Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elaine Alonzo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Elaine, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you 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?
I have had to find new ways all the time, to make a full-time living from my creativity.
I made the leap in becoming a full-time artist in 2017.
Honestly, sometimes I wonder how I am still able “to make it happen” haha but the truth is, it just always works out.
It’s a lot of surrendering to the process and trusting your intuition. It’s not always so logical, even when you have the perfect strategy, routine, plan; things change along the way. The one trick pony trick, never lasts long enough for me. I wouldn’t want it to anyway, that takes away from the magic of creating.
The way I used to hustle and grind during the first several years of my full-time entrepreneurial journey, led to total burn out eventually, and then in 2020, not only did the pandemic change the way I did business but I experienced some tragic events back to back, felt like I couldn’t catch a break for a few years; I dealt with heavy grief, depression and mental health issues.
I finally ended up taking a break; a 9-month hiatus from art and social media in 2023. I didn’t think art was something I was going to continue, but the spark started showing up for me in silver linings. It was in my appreciation for beautiful things, wanting to be surrounded by beauty, and wanting a beautiful life that I could carefully curate around me again, that brought me back to the desire to create.
When I came back “online”, mentally and socially, the ways I tried to hustle for the past several years was just not the way. The economy changed; people’s attention spans and what people want is always changing, technology is rapidly changing too… what used to work for me was just not working, so I knew I had to try something different. I knew I was going to have to expand my knowledge in business and entrepreneurship, I felt intuitively that I wanted to help others in different ways, I knew I was going to have to start using my other gifts and skills to combine forces with my artwork, I knew I had to step into more of a leadership role, I knew I was going to have to actually start using my voice to tell my story; I had to look outside of the art itself. The art was just the vessel for this to all come through.
How I was merely feeling, is what I kept noticing many other artists complaining about online – the algorithm, their artwork not selling, not having the creative energy to tap into because they were in survival mode, mental health and physical health issues, and other common frustrations as entrepreneurs… I was feeling the weight of not only my personal adversities and inner healing, but also like this “weight of world” for so many of us. I was going to have to think long-term, slow-down, tune in and be more present if I was going to continue this artist journey.
Some of the major steps were just getting back to the basics, like carving out more “me time” – finding my solitude, grounding, more self-sufficient practices, and developing better habits. The only thing I wish I would have done “differently” to have sped up the process of finding my real joy in the artistic journey, would have been to care less what I thought everyone wanted of me. What I thought they wanted to buy or how I should perform. Art is subjective and very personal, so allow yourself to just make it what matters most to you, be yourself fully. Be curious, try new things because they excite you. That’s the best kind of art I’ve ever made anyway.
Elaine, 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?
My name is Elaine Alonzo. I’m 32 years old, I’m a half Korean, half Hispanic artist, born and raised in Austin, Texas.
I’m a self-taught artist; did not go to college, been working on my creative outlets since I was kid, worked my first job at 16 while starting up a jewelry line and made art all throughout highschool knowing damn well I didn’t want to be in student loan debt for majority of my life, but also knew, that was going to require hard work. My mother, an immigrant from South Korea, instilled work ethic in me my entire life, through the way she had to just find ways to raise 4 kids on her own. My father lived in a city not too far away, he was an engineer and an artist, my mother grew up learning music, so naturally my siblings and I learned classical piano. Music was my first love, art was something I just watched my dad and one of my elder sisters do, always in awe of their natural skills. The way we grew up was having to come up with creative activities and games, more often than we would get new toys or vacations like my peers. I’ve looked at things from a different perspective most of my life, never really feeling like I fit in anywhere, but had friends from all different groups and backgrounds.
I got into the art world because it was the most diverse playing field, and I was already used to that. I’ve worked so many different types of jobs, some that wouldn’t even seem like they were helpful, or would make any sense towards my art career, but every single place and job title I have taken on has been useful towards the way I approach every single situation and business decision.
I am a real people person. Especially an in real life type of person. I am genuinely curious about others.
The type of products I have made have varied from prints, stickers, original paintings, to jewelry, wearable art and home decor. As much as I love creating and making things, I’m at a turning point where I want to provide more value and help others with their own businesses and share knowledge, insight, document my artist journey through videos, words, coaching sessions and events. The product is extra. It’s just a part of my process in the grand scheme of this artist life. I help guide my clients through a multitude of modalities I use to find their most authentic, devotional practices back to themselves. I’m more of an intuitive coach when it comes to my practices; I believe the right people always come to me when they really need my help and I intuitively guide each person differently. Lately I’ve been feeling called to work with larger groups of people, in online workshops, classes, event settings, and just building communities online.
Even though I am leaning into more of my personal art, I’m always willing to listen to feedback.
I love having one-on-one conversations with people too. I love hearing what collectors do with my art, I love when they share their special spaces dedicated to their art collections and I love to hearing THEIR STORY.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Aside from directly purchasing their work, sharing their work, talking to their friends and family and others about artists and creatives they love – word of mouth is the best. Organic genuine appreciation of art.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I love catching my creative waves. The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to share ideas, co-create, collaborate and play in new ways, breaking the rules all the time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.elainealonzo.com
- Instagram: @elainealonzo
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/elainealonzoart
- Linkedin: Elaine Alonzo
- Twitter: @_elainealonzo
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@elainealonzodesign
- Other: https://linktr.ee/elainealonzo
Image Credits
Photographer: Daniel Arata, Richie wit a Blikky