Every child loves painting and drawing, and I was no different. I would look forward to art classes in school, craving the opportunity to experiment with collage, painting and making stuff. It was my last year in school, and I was still in doubt about career options, when my art teacher encouraged me to consider an art degree.
And so, I got my HND in graphic design and illustration in 2003, but due to my personal and financial situation at that time, I gave up on art shortly after leaving college, and worked many years as an office administrator, living pay cheque to pay cheque. It was a very dark time in my life, devoid of creativity and authenticity.
It took me 10 years to reignite my passion for creating art.
Around 2013, I finally felt emotionally and financially supported, and this is when I started experimenting with alla prima and impressionistic painting, using art and mark-making as a form of healing therapy. I started painting intuitively, breaking several “rules” that I was taught in art college.
I sold some of my original paintings, but art was still just a hobby.
It was only after leaving my administration job in 2017 to stay home with my kids, that I started looking at illustration as a small business venture, doing freelance work, graphic design, and print-on-demand products. This income was very little, a few times I barely broke even, and I was spending more and more time on social media. Eventually I reached a level of “micro influencer” on Instagram, even getting sponsored paid posts and products. However that process affected my mental health, and I struggled with my feelings towards making art that I loved vs making art that would get likes.
So one day, feeling that I was not good enough, not productive enough, not authentic enough, I deleted my Instagram account . It was an amazing experience to focus my time back on myself and my family. I kept offering my freelance services in other sites, however, the little income I had worked so hard for, pretty much disappeared overnight. I kept working on personal art projects for my own creative needs, getting the occasional sale now and then.
Embracing a new direction, I started painting digitally in 2020, and exploring the NFT space in 2021. This has taken my creativity and art style to a new level of expression and authenticity, and it showed me the importance of connecting with the Art Community. I created new social media accounts and this newsletter hoping to form genuine connections through my Art. In the NFT space artists will often say:
“we came for the sales, we stayed for the community”
After so many years, I am still seeking my tribe whilst exploring and learning what it means to be an artist. I would love for you to join my journey.
Stay Creative!
Bella