Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Yvette. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Yvette, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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?

No matter how difficult circumstances get, I’m much happier pursuing life as a creative. There’s something special and fulfilling about pursuing your dreams that just can’t be satisfied elsewhere. However, I often find myself thinking about how much easier life would be If I had a steady job with a steady income, especially during an economy as draining as the one we’re currently in. No matter the outcome, I would still suggest to anyone who has a dream to pursue it with their whole heart. Even if it doesn’t end up being sustainable, you can at least live on this Earth knowing you believed in yourself and gave your dreams a shot.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My creative pursuit mainly concerns creating pins out of fan art, but I have also ventured out into other merchandise such as bags, shirts, and even hair claws. I started my small business around 10 years ago when I was in college studying English Literature. I had a little hobby of collecting enamel pins, but at the time, there were hardly any anime pins that reflected my personal style and taste. I thought to myself, “What if… I try designing my own anime pin?” Previous to that thought, I had never considered a career in art, but that little thought shifted the trajectory of my life. For the past 10 years, I’ve been designing the items I want to see and wear, and luckily, others ended up enjoying my work along the way.

I’m most proud of taking a chance on myself and my ideas. When I’m working on creating something, I do think about what others would like to see, but what has established my brand is the fact that I also focus on what I want to see in the items I release. If it’s not something I would personally want to wear, I scrap the idea.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

About a year before I began my creative journey, I lost one of my best friends to suicide, and that whole year was marked with such grief and heaviness that took hold of my spirit and will. I saw how ephemeral life could be, but also how special this one life is. The grief lead me to believe in giving this life my all, and so I took a chance on myself to pursue my little idea. Pouring my passion into a creative outlet gave me a reason to live life once again.

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?

Sometimes it’s difficult to see how much hard work goes into a project when the audience is only given the outcome or final piece. With the rise of AI, I fear that the work and introspection that goes into a creative piece is losing its value as people want something that can quickly be manufactured. So much work and practice goes into developing a skill, and honing your craft with constant practice is part of the journey most do not see.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://akumapress.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/akumapress
• Other: tiktok: @akumapress

Image Credits

Photo credit to @biamisama on instagram for the last photo