We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauralee Chisolm. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauralee below.
Hi Lauralee, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?
Learning how to make a full-time income from my artwork was a process. I needed to figure out a way to monetize my art skills by exploring realistic careers where drawing and painting were going to be my main job functions. After some exploration, I found that Graphic Design specifically in the Fashion Industry was a great place to earn a living while getting to do what I love. The journey from day one to my current position as a Senior Graphic Designer started with a college education in Fashion Design & Product Development. Upon graduation I entered the workforce as a Junior Designer and worked my way up the ladder by constantly learning on the job, being collaborative with more experienced artists on the team and focusing on continuing education in the field. Any creative job is highly competitive and Graphic Design is not any different. You must have a thick skin and constantly push yourself to stand out amongst thousands of other very talented individuals.
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.
I am a Senior Graphic Designer for a major clothing manufacturer who holds design licenses for many large brands. I have designed clothing and apparel graphic art for companies including Billabong, 5.11 Tactical, Travis Mathew, Hurley, Reef and Columbia Sportswear to name a few. I got into Graphic Design after spending my adolescence sketching my favorite anime characters and designing my own clothing. When it was time to go to college, I researched and explored many creative degrees to figure out where I could realistically monetize my art and design skills. Although I work full-time, I also offer freelance design services to companies looking to create or grow existing lines of clothing. My services range from apparel graphic design for t-shirts and allover textile prints to clothing design, merchandising and product development.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Resilience is so important in any creative field. The competitive atmosphere can be very stressful and only the strong survive. When I first entered the workforce back in 2012, finding my first job was incredibly difficult. The competition for entry level jobs was fierce and my lack of experience was not impressive to hiring managers. I applied for almost 100 positions before I was given the opportunity to show my skills on the job. During my time applying for my first job, I spent most of my day re-doing my design portfolio over and over again – constantly striving to make it better so I could stand out amongst the competition. Without this resilience, I would not be in the Senior position that I am today with a resume of working with some of the biggest brands on the planet. I am very grateful for this drive and incredibly proud of where it’s taken me in my career.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I think NFT’s are a cool and unique way to create exclusive content for people who enjoy your artwork. Artists need outlets like this to thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behance.net/lauraleechisolm
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauralee-chisolm-94500126/