Art Hobby to Art Career Part II
The following text appeared in the January 2024 edition of Ann Kullberg’s Color Magazine
For the April 2023 issue of this magazine, I penned an article about my first steps on a journey turning my newfound art hobby into a career. In brief, I’d discovered coloured pencils in August 2022 and within six months I was making plans to become a full-time artist. I’m back to provide an update and (spoiler alert) I’m not a full-time artist. Let me tell you why this nevertheless is a success story. It has a lot to do with mindset.
The catalyst
In the untold story of my journey, it was two days after I joined The Bonny Snowdon Academy (a wonderful online coloured pencil teaching platform and community) that my three-year-old daughter became very ill and was hospitalised. Officially, she’s recovered but I was left with considerable anxiety around her health, which I’ve been trying hard to switch off. I mention this for two reasons: one, surrounding myself with art and inspirational people has been therapeutic; and two, I know fear and it is not fear that keeps me from quitting my day job as an academic and diving into a new career.
A shift in perspective
From one perspective, my daughter’s role in this journey has been somewhat coincidental. I discovered pencils without her, and I joined the Academy without her. Indeed, instead of excitedly jumping into new tutorials with other new Academy members, I was caring for her a home (she recovered rapidly from an unknown infection and she’s fine). Due to the scare, however, my day job became entirely insignificant in an instant. I informed the relevant people of my absence and made sure my students were taken care of. When I returned to work, I started to reply more assertively to messages and became more efficient at triaging. I prioritised my well-being also, making space for art. As I was able to spend more time in the Academy, my confidence grew and I started reading more widely, listening to podcasts, and becoming more open to new ideas.
Is there a route to ‘success’?
With tuition and direction, I progressed rapidly with my coloured pencil artwork. When I decided to take on commissions, however, I was very concerned with the ‘correct’ way of doing things. Rather than listening to the advice and absorbing tips that could be applied as appropriate, I thought that there was a proven path and to deviate would mean that my fledgling business would fail. Ultimately, I think that my skills with a pencil grew faster than my experience. A year on from the doors opening to the Academy, I know that there is no single path, and you don’t need all the answers (nor a consistent body of work) before you start walking (note to self to curate later).
To those that advise “you must commit to be successful” I retort that quitting my job may have projected me further, quicker, but I am happy walking my own path if I feel that I am making incremental moves forward. I have my eyes open for opportunities and I’m investing in myself by learning complementary skills (smart phone photography, social media prowess and life drawing, for example). Despite having a family and maintaining another job, I fiercely protect time for art and I’m taking on enough commissions to support most of my training and development (e.g. course fees, memberships, exhibition and framing costs). Currently, I’m pricing my work to reflect its value to me at this stage of my journey (e.g. the minimum compensation to part with an original) or, probably, mid-range for a pet portrait commission.
Why I am successful
I am an artist (and, somewhat less importantly, as dictated by parentheses, a part-time academic). Identity is my first piece of evidence for success. To switch how I introduce myself to others has been a huge mindset shift. While negotiating reduced hours and working pattern was, in many ways, the first formal declaration of the new me, I went further and approached an academic news magazine (The Times Higher) with an idea for a piece on finding happiness in academia. This later became a feature and laid bare my new apathy for academic progression as a goal, promoting instead the need to find time for personal projects and creativity. Other academics added their ideas. A few contacted me directly with thanks.
As I detonated one identity, I created another. I had a branding photoshoot for ‘Amii Harwood Artist’. I employed a graphic designer to revamp my business cards and flyers (relatively inexpensive through Fiverr, an online freelance services marketplace). I met new people – from photographers and framers to pet shop owners, baristas, and booksellers – and chatted about my new business and plans for growth. Recently, I established a blog on my website, and I approached some ‘art heroes’ for connection and quotes. I can’t say that these steps were part of any grand business strategy, but they have been fundamental to my growth mindset.
Growth
My business is growing. I take on one or two pet portraits a month and work on personal projects when I want to. I try to find a challenge in every new piece (e.g. reflections, whiskers, colour, grass) and never entertain the idea that something is beyond my capability or experience. I’m successful, in this respect, because I’m not afraid to try before I feel ready. It’s only by the end of the piece that I feel confident.
I continue to grow because I can swallow rejection and feel excited by critique. I have entered several art competitions as I enjoy the process (from the excitement of ‘playing with the big boys’ to the framing and hanging). I’m so happy to have won an award for ‘Stuck Inside’ (TALP Open 2023 Faber-Castell Award); such an accolade certainly used to be a goal and it’s wonderful to know that I have peer-approval. One of my favourite pieces (‘Indigo in the Sunshine’), however, has been rejected many times but it was a seminal piece for me and so, perhaps in an act of defiance, she adorns the homepage of my website. Similarly, a rejected close-up of my cat Monty is now a banner on my Facebook page and website. Critique by peers can be marvellous for development but I think we should remember art speaks to people in different ways – these overlooked pieces speak to me and potential clients.
Success, for me, isn’t accolades and it isn’t a full book of commissions. Success is waking up and feeling excited about the day ahead. Success is turning scary tasks into something motivating. Success is finding joy in the mundane. Success is the happy glow of knowing that you are putting more into the world than you are taking from it. And, regardless of the money I bring in, no one can take away my love for my pencils.