We were lucky to catch up with Aline Rich-Tschurtschenthaler recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Aline thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

Not one day goes by that I am not grateful for being able to be my own boss and make a living by creating art. It is still surreal to me, that people really want to buy my art. Nothing fills my heart with more joy than when I see people being excited seeing my booth at expos. Being an artist and creative is a big part of what makes me, me and seeing how all the hard work and determination are starting to pay off, is something I am extremely proud of.

But of course, there are days when I am incredibly overwhelmed, tired, and working til 3 a.m., where I wish my job would end at 5 p.m. and I could go home and turn off the work mode. It’s really hard to turn off as a small business owner. There is always something to work on and personally, I feel sort of guilty leaving things unfinished and taking time for myself. The work-life balance, steady income, and perks like health insurance that “regular” jobs bring are definitely something appealing, and something I miss from time to time, but I don’t think I am made for that kind of life.

Aline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey as an artist is full of ups a downs and twists and turns. It started early on as a kid. I grew up in Zermatt, Switzerland, a tiny town in the heart of the Swiss Alps. My grandma was the one that got me into art. I spent many days painting with her while watching “murder she wrote”. I always knew I wanted to work in a creative field, but wasn’t sure how or what, since it would be really hard to make a living selling art in Switzerland, especially spooky/witchy art. I got my degree in graphic design back home in Switzerland and after that, I immigrated to the USA where I did multiple internships in graphic/web design and branding, tattoo apprenticeships, freelanced as a graphic designer, modeled, was a barista, and explored so many other odd jobs. But in the end, none of these jobs seemed like the right fit and I really just wanted to be my own boss and create my own art.

In 2019 I almost wanted to give up on my dream of being an artist, but I took one last chance and started my small business and luckily it all worked out.

My small business is called House of Hex. It is bewitching, spooky, and Halloween all year round. Inspired by folklore, nature, classic horror, and Halloween, everything is made to make your home and yourself feel cozy and comfortable… but spooky. I sell all kinds of different home goods, from hand-painted ceramics, blankets, stickers, can glasses, socks and so much more. Everything I sell features my art.

I started with hand-painted ceramics but expanded to many other things over the past 4 years. It brings me so much joy to create things that I would want to buy for myself. After selling online on Etsy, I started doing a lot of smaller local markets and since the beginning of this year, I expanded to offer a lot of my items for wholesale on Faire and vend exclusively at the Oddities & Curiosities Expos.

Thanks to these expos I get to travel and sell my art in different cities and different states almost all year round. It’s a huge expo that has a lot of different vendors who sell all kinds of odd and unusual things and creations. It’s a ton of work, but also a ton of fun. You can find all the cities I will be going to in 2024 on my Instagram and Tiktok (I will publish them on Halloween)

My art can also be found in various witchy shops around the USA, Canada, and Australia.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Ever since I was a kid, I have been dreaming of being an artist and owning a Victorian house. That dream is still my biggest goal. One day I hope to be able to live a more calm and less stressful life. I just want to be able to create and sell art and work on my dream home with my little family; my husband, and my cats.

I don’t think there is an end goal, but more of a mission to make the journey magical.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Being able to do what makes me happy and finding a community. Through my small business and being an artist, I have been fortunate enough to connect with so many like-minded people and find my community. These people inspire and motivate me day by day. I am surrounded by people who relate to all the ups and downs of being an artist and small business owner.

Contact Info:

• Website: houseofhexshop.etsy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/house.of.hex
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/houseofhex/
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@house.of.hex Faire Wholesale: faire.com/direct/houseofhex