We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Daniels . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.

Kelly, appreciate you joining us 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?

I still can’t believe it. To think that I’ve made a real living as an artist / maker over the past many years feels like an accomplishment bigger than I could’ve ever dreamed. Truthfully, it never was the dream – I never thought it was an option, really. Life as an artist?! My dad raised me to get a reliable degree, then practice my passion on the side. Definitely not bad advice, definitely not the only option.

But I took my dad’s advice: I got a degree in architecture, graduated top of my class, landed my dream job in a big city. I loved it! Architecture was a great fit for me, still is. And while I was certainly proud of myself, that life came with frustrating limitations. In moments of professional / creative / entrepreneurial / motivational / human doubt, I think back on what I’ve built since then & what I’m proudest of – a life of autonomy.

The beginning is terrifying. I had just left my professional life in architecture for life as an artist. Never had my dad’s advice applied more, though – I was still doing work to pay the bills, then practicing my passion on the side – but never had I been happier! Logo design, building websites, designing marketing materials, doing architectural hand renderings, paintings pet portraits… I did everything & anything to make an income. But the difference was clear: the autonomy that self-employment provides let me also prioritize my passions!

For me, my dream professional life means I’m getting closer & closer to the daily life I wanted to live. It’s not about money or clout. And it’s not about one huge swing or one big bank loan for a brick-n-mortar to get me there…. it’s about a million little steps that get me closer & closer to the daily life I want to live. I want to be creative every day. I want to make things & imagine. I want to try & fail, learn new things & evolve. So I was happy to paint a million pet portraits or design a hundred logos at the beginning, because I was still closer to the life I wanted to live. That’s success! I had flexibility that didn’t exist working my corporate job, I was able to prioritize my passions! So I experimented with new mediums & made things that only existed in my mind. I was doing the work to make an income, then practicing my passions on the side… like dad always said.

Truthfully, I feel lucky to be a creative person. Being creative has given me many options to make money – be it art, furniture design, or renderings. I’ve always been this way, constantly daydreaming, imagining, experimenting, playing, creating. And while I’m a believer in luck, I’m also a believer in preparation meeting the moment of opportunity. So, I know that the business I have today has evolved based on the skills I’ve worked my entire life to foster.

Many years later, my business has narrowed & narrowed into a dream life specifically designed for me. I have moments where I miss the pride that being an architect gave me, but then I think about what I’ve built since: I’ve started & sustained my own business. I make a full time living as an artist / maker. I’ve sold over 2,000 pieces of art, furniture & home goods. I decide how to spend my days, I decided which skills I want to cultivate, I decide my future, I answer only to myself. I truly believe that this is all I could ever hope – a life of autonomy!

Self-employment is a risk that’s not for everyone. It requires motivation & drive that clocking in every day doesn’t. Nine years in, it’s still terrifying, feels like I’m endlessly spinning plates knowing that nothing is guaranteed.

But on the flip side, either is that job with benefits. Or tomorrow.

Kelly, 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 business has been many things throughout it’s life… but over the last handful of years, I’ve really focused my creativity – I’m a resin artist & furniture maker! But that doesn’t mean I’ve left my other creative expressions behind. For example, I’ve incorporated my love of drawing into my resin work with wood burned pet portraits or hand painted celestial overlays. I’m proudest of my adaptability! I make custom wall art like geodes or that chart the stars over a certain location on a certain date, home goods such as charcuterie boards or lazy susans, and custom furniture like dining tables, smaller accent tables, or even benches & stools. Most of my work is custom made to order, designed in coordination with my client to perfectly suit their space!

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

Shop small! When you buy from an artist or maker, you’re directly impacting that person’s family & life. You’re paying for their next meal, contributing to their dreams, or just telling them to keep going. There is no underestimating what that sale means to a self-employed creative, no matter the size.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

Being creative has given me many different outlets to make money. That’s been a huge benefit for my self-employed journey & it’s taught me to keep innovating. I think that approach is quite different than a lot of non-creative businesses that focus their output more narrowly. That’s definitely not to say one’s better than the other, but for me, it’s been an absolute miracle. I’ve been able to make my business what I want it to be, not what the customer has demands. I experiment often, make things that exist only in my mind, & simply just follow my heart every single day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.cosmiccreativ.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cosmiccreativ/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cosmiccreativ
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrbPmZr4iW5Ta9l-KBYQ1Gg
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cosmiccreativ