We recently connected with Constance S. Prince and have shared our conversation below.

Constance, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’m an intuitive self-taught artist and for me there is always room to learn. To me learning is on going and in tune with my personal growth. Yes I purchased books and saved tutorials but in truth I’ve never sat and studied any of them in full because I want to find my own authentic voice. I appreciate the way my brain works whichbis to feel my way through each art piece I’ve created. In terms of creative process I don’t mind making mistakes and happy to explore curiosity as it surfaces. If challenges occur I would do a little research for example if u can use certain materials together, marketing and so on. In the beginning I sat through alot of workshops to help out with admin, networking and anything i was new to and wanted to gain further understanding. I believe my willingness to try new things with confidence and follow through has accelerated my learning. In this i learned new things about myself and craft as well as strengths and weakness’s. I have learned alot through conversations with other artist peer’s and accute learning when a challenge arises.

Consistency and remaining open to criticism has been one my biggest avenues of learning so far.

Knowing what i know now I wish i had ignored the concept of time. It’s your craft, on your terms. Work at a pase to suite your growth and learning as you become your true self as an artist. In my experience you make less mistakes this way, also remember just because something works for the majority. It does not always mean it will be the same for you on your own journey.

Be unafraid of creating your own educated path and following your instincts. There are many ways to attain your idea of success, so there is no need to reastrict yourself of possibilities or rush the process.

If you believe and know you can. You will achieve what you dream of and more. Believing in yourself is probably the most obvious but to me most important thing i could advice.

Though its fun doing what you love and it feels easy, there is going to be those rare chapters or moments where no one else can see your vision. So u need to believe in yourself to follow through at the lonely times. It doesn’t necessarily mean its wrong to dream your dream, sometimes the mountains you find only has room for you to climb safely. When you get to the top there is only room for you and the view from the top is worth it out weighing all else.

One of those mountains for me has been the digital space. Most of my learning has been consumed with getting to know technology. I’m tired already thinking about it, honestly. So i am aware that there are many platforms you can sell your art and website companies that sell templates etc to help you build your own. Goodness where do I start.

So i have launched my website multiple times and had to hop companies and take a step back to see what works for me.
I’m highly dyslexic and recovering from memory loss from previous Road traffic incidents. So the housestyle and lay outs matter to me. I started with one company to build my website, long story short i had no idea that if I designed it all on my phone and then switched from Android to Apple. It wouldn’t be compatible. So I lost everything which resulted in starting again. I grew exhausted and uninterested had a break and decided to go with someone new and cut my losses.

This time using my desktop but then the layout was not suitable for mobile devices. Two years later I have a new website which i will finally launch yet again but this time everything is running smoothly and i found someone tech savvy to help.

Moral of the story don’t spread yourself thinly, you may not be able to do everything yourself every time. I’m glad I did not give up completely because I understand the platform and decided to channel my focus on the website. So will be closing my etsy store and folksy store. Now putting my works in a physical functional store and found the balance between face to face sales and digital sales.

I have no regret’s because with all the ups and downs I found new places to sell works. I lost count how much technology skills I’ve gained now. Obstacles should be embraced because its an opportunity for growth and learning.

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?

If you are acquainted with me for the first time I concider myself a full-time Multi disciplinary, progressive and intuitive artist.

The discription given to me by onlookers over time and I can only agree. I currently love to create and sell painted pieces in a variety of sizes, surfaces and media; Oil, acrylic, gouache, watercolour, charcoal, graphite ink and mixed media works.

I mostly enjoy Acrylic and Goauche they dry so quickly and give room for flexibility. I have a new found love for painting small. The smallest being 1.5” by 1.5” (inches) in size. Currently part of my private collection when more competent something I look forward to revealing.

Many don’t know I love writting and singing but i am shy about sharing that side of me.

I have always had a creative career previous to art from hairdressing, beauty therapy, henna/mehndi artist, and catering. Art is what I truly love and passionate about and if I had to be completely honest the career found me not the other way round. All I knew is I made up my mind to follow my dream to be a painter everything else became background noise, I blinked and wow.

Next thing I knew I was sharing my art that out grew being a hobby as more collectors approached me. I’m in magazines, on the radio, participated in two shared exhibitions and now working on a new adventure that envolves selling my works face to face. I just learned to embrace the journey and say yes with true conviction and without fear if it felt right.

So at Prince_Artworks I strive for my brand to encourage being yourself. As an intuitive artist I just paint what I like. Its extended expression so I don’t worry about niche’s that sort of thing. I may compartmentalise my works but I honestly love everything I turn my attention to. Narrowing down my style of works just does not feel like I’m showing up authentic. It will either bite me or reward me. It ls part of my dream and I believe as people learn about me in the long term it wont matter so much. Trusting that my works in all areas are all equally growing and evolving consistently. I like my works to stand for something and currently researching charities whos cause I resonate with so i can contribute a percentage of earnings to. I may not be new to the world of art but still a baby to the behind the scenes admin work.

The bottom line with me is I don’t want to just benifit myself or four children but extend my kindness and positivity to all who recieve me.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Something that really knocked the wind out if me as a business owner and artist is managing grief. Grief is not really something you can mange, you have to kind of greet it with open arms and ride the waves as they ebb and flow.

Not so long ago I lost my best friend my grandad may he rest in peace. Some of you will resonate with what i share here others may not. It took what felt like my whole life to nurture how I would keep it together without his love, guidance, kindness and support. Truly, my entire life I had the miracle of being blessed to meet and be graced with such purity of character. I loved all my grandparents and great grandparents. Even though i suffered great memory loss i did not lose the love exchanged with them. I still have one gran to shower and exchange love with. I smile with appreciation.

At the time of my grandads passing I completely shut down. Completely. I went from this bouncy character full of life, doing lives on Instagram, interviewing and networking with other artists, marketing my socks off gaining consistent sales and about to start mentoring others and concidering it as another step in my career. To what felt like at the time an empty shell. I said all the things i should be, i smiled when I really didn’t want to. l tried to maintain my usual character. What once felt natural felt alien and so did my business, my art. Everything. I was mothering my children on autopilot with a checklist to ensure they never felt neglected. There was no amout of preparation that could of prepared me. Everything just felt overwhelming beyond belief. It wasn’t a good place to be. I knew i couldn’t stay there either. So what next?

Heres the part resilience kicks in, the litte light at the end of the tunnel. Ironically was my grandad before he passed he was very blunt every encounter.

“I love that your an artist, never give up and never stop now u found your place…. It gives me joy knowing I will leave the world knowing you found your place.”

He knew me better then myself and more then anyone else I know. He would just know. He was preparing me for life without him. He was always vocal about me making it, not just me all his grand children. I sat one day barely blinking his words echoed in my mind and like a switch I found comfort in my studio and completed my entire website and series during my time of grief. Weeks painting everyday until I was completely exhausted. Whilst still showing up on social media but only engaging if I had to.

All the pieces inspired by treasured memories that came to mind as i painted. When i let it all out and started to feel peace, sadly I couldn’t launch the website. I just stoped to allow myself to feel to digest process and re-energise. That’s exactly what i did. It been a little over a year now and only know i can return to my website with smiles. I look back and though sad i feel joy. Day by day girefs ice thawed away and my business, my art my charcater returns better then before.

Why did i share this experience? It is because no matter your endeavours remember the following:

1. Its ok to change your mind. I started the countdown to my website I believe twice and it just wasn’t the right time. I didnt have the capacity for it. You can hit the pause button just don’t get comfortable with the pause. Hold yourself accountable and find your feet again. One foot infront of the other is all you need.

2. Have a system place. I didn’t so when I crumbled so did everything else temporarily. Have a foundation set for these unavoidable trails that life comes with.

3. Be honest with yourself. If you need rest create space for self care and rest. So important so u have clarity and preform at your best. Have basic templates for marketing etc so when you cant think it wont matter you have it written down. Its ok to ask for help to.

4. Set yourself a date to get back to it and hold yourself accountable. Your dream is still waiting for you with open arms, so run to it. Having a little rest doesn’t have to mean the end but don’t rush things.

Ok so I never had many sales and yes was really really really hard to gain momentum again. When things started to ease, opportunities literally piled on my lap I was now saying ‘no’ to things because i felt like an octopus spinning plates.

You may not have the same opportunities that you left behind but there will be new ones.

So never give up.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

In my earlier creative journey I wish I knew and made more use of grants. That came later in the journey. This can be a real Stepping stone for many, as u are not required to pay a grant back.

Art supplies and so on can be costly, it’s always worth investigating what’s available at your location. Terms and conditions may vary.

Prints can also be great a way of earning consistent flow of income. There are also platforms that may help with this for instance society6. Not only are you promoting your prints, theres already traffic of audience there most knowing what the platform is for.

Contact Info:

• Website: Prince-artworks.com
• Instagram: @Prince_artwrks
• Facebook: @msartcprince
• Youtube: Prince_Artworks

Image Credits
Constance Prince