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

Alright, Melissa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2017, I worked as a graphic designer for a small magazine in South Jersey. Like a lot of graphic design jobs in publishing, there were long hours with low pay. Ultimately, being in a cubical cubicle from 9 to 5 was not a sustainable long-term option for me

I started grad school in 2018, studying Surface Design at a program based in Philadelphia. Throughout my studies, I acquired a great deal of knowledge about pattern design as well as large-format printing technology. The program was engaging but definitely had a few downsides, including inadequate oversight and a lack of support from professors. Those circumstances forced me to take a look at what I could bring to the experience, even if it wasn’t quite what I had expected. Knowing I had to be responsible for my own success forced me to forge my own path, and use all of the equipment and knowledge to create something new.

My thesis project focused on merging traditional and digital methods of creation. I used my surface designs to create furniture objects using tools like laser cutters, CNCs and UV flatbed printers. Merging a traditionally masculine space like tech with a traditionally feminine space like pattern design felt like new ground.

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

Drawing was always my favorite pastime and a way to express myself.

I pursued a degree in Illustration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia after high school. Although the courses focused on conceptual and editorial illustration, I excelled in creating more traditional and decorative art. I later obtained a master’s degree in surface pattern design and print technology from Philadelphia University.

In 2018, I started Melissa Rothman Portraiture after a friend requested a drawing of their childhood home. Since then, my services have expanded to include pet portraits, venue art, and traditional floral art for stationers and designers.

I continue to freelance as a surface designer for the fashion industry and create my own mixed-media fine art pieces. I hope to expand on this work in the coming years, using the audience and experience from my portraiture work as a jumping-off point.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Though I often have a busy production schedule, lots of paintings to complete, and a pile of emails to answer, I always have a choice about how I spend my time. Nothing compares to the freedom of being self-employed. Existing and thriving on my own terms is worth all of the “hard”.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Many creatives struggle with the idea that they won’t be taken seriously by folks with more traditional lives and jobs, myself included. There is a stigma that people who study the arts are irresponsible and doomed to poverty. This idea does a disservice to artists’ and young people’s interest in the arts as a career option. In reality, creative jobs exist in every industry across the world. More education about how the objects, media, and experiences people enjoy every day are shaped by creatives would help end the stigma. Hopefully learning about the lives of artists will make being a creative professional seem more viable to young people (and their parents!). I would love to make it clear that the arts are not just a silly aspiration.

Contact Info:

• Website: melissarothmanportraiture.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/melissarothmanportraiture
• Facebook: facebook.com/melissarothmanstudios
• Other: instagram.com/melissarothman

Image Credits
All of the images are by me!