We recently connected with Cheryl Gross and have shared our conversation below.

Cheryl, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

When I was younger I quit college to become a freelance illustrator/fine artist. Needless to say, it has been a journey. At the beginning I waited tables and other assorted part time jobs. About 3 years into it, I was finally able to give up the joys of waiting tables and actually earn a living making art.

The world of illustration has many tiers. There is the low paying bread and butter gigs, the occasional top notch jobs and of course the grunt work. You also have work for free with the promise that you will have a great portfolio piece and perhaps this will lead to more work that you will actually get paid for…but not now. I was fortunate to experience it all. Then there is the anxiety of the phone not ringing, the waste of time portfolio drop, the angry abusive art director, the art director that has been using you for years and then gets a different job or gets fired.

I don’t want to sound disgruntled because like I said before, it is quite the journey. I have made some wonderful friends and met some very interesting people. I

At this point in time, I have learned to create my own path and the work that I do doesn’t depend on illustration. There are other venues out there worth pursuing. One thing to remember is that every few years industries shift along with styles and trends. Social media is a great example of this. Even within and of itself, social media is always reinventing itself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I came into the art field as a freelance illustrator/gallery artist. Knocking on doors, cold calling and networking was much easier back then.

My service(s): I create art that assists an already existing idea. Even if I am creating the platform, the idea comes first.

The problems I solve is to allow the commissioned work to communicate an idea and sell a product.

What sets me apart from others is how I interpret an idea, how I design it and of course my own personal style.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My art is a calling. It’s something I was put on the earth for. Even at my lowest low, I always found solace in creating.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Monetarily support artists. Society has a tendency to always pick the “flavor of the day.” If someone belongs to a certain group, no matter what that group may be, they are the ones that collectors gravitate to. This is a prejudice that people acquire that I believe is driven by dealers and current events. It would be nice if one was judged by their abilities rather than their ethnicity, age or sexual preference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cherylgross.net
• Instagram: [email protected]
• Facebook: [email protected]
• Linkedin: Cheryl Gross
• Youtube: cherylgross@cherylgross

Image Credits
Cheryl Gross I have permission