Occupation:

Website: Summer Pierre
Biography: Summer Pierre is a California-born artist who lives in Brooklyn, NY. As a musician she has toured extensively both the east and west coasts, and released her CD Far From Here from TPS Media. She creates an annual Great Gals Calendar, celebrating great women every day, and is currently at work on a series of corresponding cards.

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 a musician, cartoonist, painter, and a writer. My dad likes to say that I was drawing as soon as I could hold a pen. I don’t remember ever not being able to draw or wanting to draw. When I was eleven I read The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton and thought, I want to do that, so I began to write. In 1995, I was incredibly inspired by the building movement of women in rock n’ roll and so I created my college thesis on women in rock. I was further inspired by my studies to pick up a guitar and start writing songs. Unfortunately, I was very stuck in the idea that I had to be one thing or another (musician, painter, writer, etc.) and I found my dry cycles for each medium frightening and a message that I wasn’t Îcut out’ to do any one thing.

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
Receptionist, waitress, child care provider, temporary office-goon.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
The first absolute step was coming to terms with the fact that I didn’t have a scrap of faith that I could do something on my own, only a hope that I could. This is an ongoing process, that I continue with every day. The practical things that have been key are mailing list, staying in contact with people, through mailers and blogging, I am currently working with The Seed Handbook by Lynn Franks, which is teaching me a lot about formal business plans, which are also life plans.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I don’t really have any formal training other than going to a very liberal liberal arts college. It opened my horizons to great women and their work, which has been the foundation for everything I do.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding aspect of what I do is the exhilarating high of creating something and then watching it have a life of its own. The most frustrating is the doubt and the worry. Also, the drag of finances.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
The biggest struggle for me has been to get out of my own way. For me doubt is the number one paralyzer. I question everything: what if I can never write a song again? What if I stink? What if I just don’t have it in me? I have found that the absolute key to combating doubt is to surround myself with people who are believing and who cheer loudly in my favor. Sometimes when I do a show I ask a friend to tell me I’m a good person regardless of how I do on stage. It may sound cheesy–but I have found it helps me not attach too much of my worth to what I produce. We’re all good no matter what we do. Sometimes we just need a little help to remember that.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I have fears of being financially sound, doubts about my abilities, self-worth, etc. To combat this, I work hard to remember what makes me happy and healthy, like getting up early to watch the sunrise and writing my morning pages, and walking. Also, I like to think of the wise words of Julie Wilson, a friend of Lynda Barry’s: “If you freak out, freak back in!”

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have a great room in my home filled with: a desk, pictures, white Christmas lights, glitter on the floor, a window to watch the sunrise, books, tapes, CDs, and cats.

Who or what are your inspirations?
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Sylvia Plath, Lynda Barry, Georgia O’Keeffe, Maira Kalman, Jean Michel-Basquiat, Frida Kahlo, Emily Carr, Margaret Wise Brown, Liz Phair, PJ Harvey, Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Joni Mitchell, The Beatles, The Ramones, The Clash, , movies in technicolor, road trips, recorded poetry, photo booths, glitter, my little brother and sister, the color red, coffee, letters, and postcards.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
PLEASE DO IT NOW. You will never be adequately prepared, or have time to get ready to live your dreams. Start now. Also, If you work to create the world you love, people will respond. The J.D. Salinger quote I love goes something like this: “Write the book you most want to read.” I think that’s true for any medium.

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.

What do you do and how did you start?
I am an artist and designer working in the gift, home and textile industries. My first line of work was for my own clothing label, Handmaiden, which I started a few months after I earned a fine arts degree in drawing. These days I design related collections of art which manufacturers translate into everything from ceramic tabletop items and table linens to greetings and quilting fabrics.

How old were you when you realised you wanted to do and how old were you when you actually began?

It wasn’t quite a single lightbulb moment that I can remember. I guess as soon as I realized at a young age that being an artist was an occupation option, that pretty much became the plan. I can’t remember not drawing or doing something that involved putting together materials of some sort. I learned to thread a needle at around 5 years old and immediately embarked on trying to make a patchwork quilt for my doll. My mom had this old red, white, and blue trunk stuffed with fabric. It was a dream world. I waited till some pieces got small enough then asked if I could have them. Our house was also full of my dad’s own paintings, so I always knew what was possible.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I started my current design studio about 4 or 5 years ago, slowly at first. I started contacting different companies that I had interest in designing for to see if they worked with independent designers. From there I started building a list of clients through small two or three item projects. I have built my list of companies to around 20 and I update them regularly with new artwork to see if there are projects we can work on together. These days my collections range from just a few pieces to 50 items or so in one collection. I exhibit at Surtex in New York every year which is a trade show that gives surface and textile designers a chance to display their designs to manufacturers who make every type of product imaginable. I also made a website mostly catered to my clients or potential clients for them to see a sample portfolio and bio. I recntly started a blog, for myself mostly, to put all that I do in one spot, in a fun and open way. I get alot of interest and feedback there from both creatives out there doing similar work or from companies or publishers interested in working with me.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I have a fine arts degree in drawing….as to how much that helps me on a daily basis, I don’t know. I owned and operated my own clothing line for 5 years, both retail and wholesale. That taught me alot about the structure of merchandise and how it gets from a concept in my sketch book to the store shelf and everything in between. Developing product for companies is a very steep learning curve and mostly I’ve asked alot of questions and absorbed all I can about the process. Honestly just shopping helps me understand what I do and who I am designing for. I can thank my mom for letting me at her sewing machine at a very young age. The fine art degree really gave me a place to develop my aesthetic sensibilities, which of course I am constantly tapping. I’m hardly painting everyday, but it was very important for me to accomplish something there, in the fine art arena. Which is why I still like to show in galleries on occasion

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
By making cold calls to art directors and sending out emails to every company that I thought would look at my portfolio. Attending different tradeshows where products are sold to retailers is a huge thing too, just to see whats out there.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
Seeing my name on product is a thrill. People taking the time to contact me and let me know how much they are enjoying either sewing with my fabrics or wiping their mouths with my cocktails napkins…that’s really fun.

My frustrations are usually organizing all my creative thoughts into the most effective output of concepts. I am never at a loss for ideas about art or design, I’m just not always sure that I am thinking everything through enough, or seeing it from every angle in a way that helps me see the full potential of each idea.

For instance, if I’m working on a new collection of florals for fabrics what if it doesn’t occur to me until later on that I could be showing those same ideas to a wallpaper company, or a stationery company. I always show my work as much as I can to as many people as I can, but soimetimes having to do that interrupts my flow of just creating. I sometimes have a nagging feeling that everything I’m working on could have a deeper reach somehow. I am always striving for optimal yield from my time and efforts. I tend to overwhelm myself sometimes and need to appreciate the now and what I’ve gotten accomplished already.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I guess I worry about maintaining all the tasks of my work on my own. I fear that hiring help means losing control, therefore not getting my creativity out the exact way I want to.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
It’s rare that I have them, usually I have time blocks and can’t get to all that I have the interest in doing. I do sometimes feel a little limp in the brain though. I usually just get away from the studio a bit, walk, fold laundry, do something mindless but busy.

What has been your biggest struggle(s)/challenge(s) with your creative career?
Focus. There are too many options.

What kind of work environment do you have?
We’ve converted the recreation room in our house into my home studio. It’s a nice large space, about 500 square feet, and 3 big windows. Its right next to our bedroom (which is really the guest room in this house) and also next to the laundry room and kitchen. So I flit back a forth from studio work, to cooking, to laundry to caring for my 5 kids. I have a place in the studio for just about everything my work requires.. a computer table for developing my artwork, emailing and blogging, a drafting table for painting and drawing, a ten foot long handmade tack wall for inspirational scraps of different sorts, a decoupage work table that holds up a huge shelf of fabrics arranged by color, a sewing table with shelves of trims and baubles at the back, a handpainted “think” table and chairs in the center of the room for planning, product shelves that feature all my past collections set up like a gift store, and a bed (!) where the kids can lay down a read or play while I work….often its holding piles upoin piles of laundry too.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
My actual work doesn’t require a huge amount of money outside of art supplies and software. In fact, I swing software and tech work completely free thanks to my loving and wonderful programmer husband. Exhibiting in tradeshows is not cheap, and promotional materials, and printing portfolios is pricey too. So far its really been a matter of careful planning and being willing to do without the fancier stuff for a while, when expenses start piling up. It’s been important to me to not make a gigantic investment, due to having done that with a retail space for my clothing line for a few years. It can really bite you in the rear! Most of my work is risk free by just designing for the companies and not actually investing in the production side of the product. This all could change of course as I plan to publish my own line of sewing patterns.

What is your definition of success?
Earning enough money and appreciation to make it worth the time not spent with my kids. I do find alot of value though in them seeing their mom seeking out her own goals. The balance is not easy, but I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t think it was a healthy thing for my family

Who or what are your inspirations?
Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, Matisse, my grandmothers Eleni and Anna, Oilily clothing, Esprit clothing from the 80′s, folk art, Pucci, Prada, Duy Hyunh’s paintings.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals:
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I would urge anyone to not worry about what you may consider wasted time with an endeavor that doesn’t have a guaranteed success. If it interests you and you think you have something new to bring to a given craft or industry, do what you have to do to at least dabble in it. It will only help you focus in the end on what works. Sometimes the most off-the-wall endeavors or projects will in time bring you to what you were meant for and may not have been obvious to you in the beginning.

Do you know any helpful/inspirational books, websites, organisations etc.
No, not so much, sorry! I am always so short on time, that I seldom have the chance to read or browse much online or elsewhere. I find inspiration in simple and varied things like the tempo of conversation and laughing, people’s behaviour, my flower garden, true fashion design- not the hype. It’s mostly what I make of anything from within, and not so much external things.

Occupation: Artist and Illustrator

Website: Lori Joy Smith
Biography: Lori is an artist and illustrator (and aspiring comic and children’s book author) living in Vancouver Canada. You can see her work on her website, where she also keeps a sporadic blog.

What do you do and how did you start?
I am an illustrator. I have published greeting cards and bookmarks. I have also designed logos, products and packaging for products. I am working on illustrating a children’s book and a comic.

In the Fall of 1999, I started making homemade watercolour cards and selling them at craft fairs and little shops around town. At one show, a lady came up to me and told me she thought I could get my cards published. She turned out to be a local illustrator, and we met up later and she helped me to get started. I had no clue about how to be an illustrator, how to get work, or how to approach an art director. I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t crossed paths with her. She changed my life.

How old were you when you realized you wanted to do what you’re currently doing and when you actually began.

I knew very early that I wanted to be an artist. I just never knew how I was going to do it. I studied fine art at university, and came away skilled, but lost. The elitist attitudes about art confused me and I didn’t really feel like I fit into the “art world”.

I remember always loving illustrations in magazines before I even really considered it a path for me. I would buy magazines if I liked the artwork, and would study them over and over. It never occurred to me that this was something I could do. It wasn’t until I got the cheque for my first published card that I realized that making a living off my art was a possibility. I think that was definitely one of the happiest days of my life, I felt so full of possibility!

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I have worked a lot in retail. I worked as an apartment building manager. I took odd jobs painting and cleaning apartments. I have worked at a bowling alley, at a camp site, as a private cook and as a gardener. One the best jobs I had was an internship at the National Gallery of Canada. It was great to get to see everything from behind the scenes and be able to get up close and personal with the art.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I think the biggest step for me was creating my website. It has been such a great way to get my work out there and to meet other artists and illustrators.

Another big step for me was getting an agent. Everything I read had told me that every illustrator needed an agent. So I felt like I had won the lottery when he signed me up. I thought work would start pouring in. It turned out not to be the right road for me. I found myself losing my focus, and went along with things, just because I felt the pressure to be a profitable artist. I got away from what I love about doing art. I recently parted ways with him and feel like a huge weight has been lifted. I am excited to have control over my career now.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I have a BFA in Fine Arts and Art History.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
The first job I got was with Recycled Paper Greetings, designing greeting cards. They were a great company to work with. I learned a lot from them and got tons of experience. I stopped working with them in 2001, but one of the cards I did for them still brings me work!

The best thing I have done to market my work is creating my website. I can’t imagine what people did before the internet!

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do? The most frustrating?
The most rewarding aspect of what I do is doing something, looking at it and thinking… “Wow! I did that!”

The most frustrating would have to be all the rejection! That is something you have to realize will be a constant in this type of career. Last year I put a lot of time and energy into a project that went belly up. It was devastating. You just have to keep going, and try not to take it personally.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
I have a lot of fears about financial security. About being able to support myself, having enough money to one day start a family and enough saved for when I am old and grey.

I just try to remind myself that it is these fears that keep most of the world staying in jobs they hate. I would much rather live with less, be happy and love what I am doing.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
I find when I am blocked it is because I am being lazy or depressed and that stops me from working. The more sad and depressed I get, the less work I do… and then the more sad I get. I just try to remind myself in those moments that I am usually much happier and healthier when I am working and getting things accomplished. (tho it’s usually the last thing I want to hear!)

What kind of work environment do you have?
I have 2 work spaces. I do my digital illustration on my computer at home. I also rent a studio where I do my painting, drawing and other stuff. I find I really need that separate creative space, to get away from the dirty dishes and dust bunnies! When I am in studio I am totally absorbed in my work, as opposed to when I am at my computer, where I am almost always distracted! The studio is in the same building I live in, so I am going back and forth all day. It is a nice balance.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
Financial obstacles are difficult. I have to admit, there have been days when I am tempted to go out and get a job at Starbuck’s or something, just for the regular pay cheque! I know deep down that my time is better spent being investing into what I love doing, rather than the regular pay cheque. Although I am working towards having both!

I recently heard an interview with comic artist Chester Brown. He was saying he has solely lived off of doing his comics since 1985, just by living simply. I find that really inspiring. I would like to live with less.

What is your definition of success?
On a basic level I think you are successful if you are jump out of bed first thing in the morning because you are so passionate and excited about what the day holds for you. But, I have to admit, it would make me feel pretty good to see a children’s book or comic published!

Who or what are your inspirations?
Lately, I am really inspired by the work of comic artists like; Chester Brown, Seth, Sarah Varon, Daniel Clowes, Julie Doucet, Chris Ware, Adrian Tomine and Debbie Drechsler. There is so much great work being done in comics!! I just read “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi, it knocked my socks off! It is brilliant and heart breaking.

I think I am most inspired by the potential of doing great work. That keeps me going.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals.
If you want to be an artist or an illustrator you have to draw or paint every day! I remember my drawing teacher telling me this in university, I was horrified and thought… man, that’s a lot of drawing! Now, I couldn’t imagine not doing it.

If you want to be an artist, do art. The more you do, the better you will get… the better everything will get!

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.

What do you do and how did you start?
I am an illustrator, calligrapher and stationery designer. My illustration career began as soon as I entered art school as a means to pay for tuition. Since I had been creating and selling my art since I was a kid, I found it quite a natural step to try and work at selling it in New York, albeit on a grander scale.

After being introduced to letterpress printers and beautiful papers, I began creating my own line of stationery and wedding invitations utilizing my fashion illustration skill and love of handwriting. At the time, I was not really interested in starting a business rather I just created stationery that I loved. It was only through word of mouth that news of my wedding invitations spread, and my stationery career was born.

How old were you when you realized your dream and when you began?
I always knew that I wanted to be an artist. Since I was a dreamer, I had many pen pals that I corresponded with from around the world and spent hours writing to them and creating beautiful letters to send. I worked at developing my handwriting as a kid, and also fell in love with illustrated picture books. So I began painting on furniture, clothing, walls–anything I could find and also designed and created board games, books and journals. My illustration work was first published when I was 16, and I knew that I wanted to be an artist forever.

What jobs did you have before you went out on your own?
I had brief jobs doing gift-wrapping, package design, cake decorating, gift baskets and floral design, although I always did freelance work on the side.

What steps did you take to create your own business?
I was lucky to have so many successful artists around me at art school, so I learned from their experiences and asked as many questions as possible. They were also very supportive and had much more confidence in me than I did at the time. I was reassured that my illustration portfolio would be able to speak for itself, so I worked on making it very unique and sent it to every creative director and publisher in the city.

During the time that I was working on my illustration career, I was asked to create wedding invitations by art directors and other artists. The stationery career began as only a side project, but I found that I enjoyed so many aspects of it including the design phase and working with other artists, the relationship with vendors and printers and the process of choosing papers. As time went on, I worked with many more brides and decided to pursue stationery full time.

What kind of formal education, training or experience do you have that applies to what you do?
I graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York. My studies consisted of painting, calligraphy, product design, fashion design, book design, prepress and illustration. Art school taught me the importance of breaking rules and making mistakes. It was there that I became immersed in the artist community and found myself surrounded by the best designers and artists which was extremely motivating as I took the first steps to a freelance career.

How did you first begin to sell/market your work?
As a freelance illustrator, I created mini portfolios of my work and sent them to everyone that I wanted to work with. The list included mostly famous people, art directors, and couture houses. To my surprise, they called me back!

I followed the same process when I first began to promote my wedding invitations and sent handmade cards to magazine editors, actresses, and anyone, that in my opinion, would appreciate customized stationery. Today, I still stay in touch by endless self-promotion of sending handmade cards, and oftentimes when I am called in to see an art director, they will still have the cards that I had sent many years ago. With self-promotion, I try to create items that are very difficult to throw out, and I take the time to make each piece unique to the recipient.

I am very lucky that I never had to advertise my work, but instead utilized word-of mouth as the best publicity for many years. It wasn’t until recently that my website became an online gallery which reached brides all around the world.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?
Having the freedom to create my own schedule and work at home is the best thing about owning my own business. I’ve always loved being at home during the day with my dog and other animals. If I do not feel like working, I have the freedom to go to the movies or spend an afternoon at a museum.

The most frustrating?
There are many frustrating aspects: following up on invoices, problem solving with vendors, computer issues, knowing that if you do not get up in the morning, there is no one else to do the work.

Do you have any fears about what you do, and if so, how do you deal with them?
My fears change day to day. I try to live with them and realize that they are just a part of life and the learning process.

How do you deal with creative blocks?
The best way I have found to cure a creative block is to take an afternoon off and to a museum or gallery to look at the work of other artists. Since I spend so much time in the studio, it is very easy for me to get immersed in my own space and not be able to see an overview of the project. Just being in a different environment is inspiring.

I also go to trade shows to see products by other artists, to get ideas and be inspired. Finding new vendors and artists to work with keeps my products fresh and always evolving.

What kind of work environment do you have?
Because I live in the city, my workspace has always been very limited. I try to separate my creative space from my living space as much as possible and always include my animals. I surround myself with bright colors and things that I love which include memories of far-away travels-day dreaming sparks my creativity. I live across the street from a beautiful park so I have wonderful views and natural sunlight all day. Sometimes I also take my work on the road…to the beach, the park, Paris. I’ve even been known to do work on the train, airplane and in numerous cafes.

Have you encountered any financial obstacles, and if so, how did you overcome them?
I face them everyday! I think that it is a part of owning your own business. When I encounter down time, I work on self-promotion and update my portfolio and website. Taking care of myself is also an important part of my slow-time routine.

What is your definition of success?
Enjoying and loving your life and the work that you do, knowing that you have created something that is uniquely yours.

Who or what are your inspirations?

• illustrators Maria Kalman and Lisbeth Zwerger.
• graffiti artists Phil Frost and Keith Haring
• Andy Warhol
• Johnny Rotten
• Vivienne Westwood
• Paul Smith
• Richard Avedon
• Peter Beard

City life is my biggest inspiration, especially the quiet daintiness of Paris. I find the femininity of French culture, with their attention to small details, so enchanting. Urban living often brings the unexpected, and I enjoy knowing that each new day will bring surprises.

Words of advice for those pursuing their creative goals:
As artists we are unique and extraordinary. Embrace your uniqueness and do not be persuaded to conform to what is perceived as normal. We think differently and live our lives differently. Being an artist is truly special.

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.