We recently connected with Diana Papazian and have shared our conversation below.

Diana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?

I don’t have to wonder what it’s like to have a regular job because I did have one. I left my stable government job to pursue my jewelry business full-time in 2017, when our son was 3 years old. I just knew that if I didn’t do it then, I would live to regret it because it would only get harder to do so as he got older. Prior to that, my jewelry business was nothing but weekend craft shows and frantic inventory replenishment in the evenings or whenever I could snag free time. Once I left my full-time job, I was able to join wholesale sites and expand my business, in addition to joining local galleries and continuing to participate in art shows, meeting new people and making friends along the way. But the truth is that I still have a part-time job as a freelance translator because let’s face it – making a stable living as a full-time artist is not something that comes easily, and many artists and creatives find themselves either having side-jobs or part-time work in addition to their art.
So, would I have been able to leave my job had my husband not had a higher-paying job as well at the time? Absolutely not. Do I ever wish that I were still holding down that job? Same answer. Am I happy as a creative? I wouldn’t give it up unless I had no other choice.

Diana, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I was born in Yerevan, Armenia, where I lived until the age of 12. I come from a family of creatives and was surrounded by art since childhood. My grandfather was a painter and was often enlisted by my teachers to help with creating posters and art for the classroom. As I got older, I was always proud to help in these projects as well.

When I moved to the US, I started dabbling with polymer clay, making jewelry and magnets, with my first experience as a vendor being at an Armenian cultural festival in Alexandria, VA. I was so thrilled to sell quite a few of my creations that day. I think that’s where I got that first taste of getting paid for doing something that brought me joy.

Over the years, I shifted my focus to 2D painting until I went back to jewelry design in 2007. I was mostly self-taught initially, but ended up taking a course on metalsmithing and then enameling over the years. I fell in love with enameling because it allowed me to combine my love of painting and colors with my love of jewelry design. I especially like enameling because it allows me to create reversible pieces. I love seeing my customers faces light up when they turn a necklace over and see a completely different design on the reverse side. Another thing that brings me joy is having my jewelry recognized at shows, when someone who’s bought from me in years past recognizes my work and stops to tell me how much they love the piece they purchased.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Seeing people wearing my jewelry is the most rewarding aspect of being an artist because it’s not hidden in their home but something that they like enough to wear out and tell others about it.

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

Don’t just say that you support hand-made – put your money where your mouth is. Also, understand how much work goes into creating each piece, whether art or jewelry. These are not factory-made creations that will just break several days or months in. Artists invest time and money into each piece they create. Don’t expect the prices of hand-made art to be the same as the prices of mass-produced items. If you can’t afford the art – you can still support by sharing it with your friends and followers.

Contact Info:

• Website: papazianjewelry.com , papazianjewelry.etsy.com
• Instagram: @paperdoll42
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/papazianjewelry/