We recently connected with Jennifer Sullivan and have shared our conversation below.

Jennifer, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

The biggest risk one can take is not only to be vulnerable in their craft, but to also share it with others. As one of the many hurdles to face as an artist, with the support from my peers, I was able to put my art out there full time in 2020. My father passed early that year in 2020. His impact on my art will have the greatest to this day. He purchased an art piece I made just a few months before his passing. He always taught me, if you have the drive anything is possible. But he always made sure work should be fun, and enjoyable to the individual. Since he passed, I made it my mission to not give up. To enjoy my craft and increase vulnerability in each given day. To not take any moment of life for granted. Life is too short to not share it with others. And that is why I am where I am in my art career today.

Jennifer, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Jenn, and I am the owner of I Think With Ink. I originated this business in San Diego, where I sold at many local market events. I have now shipped worldwide and while I do art full time, I am also a stay at home mom. I got into this industry when I couldn’t continue to do cosmetology anymore due to the pandemic, and after my Dad passed. He was always my number one supporter, and I continue to do art everyday in his honor. The hardest grief turned into the best discipline. Discipline to heal, laugh and create with others!

I create many things, such as digital art, wood paintings or burnings and started producing my own tshirts at home that I now sell on my online store! I’m best known for depicting women, in many different fashions and recently have gotten more equipped with comic art. I love for my art to tell a story, whether it’s short, funny, powerful or relatable. That’s my goal with my business and I’m so grateful for all the support and those I get to share my journey with,

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

As much as social media can be a toxic environment, it is a critical part in making it as a small business owner. I highly encourage people that may not be able to pay for a product, support their creative friends online. A simple view, like or share is so appreciated to us all. Every single one counts, and I don’t think a lot of non small business owners understand that,

Another huge point is when you see a farmers market, or street fair, so stop and check out all of the creatives! You have no idea how much a simple hello, or appreciation of their work can make their business that much more enjoyable,

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The best advice I can give is to try to grow your audience as authentically as possible. The more followers you have, that are interested in supporting you, your account can only grow from there. Also to not get caught up in the numbers, this can hurt you more than you know. Don’t get discouraged, keep posting, sharing and creating!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Ithinkwithink.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/i.think.with.ink/
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTdn6m1C7/

Image Credits
Portrait photo: Cally Finch