How did a week pass so fast? Between birthday celebrations (he had a blast on the train ride), playground adventures and cleaning up the house for the kids party (including painting the walls) this weekend, I have been delving into the very unfamiliar waters of websites. Oh, what a learning curve it has been. I have a long way to go. Did you ever have an idea in your head and no idea how to execute it? That is exactly where I have been. I am getting better bit by bit with it. Maybe I will be an expert when it is all done. Who knows?
So because of all of the above I haven't been creating much. I am feeling the need. I need to make a date with my art supplies. I miss them so.
Next week look for a new Art Biz Mama interview. Thanks again for all of the positive feedback on this series. I am glad we are all gaining lots of inspiration, ideas and support from it.
An ARTIST, a MOM, a CREATIVE BIZ OWNER. What happens when you combine all three? Welcome to Art Biz Mama. A series of inspirational interviews about being a mom, an artist and a creative biz owner.
And in case you are wondering why:
In an effort to connect, share and get to know some of my favorite artists (and I am sure they are yours too) a bit better and because I am a mama who has creative biz visions myself I have asked for a sneak peek into their very busy lives. To share a bit about just what it means to juggle these roles and how it all really plays out.
I know this is a topic that has been discussed plenty but for me (and you) I need to hear these stories. To know there are others reaching for their dreams and maybe stumbling at times, all the while caring for themselves and their family.
I believe we will glean a bit of insight from these smart and talented women that can inspire us all.
Hello!
I am back this week with artist Jennifer Swift. Jennifer is a wire sculpture artist. She has a shop on Etsy, Bird From a Wire where she sells her beautiful stitched wire sculptures and functional art. She also has a great blog called Art As Usual which in her own words "is all about living an art filled life." Please do check it out!
A huge thank you goes out to Jennifer for being here. It means so much to me that she took the time out of her busy day to share with us.
Would you please share a bit about yourself and your business?
The first thing that comes to mind is that I’m a mom. It sort of defines you, doesn’t it? My creative business is called Bird From A Wire it’s on etsy and I make wire sculptures and then stitch fabric to them. It adds color and pattern to what would otherwise be black. I really enjoy creating, the business part is much more of a challenge for me. I’ve had my business for just about 2 years.
Can you please share when you made the decision and what led you down the path to start your creative business?
Again, my path as a mom and an artist are completely intertwined. The first year of my son’s life I was incredibly sleep deprived and pretty irritable. When we rolled into year two both my mom and my husband told me “to get a hobby”. They recognized that I needed to create to be happy and they both wanted me a little happier. LOL- I must have been horribly crabby. Getting started seemed hard though and I decided to dedicate just one night a week to creating. I remember just sitting there in the beginning, not knowing what to do with myself.
I chose fabric to begin with, because I was attracted to the art quilts I’d seen. It was something completely new to me as well. At the same time I started playing around with wire. It was something I’d encountered in college and I remembered loving it. I wanted to just enjoy myself and not judge my work, as I would have if I began to draw again. In retrospect I was choosing a fresh start.
Soon I was a mad woman, creating constantly and getting quite a pile of sculptures. A friend told me about Etsy and really encouraged me to give it a try. It was really scary to list that first item and know that anyone could see it and judge it. But it was a start and a definite turning point in my life.
I know you have a 5 year old son. How has having a child affected your business and creativity?
He’s GREAT for me. I’ll finish something and he’ll say “mommy I really love your art”. He tells me I’m pretty all the time too. Fabulous for my self-esteem. Kids also look at the world a little differently, they have that sense of wonder completely intact. Because I’m with him I’ll see things now I would never have noticed before.
Would you please share what a "typical" day is like? Is there school, childcare, etc. while you are working on your biz?
A typical day would be me trying to work on whatever project I’m working on in snatches throughout the day. I try to do a few minutes on this, then do some cleaning, and then I’ll throw in a game or two of go fish, a couple of books, and then work a little more on my art. It’s really opportunistic creating. During the school year my son was at preschool for 2 ½ hours a day, four days a week. I laugh because it’s as if the clock starts ticking as soon as I walk out of his building. I try to do a blog post, my post office run, check my e-mail, read other blogs etc. during that time. Next year he starts school full time. It’s going to be a huge change in my work day. I’m hoping to do more marketing/promoting of my work then.
How many hours do you give to your business each week? Are you working during the days/evenings/weekends?
My work schedule really gets squeezed into little increments of time during the day and then I’m free after 7:00 when dinner’s done and my husband takes over the play. He puts Jasper to bed as well. If I need time on the weekend to finish something up my husband will take him out with him on errands or to a movie. I’d say I get 15- 20 hours to work each week. More during the school year.
I know this is a subject that is always being addressed but I need to bring up balance.I know as mom's we are dealing with this in all areas of our life. Do you feel you have a healthy balance between your work life and your family life?
Definitely NOT! When I’m working I feel like I should be doing more with my son. When I’m with my son my mind will wander to whatever project I’m working on. I try to create balance by alternating between the mom stuff, the housekeeping duties, my business, and creating. I’ve learned it works well to limit my online time to first thing in the morning and after dinner each night. I try to get on and get off. It doesn’t always work like that though. If I feel like I’m too focused on a project I’ll take Jasper out of the house. We’ll go to the zoo, or the park. Getting away from the computer and my work helps me to concentrate solely on him.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us today? Any words of wisdom for other moms/artist who wish to create a business out of their art?
Don’t think you can’t follow your dream just because you’re a mom. If you’re a creative type it’s most likely necessary to your sanity and sense of self to give yourself some time to create. Be kind to yourself and know you can’t do it all, and yet challenge yourself to do more than you think you can. I have moms ask me all the time how I find time for my art. I tell them I haven’t mopped the kitchen floor for months. It gets a spot clean when it’s dirty. My neighbor is outside hosing down her driveway. I don’t do that. My house is nowhere near as clean as it was before I started to focus on my work. You can’t do it all. I try to give my attention to what’s the most important.
I’ve also found it’s really important to have goals for yourself, for your work, for your life. Crazy audacious goals. The kind of goals that kind of take your breath away. I mothered my son, ran a business, volunteered my time, and wrote a book last year. It takes time and it takes goals, and it definitely takes the support of your family. BUT it CAN be done.
The book Jennifer is referring to is Creative Bloom and it is available for pre-order on Amazon!!
How is your week going? Well, I know I haven't been gone for too long. I really thought I may stay off line longer but after a few days of resting I am feeling SO much better. It is amazing what having limited computer time can do for you. So I am easing back into it. I was missing blogging and visiting my favorite blogs... I knew I couldn't stay away for too long.
Finished piece. LOVE
I finished the above piece recently and I really LOVE it. I keep feeling like it could be a great repeated design as well.
This weekend my baby boy turns 5! Three weeks later my daughter turns 3! So we are having a joint party for the two of them as well as a small celebration for each on their special day.
Also, I wanted to let you know that I will be back on Thursday with a new Art Biz Mama interview!
See you Thursday!!
xo,
dana
P.S. Is the font really tiny on this post? Someone had commented that is was too little. But I don't want to go too huge either.
Friday, July 09, 2010
I am taking a little time off from the online world to CREATE and prepare for a birthday celebration for my children. And most importantly just to BE, with a little swimming and a scenic train ride tossed in. :)
An ARTIST, a MOM, a CREATIVE BIZ OWNER. What happens when you combine all three? Welcome to Art Biz Mama. A series of inspirational interviews about being a mom, an artist and a creative biz owner.
Dear friends,
I am so glad you are enjoying this series as much as I am. It is so great to read true stories of mom's running creative businesses.
I am back with an interview with artist Stephanie Levy. I came across Stephanie and her beautiful art when I first was delving into blogging and this on-line art community. Her art was instantly a favorite of mine. She runs two wonderful blogs: http://stephanielevy.blogspot.com/ http://artistswhoblog.blogspot.com/ And a successful Etsy shop, stephanielevy.etsy.com. She was recently an Etsy Featured Seller. Wonder how she does it all? Keep reading and be ready to be inspired and delighted.
Hi, I’m Stephanie, an American artist/illustrator and mom to two little girls, Sophia and Lucy, ages 4 and 2. I’ve been living in Germany for the past 14 years, and I love the way the Internet gives us a chance to connect all over the globe!
So let me start by asking when did you make the decision to start your creative business?
I’ve been making art for as long as I can remember, and have a degree in painting. However, I always found most commercial galleries to be rather intimidating, and after the birth of my second daughter, I discovered the Internet as a way to market and sell my artwork online. In March 2008, I opened my first online shop with a small collection of a few paintings. Several months later, I began selling limited edition giclee prints of my artwork in my Etsy shop – http://www.stephanielevy.etsy.com
Interestingly enough, I still find it difficult to think of my art-making as a "business“ – unfortunately, this is something that was not very well explained during my art school training. Now I’m teaching myself more about the business side of art and learning as much as I can from others who’ve made the leap!
How has having children affected your business and creativity?
Having children is without a doubt one of the very best things that has ever happened to me. At the same time, it is a challenge balancing my time between doing what I love, running a creative business, and spending time with my family. I do hope that my working creatively is a positive influence for my daughters. My husband is also an artist, and some of our happiest times are when we are all drawing, painting, or making something together. We have a rather chaotic household, but it is certainly a creative one with lots of art supplies and worktables everywhere!
Would you please share what a “typical day” is like for you? Is there school or childcare, etc. while you are working on your biz?
I normally get up at 7 am, have breakfast with the kids, and walk them over to their preschool, which is conveniently located only one block away. Afterwards, I try to take a walk myself if the weather is nice, before I go home and start working on the computer or on new artwork. If it were up to me, I would love to spend at least 4-5 hours making new artwork each day – but often there are other things I must attend to - like email, paperwork, housework, phone calls, etc.
I make a list of what I most need to get done every day – often the night before – and then I tackle my list in terms of priority each morning. I ALWAYS put too much on my list, and I never accomplish everything I wanted to get done… This is a process I am still working on!
At 3 pm, I go pick up my children, and we take a walk, often get an Italian ice cream in the summertime or some kind of treat, and play at the playground or at home until my husband gets home at 4:30 pm. Luckily, my husband is a great cook, so we take turns making dinner in the evening. After dinner, we bring the children to bed, and if they go to sleep right away - unfortunately this is not always the case - then we have a little time for each other as a couple before we go to sleep. If I have a big deadline, I will go back to work in the evening. However, I am trying my best not to completely sacrifice sleep. I did this for a long time, but I have come to the realization that I function better as an artist and a mother if I am not totally sleep-deprived!
How many hours do you give to your business each week? Are you working during the days/evenings/weekends?
I do as much work as possible during the daytime when my children are in preschool and my husband is at work, so that I have more time for them in the evenings and on the weekends. I would like to devote more hours to my artwork than I do now – but my children are still young and simply need a lot of time with me. Recently, I was complaining to my physical therapist that I usually have only 3-5 hours each day to work on the computer/on my art and he said, “Be happy about this, and enjoy the time with your children! They will only be this young for a short time!” Of course he is right and it helped to put things in perspective. If I didn’t have children, I would probably be an obsessive workaholic!
I know this is a subject that is always being addressed but I need to bring up balance. Do you feel you have a healthy balance between your work life and your family life?
I think it is a struggle to accept things the way they are, the good sides and the bad. Some days I feel very frustrated that I don’t have enough time to work, and other days I feel guilty that I haven’t planned some wonderful, creative activity for my family! I imagine that finding this balance is a challenge for all working moms, and probably each person has to find their own comfort zone. I would love to hear more tips from other creative moms!
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us today? Any words of wisdom for other artists/moms out there who wish to create a business out of their art?
My best advice would be to be gentler with yourself, and less perfectionist. Most of us want to do everything “perfectly” – be the perfect mom, the perfect wife, the successful artist/crafter, the kind, attentive friend, the caring daughter – the list goes on and on and it is so overwhelming! We have to realize that no one is perfect, no one has a perfect life – we are all just plugging along and doing the best we can.
I find it important to take some time out alone each day – even if it is just for 5 minutes – to just sit, relax, give thanks for what you have, and try to cultivate a sense of peace and contentment. I have been trying to incorporate more quiet, meditative time into my days during the past few months, and it helps me to focus on what I really want – to see the “big picture” of my life rather than just feeling like life is a series of goals and steps to accomplish each week, month, or year. We all need personal goals to work towards, but it is just as important to find joy in the little things each day and be kind to yourself. Dream your dream, live your dream, and let go of the outcome. Enjoy the process and the journey!
To learn and see more of Stephanie please visit her at:
A long while back I started showing color stories here. I haven't done this in a LONG time. But since color is something that fuels my creative juices I decided from time to time I would post a color story or two. This morning as I was getting my kids their breakfast I noticed our blueberries that we picked yesterday in their beautiful paper container sitting next to my crocheted dishcloth made by my mom. I thought the colors looked great together. I uploaded to picnik ( love that site) and added some great fonts. So this is what was inspiring me on this sweltering summer morning.
In other news... I have been working ALOT on my facebook page. Please come say hi if you haven't already. I have been spending SO much time on line. Staying up way too late. Trying to figure it all out. I feel a break is coming up soon.
Please come back on Thrusday.... I have a brand new Art Biz Mama interview to share!! I am so glad you have all been enjoying these as much as I have.
If you are in the U.S. I hope you are having/had a great fourth of July!
Today we aren't doing too much. Two tired and cranky kids after lots of activities the past couple of days. So today we are laying low.
I finished the above piece!! I can't say I am head over heels in love BUT I do like it and I have learned some lessons along the way with it. Lessons about paint, paper, fabrics and varnish. The inspiration behind this piece is summer. Fun, frolicking, lazy days, berry picking, in the garden, near the sea. Some of the things summer means to me. Ha, that rhymes. :)
I am going to frame it and I am thinking about adding to a shop soon. Which one is the debate right now. Baby steps.
An ARTIST, a MOM, a CREATIVE BIZ OWNER. What happens when you combine all three?
I am back with another installation of my new series called Art Biz Mama. A series of inspirational interviews about being a mom, an artist and a creative biz owner. I am really excited about this!
The why behind this series: In an effort to connect, share and get to know some of my favorite artists (and I am sure they are yours too) a bit better and because I am a mama who has creative biz visions myself (maybe you too?). I have asked for a sneak peek into their very busy lives. To share a bit about just what it means to juggle these roles and how it all really plays out.
I know this is a topic that has been discussed plenty but for me (and you) I need to hear these stories. To know there are others reaching for their dreams and maybe stumbling at times, all the while caring for themselves and their family.
I believe we will glean a bit of insight from these smart and talented women that can inspire us all.
ENJOY!!
xo, dana
This week we are so lucky to have with us artist Wendy Brightbill from a girl and her brush.
From Wendy's about page:
i am wendy brightbill… mixed media artist, wife, paint from home mom, entrepreneur, creative soul, color and pattern lover, paper junkie, interior design addict, seeker of beauty, messenger of hope, and dreamer of big dreams.
if you were to step into my world, on any given day, you would find me making a mess in my studio, which is actually, well, just my dining room… my dining room, that is now being overtaken with paintings, blank canvases, paper, paint, brushes and many other supplies. you would find my hands all covered with glue and paint, sipping tea (wishing it were coffee), with several projects and paintings going all at the same time. you would see my two girls climbing all over me while i create, stealing my paintbrushes and dipping their little hands in my paint. when i first discovered collage, it was love at first paste. and i began this adventure as, quite simply, a girl and her brush.
I recently came across Wendy and I am so glad I did. Her spirit, her story and her art are truly inspiring. I was immediately enthralled in her story. Enjoy!
So let me start by asking when did you make the decision to start your creative business?
I just started my business in February of this year. But I feel like everything in my life has prepared me to do this, like I was created for this very purpose. Six years ago, my life was turned upside by a car accident. I found myself with a broken brain, a victim mentality, and a sick heart. I had lost my joy in living. I would cry at the drop of a hat and found myself often wondering why I couldn’t accomplish the simplest of tasks like making a phone call. In February of 2009, my case finally went to trial. The stress from losing the trial sent me into a downward spiral. I was deeply depressed and in financial ruins. I couldn’t see a way out of the place I was in.
Later that year, my mother gave me Kelly Rae Roberts’ book Taking Flight. And I started painting with Kelly’s mixed media techniques. My heart came to life. Painting soon became my gift from God, my therapy, my life line. It was if I painted my way through the depression by creating the life on canvas that I truly wanted to live. The more I painted joyful and colorful paintings, the more I experienced joy and color in my own life. I had done some acrylic painting before this, but for some reason the mixed media just clicked. I fell in love with the process of painting this way. I started showing my new style to friends and family with a response that surprised me. Everyone loved it! It was around this same time that I really started to dream about what it would mean to start a creative business. Wouldn’t it be amazing if I could turn my new found love of mixed media into a business? And so out of the ruins of my life, a beautiful dream began to take shape. And I don’t think it is just coincidence that exactly one year from my trial, I launched A Girl and Her Brush. My story is one of restoration and hope and I long to share it with others.
How has having children affected your business and creativity?
Wow! Great question Dana. I guess having children forces me to get a little more creative with my time and to be extremely flexible. As a paint from home mom, I find it a huge challenge to balance my life between mom and business woman. I feel like I am continually using all the little moments throughout the day. I often paint in little ten minute spurts. So many people wonder how they could ever find time to paint. Well, do you have ten minutes? I might start in the morning and take ten minutes to put together a background while the girls are playing. Then I come back later and add one layer of color. Then I come back even later and add an outline of a bird. You would be surprised how quickly all those little bits add up. I use nap time as well to get a lot done.
As a mom and business owner, I have realized that I just can’t do it all. I let a lot of the little things go. My children sometimes stay in their pajamas all day and the dishes pile up in the sink. I don’t use my “work” time to clean the house. I make my priorities and stick to them. It does help that my husband works out of our home because I can run to the post office or craft store while my daughters are napping.
On another note, my children have reminded me how to play. They keep me young and on my toes. We dance, laugh, play, and sing and this kind of energy in my house inspires me to create. They remind me that it is ok to make a mess and get yourself dirty every once in while.
Would you please share what a “typical day” is like for you? Is there school or childcare, etc. while you are working on your biz?
My girls are 4 and 2.5. No I don’t use child care. 7:00 Wake up hopefully before the girls get up. Finish blog post for the day if it isn’t done. Social networking, emails, any computer work, to do list.
8:00 Girls get up and eat breakfast.
8:30- 12:00 this time is extremely flexible. If the girls are watching PBS or playing with themselves, I might take time to finish some computer work or get in the studio. It all just depends on how independent my girls are that day. The nice thing about having two so close in age is that they often entertain themselves. I honestly don’t think I would be able to get so much done if I didn’t have two children. But I just stay sensitive to my girls, if I feel like they need more of my attention I will stop what I am doing to play with them or snuggle. There are days when they are grumpy and I don’t get anything done.
12:00 lunch
1:00 naptime for my youngest and sometimes for my oldest. This means studio time for me!!! If my oldest is not napping, she is really good about playing by herself. She is my easy child and can color or talk to herself for hours.
4:00 Naptime is over and I usually return to the computer to do more social networking.
5:00 I start dinner. I cook dinner every night. If I had a choice, we might eat out a lot more. But I have a laundry list of food allergies which means I have to do all of the cooking. And I actually love to cook.
6:00- 8:00 Family time
8:00 Girls go to bed and I am back on the computer working on blog posts or other things from my to do list.
The most important thing about my day is flexibility! With no one helping me to watch my girls, I find that it is crucial to be willing to let things go. If I don’t get it done today, it will done tomorrow. There are days when I feel like I am slowly chipping away at my dreams. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love that I am the one to raise my children.
How many hours do you give to your business each week? Are you working during the days/evenings/weekends?
This is an extremely difficult question for me to answer. My day seems so fragmented. I have constant interruptions. During the entire time writing these questions, I have probably been interrupted 10 times. I would have to say that I work between 25-40 hours a week. I do work evenings and weekends, but only if I am inspired to do so. If I feel burnt out, I will take time off. Most of the time working doesn’t feel like work for me, so it is easy.
I know this is a subject that is always being addressed but I need to bring up balance. Do you feel you have a healthy balance between your work life and your family life?
Absolutely not! I think balance is a myth. I don’t think it really exists. We are not superwomen, something will always suffer. Right now I am putting a lot of time into my business, but not nearly as much as I would be if I didn’t have kids. There are times that my business suffers because I am taking care of my girls. And there are times that my girls don’t get as much attention as they need to because I am focused on my business. It is give and take. Like I said before, I try to stay sensitive to my girls and figure out when they need more of me. And at other times I know that it is ok to push harder in my business. I try to let the other things go in my life. If it doesn’t revolve around my business or my girls, it can wait. And I stopped pretending that I am good at paperwork and cleaning. Somehow just admitting that was a huge relief to me because I stopped feeling guilty about not doing it. The funny thing is that I was never getting it done before, but now I don’t have the weight of feeling like I need to do it. It gets done when it gets done. Big sigh of relief!!!
Is there anything else that you would like to share with us today? Any words of wisdom for other artists/moms out there who wish to create a business out of their art?
My biggest piece of advice is to follow your heart. For years I thought that after I had children, I would be fulfilled in life. And although it was by far the most amazing thing ever, there was still a part of my heart that felt unfulfilled. I have stopped feeling guilty about that and have started exploring what fills me up, and that is creating. It is like breathing to my soul. When I am fulfilled because I am creating, my children sense that I am happy. And it speaks to them that it is ok for them to follow their own dreams. So go for it, and do what makes you happy.
Thank you so much Wendy!! I really enjoyed this. And I love "paint from home mom"
Lately I have been finding my thoughts scattered across the web. Courageous bloggers sharing deep insights that I myself have been having.
I have been reading posts and feeling like YES!! This is exactly how I feel! I guess it stems from the fact that we are all connected on a deeper level. And for me reading these posts and feeling so connected to the message (not to mention the blogger) is so amazing and comforting. I think sometimes we feel that we are the ONLY ones going through whatever it is and in reality that couldn't be further from the truth.
Like this post from Wini at artlovejoy titled A new journey. This was so brave. Here is a small excerpt:
"But I wasn't sure if I was good enough, and felt that there were so many others out there who are much better, and maybe no one would be interested in my work and I'd be a failure. But now my dream is starting to solidify, and although the fears are still there, I feel more confident and motivated to move forward with it."-Yes, Wini I am right there with you!
And this post from Michele Fauss title Afraid to paint. Wow!! I really could relate to the whole thing!!
Here is a bit:
"I'm afraid to finish the paintings.
Does that make sense? I'm actually scared of my own art. You see each background I do, I have a plan for. I know exactly what I want on it for the most part, but I'm afraid to start that part of the process because I'm afraid I'll mess it up. I seem to moving into a new direction, and I am wanting and trying to draw and paint more in my work.
....I'm feeling a lot of the things we've talked about in class too. Mainly, who do I think I am to think others will be interested in my art? and Will I be able to make enough money to make art my career?"
And this post from Chrissy at cul*ti*vate titled on being honest with myself. A great post about hiding her art from the world. From her post:
"my problem is, i set out to sail on this vast sea of amazingly talented
women in the world, and all of a sudden i feel as though i am a little dingy boat and everyone around me are larger than life, multi million dollar cruise liners.
i feel insignificant. i don.t say this to get pity. so don.t give it to me.
{you guys are nice that way!} it just is what it is."
So yes, I have been feeling:
excited: for possibility
afraid to finish: what if I mess up?, I have been doing that alot lately. Starting, liking it then doing something and cringing. I hate to waste paper, paint, canvas and time. I have told myself that maybe I am this way because in my past career as a textile/surface designer I designed on a computer and when you did make a mistake it was very easy to undo. And of course with non digital materials it isn't so. Will I ever make something I love? This has been a HUGE one for me!! I am challenging myself to finish this collage. I like it so far. I just hope I don't mess it up. :)
a little unsure: will I measure up?
I think most would agree these are things we just feel and go through. Sort of feel the fear and do it anyway.
Thank you to those courageous artists. You have helped a ton.
xo,
dana
p.s. Blogger isn't cooperating today. It is a bit wonky here. Not saving any changes. Hmmm..
