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

Elyse, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Here’s the truth, I update my resume every few months and am always keeping an ear to the ground for job opportunities that would be a good fit for my experience. I love being an artist but the financial inconsistency and extra costs involved with running your own business make it really hard to be successful financially. It’s easier to do when you are young and single, live in an inexpensive city and don’t have a family to help support or a mortgage to pay. I wish that it was easier for people like myself to build a business in the arts and be financially secure.

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

I was raised by an artist and learned to see the world around me through my minds eye. I was always dissecting shapes and colors and examining the beautiful landscapes in British Columbia. In 2008, I moved to Vancouver, Canada, and studied graphic design, event design and interior design at Langara College. I wanted to create immersive environments and thought that the event industry would be the best place to do that. I worked as a graphic designer and art director on large music festivals, conferences and corporate events designing event brands, signage and activations. In 2018, while juggling a career as an art director, I had grown a long list of art commission requests on the side. When I had a notable art gallery ask to represent me and the promise of some extra time from maternity leave I decided to focus on art and create my own business. 5 years, an international move to LA and 2.5 kids later and that job is still going strong.

I think the key for my success as an artist was leaning on my design skills to expand my product and service offering. I created a multi tiered approach for sales where clients could order custom acrylic paintings at different sizes or digital illustrations at a cheaper price point. When life became extra busy with little kids at home, I started to offer large format digital murals for corporate clients which made it easier for me to work on evenings and weekends from home.

5 years in and I have realized that all of the skills I acquired in the events industry have been so applicable to my current job as a visual artist. Working on large format artwork, art directing vendors and talent, client management, project management and communications are skills that I rely on daily.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Artists and freelance creatives are like islands out in the sea. Every once and awhile an adventurous traveller will cross our path and love what we create but most of the time our survival depends on us sending out SOS messages to get the attention of potential clients or corporations passing by. It is survival of the fittest (or the best at marketing) in this competitive market and oftentimes those that survive are not necessarily more skilled at their craft but rather better at presenting themselves online.

I find that art is often considered a nice to have or an after thought when it comes to city planning, marketing initiatives or activations. I would like to see a chair reserved at the table for artists, that they would be a part of the discussion from day 1 rather than a ” if the budget allows” addition. What I would like to see is more platforms for corporations to connect directly with artists and freelance creatives. There are some third parties that do an excellent job at matching creative talent to corporations but they are hard to come by and can take a large finders fee or commission from the budget. Funding for the arts should also be easier to receive, studio space for artists to create should be more readily available (and affordable) and the the number of posts or followers that we have on social media should not dictate our success with getting the attention of future clients.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I remember as a child seeing Cirque du Soleil for the first time and being completely transported to another world. It was the lightbulb moment where I realized that my purpose was to inspire others through thoughtfully crafted stories, beautiful visuals and immersive experiences. My mission is to connect the worlds of art and design, to work alongside architects, designers and musicians to create spaces and experiences that transport guests to a state of wonder. I like to think of my paintings as a little portal into those worlds but I know that it will only continue to evolve into more experiential design and art installations. I dream of one day having an artist collective where creatives who have the same mission as me can come together to share ideas and create incredible experiences that will give those same lightbulb moments to others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elysedodge.com
• Instagram: @elysedodge
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElyseDodgeArt
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysedodge/

Image Credits
Tamsin Carriere