We were lucky to catch up with Lacee Swan recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lacee thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I am so grateful I have always been a risk taker. As a young girl I always dreamed of working in Fashion. My mom would sew clothes for me and we would spend our free time at the mall. I loved to draw and paint people and clothes as a young girl. But where I lived having a career in Fashion was nonexistent and this was before Project Runway days. I did not have the best circumstances and when graduation came I found myself living out of my car. But I kept the dream of living in New York City and working in fashion in front of me. And eventually with persistence I found myself with a one way flight and suitcase to New York City to take a risk and chase my dreams. I built a career working in fashion as a designer but I soon missed the creativity and longed for more freedom. So again I took a risk, quit my corporate job and rebuilt myself again, this time as an artist in the Fashion Industry. I would live sketch for brands like Keds, Saks Fifth avenue as well as collaborations with my art. When my parents became ill I decided to move back home to North Dakota to care for them. I left the career I built in fashion + art and wasn’t sure how it was going to work out. But I refused to give up and continued to pursue my art and knew I would find a way. Being in the middle of nowhere was risky and hard at this time. But it allowed me to really hone my style, to find my voice and to really think outside of the box.

Lacee, 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?

Hi there! I am Lacee the artist behind my name-sake brand Lacee Swan. I create whimsical stationery, paper goods, and gifts with my Fashion Illustrations on them. I wanted to create products that brighten the every day and bring a little more joy in the daily routine.

I began my career in New York City at the Fashion Institute of Technology studying Fashion Design. My Illustrations + products have been featured in Buzzfeed, The Knot, Teen Vogue, Brit + Co, Seventeen, OK Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Refinery 29, Nylon.com just to name a few. I have been commissioned by big brands and have live sketched at Fashion Events, weddings and other occasions. Clients include Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, e.l.f. Make-up, La Croix, Saks Fifth Avenue, Keds, Nanette Lepore, eos, and Ulta Beauty.

I started creating stationery products when I moved from NYC to North Dakota to care for my aging parents. I found myself in a small farming town but I knew I could start creating products with my art and build a life I love.

Drawing since a young girl I would spend hours creating art and especially making my own paper dolls. I have been on a mission to empower young girls with my products as I know the power of art. I love creating products that cultivate kindness, confidence, self-esteem, friendship + creativity! I create art prints, journals, note pads, note cards, greeting cards and coloring books with my fashion and watercolor illustrations on them.

She is a watercolor artist and illustrator with a distinct style inspired by girls who love pop art, fashion, music and especially heart shaped sunglasses. ~ Teen Vogue

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I left the life I built in New York City in Fashion and Art to take care of my aging parents in a small farming town it was a shock to the system. I had to completely start all over. But now looking back this is what my brand is based on with overcoming adversity and reinvention by focusing on good mental health habits. I cried and complained a lot but slowly I added habits into my life to overcome this. I focused on what I did have instead of what I did not have and journaled a lot. There was a time I didn’t even have a computer. But I had access to a library and friends who helped, I had my talents and simple tools like pen and paper. During this time I was spending lots of time in and out of hospitals with my parents. I knew I had to take care of my mental health or I will go on a downward spiral. I had a morning routine of prayer time, gratitude, listening to something positive everyday, working out and eating healthy. And most importantly I did a lot of ART during this time. This was crucial and why I love creating products and tools today to help others keep a good mental health whether that is journal, coloring and more.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I feel a little bit like a queen of pivoting! I’ve had to do it more than I have wanted in life and especially in my art career. When in the middle of having to pivot it feels extremely painful, a lot of time it feels like complete failure. But now looking back I see it is the path that God has put me on. Now when pivoting times come I am much less resentful and trust that I am exactly where I need to be. Just like Steve Jobs says “You cannot connect the dots going forward, you can only connect them going backwards.” At first it really felt like I would start something and then it did not work out or I was pulled away too quickly. But now standing where I am today and having lots of success the dots are connecting. I am still moving forward and pivots still have to be made in my business as I find my true north. But now I have more peace and faith to trust the process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laceeswan.com
• Instagram: @laceeswan
• Twitter: @laceeswan
• Youtube: laceeswan
• Other: Tik Tok @laceeswan