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

Hi Anastasia, thanks for joining us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I have been a full-time artist for 16 years, and today there are diverse revenue streams in my business, including my website, galleries, art events, licensing, and teaching courses. Every year, I make adjustments depending on the business intent I set for it – some years end up being very event-heavy, and others are busier with self-development and other types of projects. Yet, looking back, I know for certain that the heartbeat of my success lies in simple, genuine, face-to-face interactions! My business was launched at art festivals, and in an era before everyone used smartphones and was glued to social media. These shows weren’t just sales venues; they were dynamic spaces where I witnessed firsthand the emotional impact of my art. People’s direct feedback was invaluable, a blend of market research and resilience training (as no artist will ever have 100% of the public resonate with their work!) These rich, real-world connections are what has fueled my business all these years. Sure, social media came into play later, but the core of what I do remains driven by these authentic, personal conversations. I often get reminded that my style and theme of work (travel, nature, adventure, vibrancy) self-selects the energies that get attracted to it, and that is probably why I find my customers to be so awesome.

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

I’m an artist specializing in expressive acrylic paintings. My vivid pieces draw inspiration from the natural world, some urban landscapes, and my travel adventures. I often capture these inspirations through photos, but I’m also influenced by diverse art forms, from street graffiti to unique textures. In my work, I love to play with vibrant colors and striking contrasts, infusing each piece with a dynamic, energetic essence.

Growing up in Ukraine, my love for art-making began as soon as I could hold a pencil. My earliest memories are filled with hours spent staying busy at my little drawing table, so I “babysat myself” much to my mom’s delight. My parents nurtured this passion by always keeping me stocked with art supplies. My dad was working as an artist-designer, and hanging out in his studio, going to exhibitions, and living in an artistic ecosystem had a big impact on me.

Then in my pre-teen years, I started attending what’s called a “preparatory art school” and it, ironically, very much dampened my enthusiasm for art! The school’s rigid, Soviet-style teaching, with its focus on endless, uninspiring still lifes, left little room for creative expression. But, the silver lining of these classes was the repetition of painting techniques, and my resulting ability to channel energy into even the less enjoyable aspects of art creation.

After moving to the U.S. at 14, I did not continue any art education. Instead, I pursued a business degree and spent a few years in the corporate world. Deep down, though, somehow I always knew that being aligned with my true identity meant making a living through my art. So I made the leap in 2008 to pursue art full-time and never looked back.

Looking at my journey as an artist today, it’s been a remarkable experience, though not without its challenges! I’ve showcased my art in hundreds of events and my pieces adorn the walls of many private and corporate collections. I’ve been fortunate to have unique opportunities to exhibit and license my work. Often I do have to remind myself to no stress over small details, and take forced rest (and that is why travel is vital to my well-being). But the most gratifying aspect remains connecting with people, via color and brushstrokes! None of us (artists) run this business in a vacuum, and that is the energy that is most precious.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

First off, I wish we all collectively agreed to stop classifying artists / designers / musicians / writers, etc as “creatives”, and everyone else as a “non-creative”.  Being an artist makes me artistic. It does NOT, however, necessarily make me more creative than someone who works in a non-art profession. Creativity can be expressed in a million different ways – how we dress, speak, run a business, solve problems, socialize, etc. Creativity is simply an innate part of being human.

Now that we got that out of the way, here’s the thing. I spoke earlier about the magical parts of this art-making life, but please understand this: our – full time artists’ – typical work days are much more structured and boring than you probably imagine. We don’t sit around and wait for inspiration to strike with painting. We paint first, and then inspiration comes. But even art creation itself is just one small portion of my average week – the rest is dedicated to managing things like marketing, accounting, show prep, order fulfillment, framing, shipping, customer communication, research, and everything else that makes this business run. Basically, running a “creative” business requires a whole lot of “non-creative” actions. Ultimately, then, your success depends on whether or not you can “creatively” stack and systemize these continuous boring tasks, so that you allow yourself to be immersed in the reason you started it all to begin with: uninterrupted time in the studio.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

At individual level, I believe that everyone should own at least one piece of original art – because works that are made directly by the artist’s hands carry a special, unique energetic signature and vibration within it that can not be duplicated. On a broader scale, I feel that much more emphasis needs to be placed by larger corporations on igniting connections and fostering collaborations between themselves and artists. Combining substantial budgets with artistic output can benefit us all. My own experience includes a large event, where my paintings were projected on walls and transformed into illuminated objects. Then, rooms were decorated around these paintings’ color palettes – that was a jaw-dropping vision, that also served to enhance brand equity!  But, here is a much more humbling example: some of my work is displayed at Rush University Hospital in a chemotherapy room for breast cancer patients. I was deeply moved when a couple of these cancer warriors actually took time to obtain my contact info, and messaged me to share how my art uplifted them during their tough treatments. It’s moments like these that highlight the energetic, healing power of art, a fact that society (and businesses) should always remember.

Contact Info:

• Website: AnastasiaMak.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amakart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anastasiamakart/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnastasiaMakArt
• Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@amakart