We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lauren Luna a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Lauren, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today 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 decided to go full time artist without the crutch of a full time job in October 2019. I had worked very hard, establishing myself as an artist here in Houston, and thought that the time had come that this would be something feasible. The end of the festival season was winding down, but I still had gigs and commissions going throughout the end of the year. Then the spring festival season was ready to start up, and COVID hit. Every one of my festivals, and subsequently the commissions, gigs, and contacts I make at them, were canceled. I was very thankful that I had decided to accept a few part time teaching positions at the local colleges. They were something, but not enough to make it. Thankfully I was able to receive a few emergency grants and a few of my collectors reached out for commissions. I was forced to rethink my whole business model. Whereas festivals were my main source of income, it turned to online sales. I have in the past hosted face to face painting parties, and still had all the supplies. So what I started doing was boxing them up and selling them as painting kits, so people could paint in their homes. Also, every Friday evening I would host a “paint-a-long” on Facebook Live. Even hosted a corporate Zoom painting party! Now that the world has reopened, possibilities are endless. I apply for every opportunity I can find. This means a lot of rejections, but it also means that I’m getting higher dollar projects as well. I think everything fell into place perfectly. Quitting teaching, COVID, my son graduating, becoming an empty nester- all of this were instrumental to becoming the artist I am today.

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

I have wanted to be an artist since I was nine years old. Everything I’ve done throughout my life has been essential to get me where I am today. From art classes starting at the age of five to college-level art classes at the age of thirteen, to independent study classes in art, to becoming an art major, and graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, to moving to New York City to be a professional artist. Though for many years I had to balance a full-time job with attempting to make a living as an artist, even this helped me learn to become more organized and professional.

As an academically trained artist, holding a Master’s degree in Fine Arts, I like to think that this shows clients that I am a professional who invested in their training and that they will get a product from a highly skilled individual. I also share my experiences with the students that I teach, regardless of grade level, and bring them into the reality of being an active professional artist.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

After my son was born in 2003, we moved back to Ohio from New York City, where my family was. I was a Special Education teacher there, and didn’t make any art. Once my son was around five years old, I started back into art and enrolling in a Masters program. Being that I am from an extremely small family, I didn’t have much help raising my son, working a full time job, and going to school full time. But somehow, I made it happen. In 2011, we relocated to Houston, and I decided that I wasn’t going to teach anymore. I finished my degree, and was working three jobs. I finally was forced to go back into the classroom, so I could make ends meet, but the fire to be a creative was still there. Even as a bilingual math/science/social studies teacher, I would still bring art into the lessons. After a year there, I then became an elementary art teacher, and made magic with my 800+ students! All the while I was still working this full time job, I was participating in fashion shows with my custom shoe line and participating in art shows with my paintings. In 2019, I felt that the time had come for me to step out of the classroom again; commissions, shows, etc., were frequent. I now teach college studio art classes twice a week, and the rest of the time, I do art full time! The best thing about teaching at the college level is that my students can help me with projects, and I can refer them to other artists so that they can learn with them as well.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Being an artist is all I have ever wanted to do. Throughout my life, because of this choice, I have had a lot of negative energy thrown my way. My driving force is my determination to be successful no matter the odds.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.artistaluna.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/laurenlunaltd
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurenlunaltd
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/laurenlunaltd