We recently connected with Monica Edwards and have shared our conversation below.

Monica, looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

For the past 9 years or so, I’ve had the great pleasure of living a life as a painter. I’ve never worked so hard, struggled so much, lived so frugally and been so happy.

If I was going to live the end of my life out without regrets, I knew I had to give the security of a paycheck a bye-bye.
Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve been a working artist my entire life, which is never a sure paycheck but having been a commercial artist for over 40 years gives me some marketable skills.

Taking a risk to go full time as a painter was something I wish I would have done earlier in my career, but as they say, better late than never.

Monica, 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?

A defining moment in my life was at that 20-something time of reflection. “What does this all mean? “What do I mean”? “What does my life mean”? I had what some might call an epiphany, a moment with God, I was graced with purpose. As life progresses, I see that not everyone is so fortunate as to have a distinct moment of purpose. I guess I’m a lucky one. That said, my moment came to me as clear as day. I don’t need to leave a mark; I don’t need to make history. I am just here to pass on information.
I was a biology student, 2 classes away from getting my pre-med degree and I switched to art. I decided that my purpose was to illustrate science concepts, ideas that made me curious and images that helped people access the natural world in an aesthetic way. I remember my teacher at CSUF, Dr. Allen. I curious little fellow with a mild and impish character. He lived in his own world, and he saw in me a passion for the bio-illustration field. He encouraged me to transfer to CSULB where they had a renown Bio-Medical illustration program and that is exactly what I did. The best move ever.
Every student probably feels this way about their teachers and their school at the time they were there, but I truly feel I was at CSULB when we had a master class of professors in the art and illustration department.
After graduation, I set a course for bio-illustration with my first real illustration job at the Cabrillo Marine Museum. This was a fantastic opportunity because I had the opportunity to learn everything from newsletter and designing to museum displays and scientific illustration. It was fabulous. After that I transitioned to married life and started a family wherein, I illustrated for children’s books. It was the perfect job for a new mom working from home.
In 1993, I was offered a job at the Orange County Register newspaper. This was a dream come true for an illustrator at this time and the OC Register was known in the industry for their cutting-edge color printing and their crack graphics and illustration team. I really was living the dream. My boss and this job were central in teaching me a work ethic and always striving to be the best I can be and the priceless skills of collaboration and hitting deadlines.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I’m approached by young artists or painters, they ask me about my work, or my process and I find that I am sharing something I wish I would have been told earlier in my process. During school and beyond the emphasis seems to be in being prolific. Work, work, work. That’s how you develop your style, that’s how you grow, that’s how you develop a body of cohesive work.
And although I believe all that is true, I also believe that there is one, very important factor that can accelerate this process beyond what you would think possible.
Get with a mentor! Find someone you admire. Not just from a book or a video, but a real live person who can look over your shoulder and pick out your areas where you are stuck.
The most difficult thing I’ve seen people struggle with is unlearning the mistakes they’ve engrained into their muscle memory. These are the most difficult obstacles to overcome. So the sooner you can get with a mentor, the better. That said, sticking with one for a considerable amount of time and working out some problems is also a good idea.
I painted full time for 10+ years and was making little to no progress. Not more than two years after I started with a mentor, I began to win competitions, make sales and get noticed. Don’t be a “self-taught” snob. It isn’t worth it!

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

I’m not sure this illustrates my resilience in the past, but it sure it is calling on me to have it now. I’ve been living with stage 4 lung cancer for the past year and a half now and I can’t say it has been a walk in the park.

The subject matter of my work has been centered around finding beauty and representing it through my internal filter.
Well, my filter is pretty muddy right now. Painting landscapes and botanicals feels a bit trivial right now.
I feel like I need to be making a statement with my art. Saying something significant. But then, do I?

If I harken back to my purpose here, my mission statement would be yes, pass on the journey. Pass on what it’s like to be given a literal deadline.
What might that look like. Only time will tell, I suppose. If I can get the strength to carry on, maybe something of significance with surface.

Contact Info:

• Website: monicaedwardsart.com
• Instagram: @medwards610

Image Credits
Monica Edwards