Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Caitlin Grace. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Caitlin, thanks for joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Becoming an artist takes courage. It is a leap of faith to pursue a career without guaranteed income, solely based on our own ability to show up and create a body of work that a customer base will resonate with. It is risking comfort; learning new skills, learning to deal with potential rejection and judgement, staying self motivated, continuing on when results are slow.
When I decided to take the leap, I was studying at university, working as a barista most mornings & drawing on the side as a side hustle. It was a steadily growing business & I was beginning to feel the burden of juggling so many things at once. I would get up at 4am, go to work at the cafe until midday, go to university in the afternoon then draw in the evenings.
Alongside that, I was getting ready to make the move from Melbourne to a regional town in Victoria.
Before setting myself up with a job across the state, I decided to give myself 6 months to knuckle down and try and make art my full time job. Going “all in,” was terrifying, but I knew this was the time to do it & I would regret it if I did not give myself the opportunity to find my potential.
I was consistent, obsessed with educating myself and learning from those I looked up to. I worked for hours at a time on commissions each day. Slowly I became more comfortable not just sharing my art, but my face too. Talking to my growing audience and customer base, building trust and a community.
I did not have it all figured out before I went “all in,” as an Artist. In fact- looking back I was so naïve, I might’ve scared myself out of doing it if I knew everything it actually took and how hard it can be! Hard, emotionally and physically exhausting at times but absolutely worth it.
A lot of my motivation is derived from all of the female artists in my family before me, who never had the chance to do what I do. They had to be home-makers & could not make a full-time income or have a career based off their skills & creativity. I am the first woman in my blood line who is able to do so, I owe it to them to take this risk as they could not.
To anyone who is wanting a creative career & feels stuck- please know the world is your oyster.
There are more opportunities for you than ever, there has never been a better time in the world that you are able to share your work. You are not limited to your small town, local gallery or niche community of people. Social media has changed that for the better.
There is so much talent out there that is devastatingly never seen, by people who are simply not courageous enough to put themselves out there.
You never know the possibilities of how your life can change unless you start taking the small steps towards the ‘big risk.’
I always encourage budding artists that it is possible, you can be a full time artist and not just make it work, but shatter the “starving artist,” trope and absolutely thrive.
Taking this risk is the best thing I have ever done. I can’t imagine not being an artist now- it is a career that shapes who I am & I feel like I was born to do it. I hope more young artists continue to take the risk as it is one well worth taking.
Caitlin, 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 have been an artist for over 6 years now, working on the business name “Caitlin Grace Art.”
I started as an illustration artist, working on commissions of people’s pets. I have drawn hundreds of pets at this stage- 6 years later I still really adore working on them for customers! It is a privilege to be trusted with drawing someones pet, they are so woven into the rhythm of someones life, they are never “just a pet,” I know they are family.
I strive for quality over quantity, taking many days for each piece making sure I am capturing the smallest details of each pet I draw, using archival materials so my customers can keep it with them for a lifetime.
In the last couple of years I have also branched out to painting, creating a few collections of original work inspired by my love for country life. I love learning so am always dabbling into new mediums- my followers and customer base know now that there is always something new on the easel I am trying and testing!
What they can guarantee though, is that I will always put my best foot forward and create work for them that is of high value and made with love. I don’t always stick to one niche, but everything I create has that in common.
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
I’ll tell anyone who will listen- artists, start an email list asap!
Social media is wonderful for showcasing your work and reaching a new audience, however an email list will allow you to continue to touch base with those who sign up.
If all your social media accounts shut down tomorrow, an email list would be a safe guard that you can still reach the people who care about you and your work. There is no algorithm interference, your email will still reach them.
It builds connection as it feels more personal than a post- remember they chose to engage and sign up so they do want to hear from you! If you have any news, launches, updates or artwork to share it is the perfect place to do it!
Email lists do take time to build though so I recommend starting as early as you can.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Putting not only your work (but yourself!) out there can be very daunting.
What I wish not only non-creatives but friends and family of creatives knew how far small actions of support go!
Liking posts, sharing your name in rooms you’re not in, engaging in your content- it all adds up. Support doesn’t have to be financial. Encouragement, referrals, respecting boundaries is really important. Supporting the creatives in your life in small ways creates a much bigger impact than you may realise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.caitlingraceart.com
- Instagram: caitlingrace.art
- Facebook: caitlingraceartwork
- Youtube: caitlingraceart
Image Credits
Photos taken by me :)