative people and supporting each other, while improving our illustration skills.

How do you achieve a balance in your family and personal life?  Is your family involved with your work?

Balance is one of my issues. I’m not good at balance. I feel like my brain is constantly turning with ideas and images. It’s hard to shut off and stop working. I tend to keep a sketchbook with me at all times to catch my ideas. I talk about illustration way too much. I’m lucky though, because my husband is a creative person himself (a writer) and he is kind of the same way. We bounce ideas off each other and help each other if we need it.

I do try to get out of the studio each day. Going to the post office or the gym or on a walk with my dog. Down time is totally necessary for refilling the inspiration well. I need to get better at that.

What keeps you inspired?

What advice would you give to others as they pursue their own creative goals?

What does success mean to you?

Success for me means being happy, making my living doing what I love.