We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ashley Irizarry. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ashley below.

Alright, Ashley thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I started selling my art after I left an abusive job that left me hopeless and full of self-doubt about my worth and abilities. I didn’t feel worthy or positive about my skills, and the last thing that made sense was creating a business around my art.

But I did.

Beginning an art business was a financial gamble, especially since I knew the disheartening statistics about how many new businesses failed. But after the struggles I had in my last few jobs which left me feeling unfulfilled and disrespected, I was determined to make it work. I dove in headfirst, making learning my priority–how to market, how to reach customers, build a website, manage expenses, and other business basics. Making the business work was important, but throughout the process, I was reminded again and again that I wasn’t creating this business to become rich, but to reclaim my self-worth and freedom after abuse.

Success had always been my objective in my previous career; I worked hard, pushing myself to the limit to create good work, to please my bosses, and make my company look good, in short, I dedicated myself to being the best employee. But it wasn’t enough. My work went unrecognized, and I fell victim to abusive managers and coworkers. The emotional and psychological suffering I experienced to satisfy the demands of a job that never saw me as worthy left me scarred, but determined to give myself the freedom and appreciation I had never received in my past jobs. And so my business mission has always been about creating independence and fostering my self-acceptance.

My business mission isn’t something that will change the world, especially when it’s a small, one-woman show like mine, but I hope that others will feel inspired to pursue their own dreams and grow beyond the narrow limits set by the world.

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

My name is Ashley Irizarry, I am an artist, writer, and educator that runs a small business dedicated to selling my own artwork. I create and sell a variety of artwork including my original paintings, prints of my photography, stationary, and small decorative boxes. I also write, teach, and manage marketing for an independent author. I’ve been creating art for many years, but it was only in the past two or three years that I started taking myself seriously as a professional and decided to sell my work. I officially started selling my art as a business last year after I left a demanding and unfulfilling corporate job. I had business knowledge when I started out, but creating a business from scratch that actually generates a profit is incredibly intimidating and I’m still learning. I’m proud of myself for even trying, especially since my business is dependent on my own artistic output. Even though there are hundreds of talented artists out there, many that are better than me, it’s still rewarding to see my work out there in the world.

As an artist that sells her work, my business brand is an extension of myself, but I’m careful about not becoming a brand. I’m wary about marketing and business advice that encourages people to brand and sell themselves; a public-facing persona can easily subsume you in world that measures people based on their potential for profit. I never want to “sell” myself or treat every person like a potential buyer and relentlessly market to them. In selling my work, there is a fine line between selling my art, and selling myself. As an artist and writer, I’m very open about my artistic inspirations and the personal challenges that influence my work. I’ve struggled with mental health for a long time, and my art and writings are a way to release those difficult emotions. My brand as an artist pulls on these difficult emotions, and I write freely about the things that influenced the creation of a certain art piece when I sell my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the best part about being an artist and a writer is the process of creation. It’s very easy as a creative, especially if you sell your work, to get caught up in perfectionism and obsessing over the end result. But being a creative is about enjoying, and getting lost in the process of creation. I create to create, not to make something that will blow everyone’s mind with some deep message, or get tons of likes on social media. I never want to become so caught up in the output that the creation becomes a chore. Being a creative is about the creating, whether it turns out good or bad, the reward is in the making of something. Worrying about whether the work is boring, ugly, or derivative destroys the beauty in making. I love forgetting my worries and forgetting the world when I make something.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

As a creative, I’m driven simply by my desire to create. Creating something, whether that’s a new piece or art or a new story (I’m a writer and visual artist), is where the joy is; I want to get lost in the flow of creation. I’ve struggled with depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues for a long time, and creating something was always a way for me to escape the burden of these difficulties, if only for a little while. As I’ve become a professional artist, there’s pressure to have success and results drive my creative journey. There’s nothing wrong with wanting success, but I know that for me, pursuing achievements has left me empty and unsatisfied, and I want my creative journey to be about enjoying the journey itself instead of driving towards a particular destination. I still desire success and recognition as an artist and writer, but my love of creating is my drive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ashleyirizarry.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sleepycritic
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyirizarry
• Other: www.pinterest.com/artsyiz

Image Credits
All image credits belong to me, the artist (Ashley Irizarry).