We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Josephine Rice a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Josephine , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’ve been fulltime Artist for 4 years now. For me it took 10+years to earn any money with my paintings. At the beginning/I had not developed my style and couldn’t have really sped it up because it required the trial and error. I was working jobs that took up my energy from putting effort into my craft, but I would spend extra time on it. It would pain me so much to have to “waste precious time” at a job I knew wasn’t my souls calling. I was extremely disheartened that I tried all sorts of avenues and was not making and money. I was so nervous and unsure of myself to self promote and wonder if it’s any good or worth something significant. Still fighting the starving artist narrative in the back of my mind. I was lost, sick, heartbroken that I would have to be more practical and give up the idea of living my artist dream. So I gave up and kept trying at the same time. After surviving heartbreak, illness, near death experience and more I had no more f’s to give. I was going to die giving it my best and decided who cares what people think, I can feel good about myself at the end of the day that I put myself out there. And finally the stars aligned and I started making money with the art, finding opportunities and able to leap and quit my jobs.
If I could go back in time I would have had more confidence and loving myself. Though that had to be obtained in the journey. I would have been more connected to spirit/knowing that if I have this desire and skill than I shall pursue it and it will be mine. I would have not been swayed by things people said and let them just have their thoughts while not internalizing it. Be more optimistic and believe making money is good, success is not selling out. It’s your life, make the most of it.

Josephine , 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?

I create residential and commercial murals, sculptural experiences, delicate paper wall art, journals and more.
I want my work to be an escape from everyday life and to get lost in colors, flowers, bold black lines and gradients. I love that it is an uplifting unifier, as many enjoy fun plants and ombres. My work helps clients by making their spaces memorable and taking an otherwise bland wall and turning it beautiful.
It makes my heart sing when I hear the work made someone happy or was their favorite addition. I want people to remember beauty in times of pain and celebration.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I have been embarrassed a million times. Being in art shows where no one came or looked once at my paintings. Not having the money I needed to put into the work or know how I’m going to pay for bills. Bad interviews and bullies. Hating the work I’ve made and feeling like I have no skill. Questioning the point, selfishness? Worth and naivety of continuing to make the art. Saying no to hangouts to stay home and create, loneliness. Near death experiences and absolute heartbreak.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

I love listening to books/speakers/philosophers particularly while I paint. I think you have to listen to positivity as you may not be getting that from your surroundings. Favorites would be “You can heal your life” by Louise hay and “Goals” by Brian Tracy.
Some core ideas there would be, I used to feel envious/inferior of successful artists or happy, successful people- if you see something that makes you jealous- instead say “that’s for me” be happy for them and know you can get it yourself/or the equivalent of what would make you feel good. Love yourself like your life depends on it, follow your honest bliss. This doesn’t have to be a struggle.
Goals talks about most people wander without really aiming for what they want, or even trying hard. Don’t say it’ll never work, say it’ll be so cool when I finally get there, and get creative on problem solving how. Everybody started from somewhere.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.josephinerice.com
• Instagram: @josephinerice.flower