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

Chrystal, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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?

All I’ve ever wanted to do was be an artist. I didn’t have any training and I was self taught, so when I begin this endeavor I wasn’t sure I would make it. But here I am, a few years later, selling my work.

Being an artist isn’t a regular job and there are many ways to succeed. For me, I have several avenues that I earn my living from. The main one being shows and festivals. For most of the year I travel to different states for art fairs. In the beginning I couldn’t always afford hotels so I sometimes slept in my car because I was determined to succeed. I built my set up from the ground up, adding more displays slowly and when I could. These days I have a 10×10 tent, gallery walls and have the packing down to a science. But I’m still learning and I discover something new at every event. That is something I never want to stop doing and I think, no matter where each of us are in our career, we can learn something new. Along with fairs I sell through galleries, shops and my social media. I think that I will always travel to shows, though, because I love meeting artists and communities. Connecting with people in person is a great feeling.

A big part of succeeding in this field is to hold yourself accountable. Get up every day and work. Get your feet moving and make connections. If you’re turned down for a show, see where you can improve and keep trying. Show up every day. Accept the title of “artist” and don’t feel like an imposter. Making yourself get into the studio every day, even if it’s a tiny corner of your apartment or your kitchen table, is important.

As a full time artist I try to help new artists as much as possible and hope to inspire people. Three and a half years ago I found myself in a difficult situation. I had to leave my home and my belongings and start over in a new state with just my paintings and my cats. I had lost everything. I rebuilt my life and my career and am proud of the progress I have made. There wasn’t anyone to tell me how to rebuild and how to navigate this career, so I’ve been doing trial and error. Seeing what works and what doesn’t. I’ve learned a lot along the way and really enjoy helping artists at the start of their careers. There’s enough room for all of us.

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

I’m a traditional artist currently residing in Northern Utah, but come from Northern California. My work is inspired by nature and mythology and one of my main goals is to connect viewers with our roots in the natural world. I like to portray wildlife in a way that is more familiar and more than just a portrait. I think we are so fortunate to share this beautiful planet with so many amazing creatures and hope to remind people that we are all connected at our core to this world and each other.

I am very eclectic and use various mediums to bring my ideas to life. I work with oil, acrylic, gouache, clay and ink often. Creativity does not have to be bound to one medium.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Connecting with others. Giving feelings and emotions a voice through color and images.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

At the age of 31 I had to completely start over in life. I had to leave behind my home and my belongings and start over from scratch. I drove two states away with my cats and my art. I was brave enough to leave the situation I was in, so I knew I could be brave enough to start over. The day I bought my first piece of furniture a few months after moving, a bed, was the most amazing feeling. It made me feel like I was really doing it, I was rebuilding and claiming my own life back. I was determined to rebuild, and I worked so hard to do so. I was knocked back a few times, but I still got up every day and pushed myself. Three and a half years later I’m thriving in my art career, have my own place that no one else can claim, and am very proud of myself for being strong three years ago and continuing to be strong today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chrystaldawnartist.wixsite.com/my-site
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrystal.dawn.art/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrystaldawnart