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

Hi Meredith, thanks for joining 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.

Graduating from art school felt like getting kicked out of your parent’s house. There were lessons I learned and tips on how to make it in the world, but the security and comfort of doing what I love vanished. Suddenly, it was very scary to be an artist. The market for artists was changing, and much of what I had learned couldn’t be applied to any real job. I was at a loss.

While I was in art school, I worked a part-time job while being a full-time student. More often than not, I couldn’t bring myself to dedicate as much time to my school projects as I wanted to. Being financially independent, I paid all my bills myself. I was constantly in survival mode, hoping to find a career where I could be happy creating art. I didn’t see it at the time, but looking back, I realize I was juggling a lot for someone just learning to live in a world no longer sheltered by their parents.

I knew that studying art was a risk; I had heard the jokes about the “starving artist.” But I was determined to live my life doing what I loved.

I was lucky to land a job in a graphic design position. I had more experience with illustration than design, but frankly, looking back, I was still quite new at both. Nevertheless, I took the job and learned my way into becoming the Creative Lead.

This job gave me the opportunity to really learn the necessary skills to be a designer. It provided a solid foundation and allowed me to work with a variety of businesses, making my portfolio look diverse and well-rounded. Over time, I realized which aspects I loved most and which ones I wanted to avoid. I became aware that loving what I do meant more than just doing anything related to art. It meant I wanted to choose who I worked for and what style best matched me. This pushed me to seek other opportunities that resonated with me.

My career shifted when I became the “Communications & Events Coordinator” for a non-profit that resonated with me deeply. I forced myself out of my comfort zone, doing things beyond designing and creating. This was also my first “adult” full-time office job. It was VERY intimidating at first; there were many new things I wasn’t aware of, and I had to build up a lot of administrative skills.

The years I spent working for this non-profit gave me many skills, confidence, and overall growth as a professional and a person. I did a lot of multimedia work, from digital marketing to video production, editing, and website design—I ended up creating so much more than I initially anticipated. It was wonderful; I was filled with joy with every project because it was so meaningful to me.

And yet, once again, the feeling that I was drifting away from what I truly wanted to do lingered over me.

After gaining confidence in my work and skills in various areas, I felt like I needed something else.

One day, during a random conversation with my husband, I mentioned that I wouldn’t mind applying all the marketing skills I had learned to a business that matched my art style. It felt like a light bulb turned on, dispelling the insecurities in my mind.

I sent an email to the owner of the ballet studio I attended, pitching my services to build their marketing and social media presence. She got back to me immediately, excited to work with me. It BLEW my mind. I wasn’t expecting her to be so eager to collaborate with me.

She opened a door that led to many other doors and opportunities from people who wanted to work with me, fitting my niche and allowing me to be a contractor with my own schedule. Everything rapidly fell into place, and I found myself in a position where I could no longer work full-time at the non-profit.

It was decided that the non-profit needed a full-time person in the role, and so I made the risky decision to submit my resignation. Saying goodbye to that amazing workplace was really hard. They had given me every opportunity to grow and shape myself around my strong skillset. I will always be grateful for their patience and mentorship; I don’t think I would have ever branched out to become an entrepreneur if I hadn’t worked there.

Now, at 28 years old, I live with my husband and our cat in our own house, working from my home office and in-home studio. While most of my income comes from the clients I do marketing for, the freedom to choose my own schedule is priceless. I get to work on my art now without worrying about any day job. Will it always be this way? Probably not, I am enjoying the moment and my daily activities. I am working hard to make this evolve to something more permanent.

I graduated in 2019, and now in 2024, I have 5 years of experience in the marketing/design world—something I didn’t initially plan to pursue, but it has allowed me to focus on what I truly love: art. I believe that even when you take a big risk, you are responsible for putting in the hard work. We are responsible for pushing beyond our comfort zones, learning new skills—even if they don’t seem related to our end goal. You might be surprised where those decisions take you!

I think any risk is worth taking if your heart and mind are set on the end goal. Trusting your gut and following your dream, while also working hard to get there, is the primary motivator in any life-changing decision.

Meredith, 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?

I am a mixed media artist and crafter with too many hobbies. I graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in Illustration and Design and embarked on a journey of artistic exploration. Currently, my favorite mediums are watercolor and digital.

My work is a reflection of the beauty found in the ordinary, simple and small moments of our daily life. The charm of nature, bright colors and wholesome characters are some of the themes I am most drawn to create. These themes spark whimsical joy that gently reminds us of kindness, warmth and brings out our inner child. My goal is that, like a chain reaction, my art reaches people’s lives as a pleasant meaningful gift.

Each piece of my art has a story to tell, each piece has a purpose to brighten up someone’s day. I believe that those who are in need of a moment of respite will find inspiration in my work.

I offer marketing services including social media management, marketing campaigns and content creator for small businesses. I love connecting with businesses that have a flare of whimsy and cute style. My favorite type of clientele are wedding related-services, wellness spaces, flower shops or coffee shops.

I also have my own art shop with art prints, stickers and other handmade products. Some of my designs are available for licensing too!

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

There is a special feeling when someone walks past your art, stops, picks up something and buys it. It is a certain “butterflies in my stomach” feeling that I never get tired of.

Sometimes it isn’t about buying it, but when someone resonates with my art and lets me know their story is also a very rewarding experience.

As an artist, personally, I think my whole purpose is to create art that reaches people’s hearts. I want to lighten up someone’s day, picture a memory for them and also to have fun and feel themselves with my art.

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

To support artist, I think the primary thing to do is to work with them. If you are in need of a book cover, or a writer that wants to do a children’s book, think about the artists around your life, your community and connect with them.

With the internet always blowing up with content and now AI to worry about, it is hard to find those small artist that are hidden gems and are working hard to get noticed. You never know, they might live in your neighborhood.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mv-illustrationdesign.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvillustration/
• Other: https://www.patreon.com/MVillustrationdesign

Image Credits

Meredith Villasenor