We were lucky to catch up with Molly Reopelle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Molly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories 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.

Making the leap to working for myself full time was risky in that I didn’t know for certain where my next paycheck would be coming from, but it felt like one of the safest bets in the world to be investing in myself. Prior to making the shift to being a full time creative, I found myself completely distracted every time I was clocked in at my day job. I was constantly thinking that I would rather be working on my own business and growth than contributing my time and mental capacity to someone else’s job/company. Although it may sound like a risk to have put my faith in something that wasn’t clearly defined yet, the clarity of what I wanted to be working on wasn’t able to shine through until I removed myself from the distraction of my day job.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a muralist and illustrator based in Minneapolis, Minnesota and I specialize in hand painted designs that bring stories to life in not only beautiful but intentional and strategic ways. While hand painted murals are my bread and butter, I create custom designs for a variety of applications and I work with brands and individuals alike to create pieces that tell a story and leave an impression. My job allows me to be a sort of artistic translator – I help others create the space they want to live/work/play/teach/grow in by learning about their goals and designing artwork that matches their mission.

I have years of experience in both analog and digital design with clients ranging from first time business owners to multinational corporations. My inspiration comes from each of my client’s unique stories, and I love the wide variety of industries I get to learn about as a result of my job. Within the span of a few months, I’ll spend time painting in locations that range from a generator factory to a mini golf bar and restaurant, or a dietitians conference to an Airbnb!

Painting murals came about as a bit of a snowball effect, having followed my curiosity from calligraphy to sign painting to where I am today. Being self employed, I love that I can pursue new creative outlets as they continue to intrigue and excite me, and I find that the more excited and passionate I am about the work that I’m creating, the better I can serve my clients. It’s a win-win, and I am so grateful for all of the people who put their faith in me to bring their vision to life!

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

I am passionate about eliminating the starving artist trope. There are mindset shifts that need to happen among creatives and in society to move past the concept of art being strictly a hobby or some kind of “unserious” career. Art is everywhere; it is essential and it is a high value job.

As artists, we need to remember that just because we love what we do doesn’t mean we should do it for free. We are offering specialized services, and that comes at a cost! You don’t have to hate what you do for it to be considered work. Remember, you aren’t charging for the minutes it took to create something that you sell. You’re charging for the years of inspiration, study, practice and failure that eventually led to this example of success. Not to mention the materials you use, the rent you pay for your studio, your health insurance, your liability insurance, specialty equipment needed, etc. And remember, a rising tide lifts all boats! The more we value our own services, the more value we are putting on our creative field as a whole.

In society, it’s important to recognize this as well. One of the biggest challenges I see artists continue to face are companies and organizations that ask for concepts up front (looking at you, design contests!) without any compensation. Of course there are exceptions for creatives who are just getting started in the field or who are looking to volunteer for experience, but offering “exposure” as payment or asking for designs up front before deciding if you’ll hire an artist who has a portfolio, a website, plenty of experience and credentials is unacceptable. It would be like going to a restaurant with tons of positive reviews, reading their menu descriptions, ordering one of each item and then only paying for your favorite. We need to treat artists with respect, and that starts with us!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

One of my favorite quotes is, “The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible” by Toni Cade Bambara. When the world feels heavy or I start to question my role in society, I turn to this quote and remember the power that art possesses. It has the unique capacity to both bring us together and celebrate diversity, and I think we can all agree that we need more of that in this world. I think it’s easy to forget the importance of our own small victories and revolutions as well, and the power of shaping the world we want to live in, even in small ways. Love, joy and happiness can all be revolutionary acts, and art can manifest that. I try to bring this mentality into every project I work on, no matter how big or small.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.madebymollyjo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madebymollyjo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/made-by-molly-jo/
• Other: https://www.threads.com/@madebymollyjo
  https://www.pinterest.com/madebymollyjo/