We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Molly Box McCarty a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Molly, thanks for joining 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?
Yes! I now work full-time and earn a full-time salary from my creative work. I initially started by working jobs and growing my skill set in design while also continuing artwork on the side as more of a hobby. While working as a full-time corporate graphic designer, I started taking on freelance side jobs. That slowly began to grow, until I started my LLC, Prairie Sage Creative, in January of 2013. I switched to working part time jobs in conjunction with Prairie Sage, until that grew enough to replace the time and work of a full-time position. I can honestly say my biggest obstacle was trusting myself enough to take the leap. On a couple occasions, I took jobs offered to me that I didn’t need or want because I was worried about failing at my business. I was also worried about being able to financially support my daughter through the ups and downs of freelance. I made a couple bad decisions accepting jobs that I knew were a mistake. However, I maintained Prairie Sage Creative throughout those times, while my art sales grew. With the support of my husband, I was finally able to commit to my dreams, and it has only grown since then.
Molly, 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?
My business, Prairie Sage Creative Studio, is two-fold.
On one hand, I provide graphic design, web design, and marketing on a freelance basis to small businesses and nonprofits. My website says it best: “Specializing in nonprofits and small business, PSC can help you with all aspects of marketing and design. Whether it is a full re-branding or a la carte designs, PSC provides a free initial consultation to help you determine what you need. A logo design, a website, printed materials, web graphics, photography services, social media management, design assistance, illustration, etc, we do it all! Many small businesses and nonprofits need professional services, without hiring full-time staff or an expensive agency. Thus, Prairie Sage Creative was born to fill in the gaps.”
On the other side, I’m a contemporary wildlife artist. I’m best-known for mixed media drawings and oil paintings of North American wildlife and fish/fly-fishing themed work. I participate in many regional shows and am represented by a few galleries in Colorado.
I essentially got started by working as a graphic designer for some different businesses, and realized the work could be very feast or famine. I also started freelancing in my spare time to challenge myself creatively. I also volunteered for a lot of nonprofits, and realized they really needed my skill set but had few options. So I started with small contracts, and could bring a large variety of skills in an affordable way.
I minored in art in college, and always kept making art for fun and as a hobby. Eventually, both of those endeavors grew to the point they were full-time work, and I was able to make the leap to Prairie Sage Creative Studio all day, every day. I now have my own office/studio in Wellington, CO.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I first moved to Colorado, I contacted a gallery that I really loved and asked if they would like to meet with me and see some of my artwork. After reviewing some images and my website, they politely passed. I was crushed, but at that point I was really only doing art in my spare time. It was the thing I did for fun and the occasional show or sale.
I decided to make time for art that equated to at least a part time job. That meant making art every day, and learning and experimenting with new techniques. It also meant learning the business side and increasing my professional presence. Better images, better website, better marketing. I also networked with other local artists to see what they were doing and what I could learn and share. I created a strong body of work, and took the time and expense to have it framed. I applied to Calls for Entry, handed out my cards, and tried to get exposure.
Years later, when I felt that my work had really improved, I approached the same gallery. This time, they welcomed me right in and started selling my work. I believe that failure should be a motivator to make yourself better.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think the most difficult aspect of being a creative and making a career out of it setting the value and cost to your work. It is perpetually difficult to look at something that you make yourself, and say, “Ok, this costs X amount of dollars.” I frequently get asked how I price my artwork and why. Often, it is the size, and the medium, and the amount of time, but often it is just if I know something really works. I often want to just give things away to friends and family when I know that is not a good business strategy. It is tough.
In the design world, I think the most difficult thing is gaining trust from clients in your expertise and skill sets. I frequently joke that few people second guess their doctor or accountant, but have no problem telling a designer to draw a logo or change a font. I love working with my clients, and really understand the importance of their needs and perspective. However, I really enjoy when a client listens to my advice on why something will or won’t work, or trusts that I spend a lot of time learning best practices in order to create the best result. I want them to succeed!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.prairiesagecreative.com; http://mollyboxart.com
- Instagram: @mollyboxart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrairieSageCreative
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/prairiesagecreative/