We recently connected with Priscilla Witte and have shared our conversation below.
Priscilla, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?
I am so fortunate to say that I make a living as an illustrator and muralist. I don’t love saying it out loud because I never want it to go away. hah! I never set out for this to be my full time job. I really just wanted to make art that resinated with people and my feelings and life. That’s exactly how it started. I made a ton of art every day (while working in restaurants for money). My friend had a cool loft space in Venice where he would throw parties and asked me if I wanted to have an art show there. I made around 100 small pieces and basically sold out. It was the first feeling of “oh, I can actually do this and people like it.’ Which was so cool! From then on it felt like people now knew that I could do this, so I started getting little jobs here and there, which then snow balled into more and more work. It seemed like the more I was doing the more work I was getting because people had seen my work elsewhere and wanted to hire me to do projects. Turns out people, restaurants, and companies need murals and illustrations, and they like my vibe! I can’t say that the process could have been sped up. I’m happy with how things have turned out while staying true to myself. I’ve definitely learned so much through each job that I’ve had. I’ve learned my value and how much I should be charging, but I’m always willing to work with people. I love my work! I have evolved and my art keeps evolving, so I’m grateful for that!
Priscilla, 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’m Los Angeles based illustrator/muralist Priscilla C. Witte. I moved here at the age of 19 from a small town in Upstate NY (Clinton). WAY upstate by the Adirondack Mountains. Not knowing what the future would hold, I had no plans, and no money, but somehow had the feeling that anything was possible. It was my first trip to the West Coast and when I landed was immediately immersed in the California beach culture. I felt an immediate need to capture all that was happening around me and a desire to create something of my own. I did need a job though! For ten years, I made money working at many, many different restaurants throughout Southern California. Slinging cocktails and taking orders, which I actually loved because it gave me the opportunity to meet people. I mostly worked at night which allowed me the free time during the day to draw, paint, bike ride by the ocean and figure out what really made me happy. Everything was so new. New places to see, new friends, new adventures, and the constant sunshine. It still amazes me that I came to California for that first summer and here we are 20 years later. Ha!
Eventually I saved enough money to purchase a nice camera and taught myself how to properly take and manipulate photographs. I had a few shows and ended up getting hired for some small gigs but it ultimately left me wanting more. It wasn’t until my mid 20’s that I got back into illustrating. After producing a small collection of works, I had my first show at a friend’s loft space in Venice which to my surprise (and complete delight) ended up being a success. This tiny victory opened my mind to the possibility that I could make people happy through my artwork. Little by little projects both large and small started coming my way. Each one was a learning experience constantly teaching me about my process, my style, and what it takes to be a working artist. This was the case with my first project and is still the case on the projects that I’m working on right now. You never stop learning. You never stop growing. You never stop trying to figure it out! I feel very lucky and blessed that people appreciate my work and want to hire me. Whether it be a small illustration or a large mural.
Looking back, I knew that I had finally found my passion which is drawing and painting. I’ve never had any expectations on how things would unfold and I’ve never been in any sort of rush to get “there.” I feel like it is what I was meant to do in this world. I can’t imagine what else I would be doing if I didn’t live and breathe art all day.
I’ve been very blessed to work on some amazing projects with some great companies. Some big guys include Budlight, Google, Amazon, Redbull, Uber, Warner Music, Puma, Barbie, to name a few. I’ve worked with a few restaurants in LA. Particularly The Rose in Venice, which I’ve illustrated t-shirts, menus, parchment paper, a wine bottle, as well as mural their bathrooms. I just wrapped up my largest project yet- 7 murals in a new building in the DTLA Arts District called AVA Arts. One of my favorite projects to date. I’ve also illustrated 5 books. Three of those books have been NYT Bestsellers. Those books are Glenn Boozan’s, There are Moms Way Worse Than You and There are Dads Way Worse Than You and also Joshua Weissman’s, Texture Over Taste. I’ve also been lucky enough to travel outside of The United States for work. I’ve gotten to be the artist in residence in Lucca, Italy located in Tuscany. I traveled to Croatia (twice) to paint murals and create art for the rooms of a boutique hotel. Flew to Alushta, Russia to paint a lifeguard tower along the Black Sea. I was sent to Bali to paint the bathrooms as well as a yoga area for a boutique home. Those adventures were so amazing. I love exploring different countries and experiencing different cultures. I’d love to do more of that. When I think about where I am now, which I try not to do, I don’t know how I ended up here. I know that I work really hard. I know there’s much more out there for me. I don’t like to get in my head about it though. Ultimately, I want to keep growing as a person and as an artist and keep working my ass off!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I feel the best when I’m making art. I love the combination of getting to do anything from a small scale illustration project to a large scale 50ft tall mural. Whether it’s doodling an idea, painting for an art show, or working on a project for a company or business. I love having goals to reach, working with people on ideas, and making those ideas come to life. I am just so lucky that I get to do this for a living.
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?
I think my journey as a creative has been me purely following a passion and having it somehow work out. It took a lot of time and hard work to get here but here I am! It was a very unconventional way of doing things and I don’t know if I would recommend it (hahah!) but I’m so happy at what I’ve accomplished thus far and cant wait to see what projects I’ll be working on in the future! I get a lot of work through someone simply seeing my work elsewhere. So I’ve been lucky in that regard. I believe most people that aren’t creative love that I’m doing what I’m doing. What I will say for those who aren’t creative but plan on working with a creative- Sometimes creativity takes time and it doesn’t take minutes to finish a project, even when it seems like it should be simple enough. Be patient and everything will look amazing in the end!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pcwitte.com
- Instagram: @pcwitte
- Linkedin: Priscilla C. Witte
Image Credits
photos by me