We recently connected with Sandra Schustack and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sandra , thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve always been creative. Drawing, painting, writing…it’s just part of my life. However, I never really shared my art publicly. As an adult, I dreamed about having an art career or being “the creative” on a team. While I’ve spent much of my professional life in creative industries, like being a kids’ business owner, producer, and marketing director, I was often the one helping bring other people’s visions to life. I loved being surrounded by creativity, but when it came to putting my art out into the world, I hesitated. I doubted myself.

Then, in my last job, something shifted. I was given the freedom to take my ideas and run with them. To see my designs, my words, and my ideas, out in the real world, it lit me up! Around the same time, I faced some health issues that forced me to pause and really evaluate where I was and what I wanted next. The answer was clear. I needed to take care of myself, bet on myself, and make space for the art I’d been holding back. So with equal parts courage, fear, doubt, and excitement, SanjMakes was born. It’s a feel-good art brand that celebrates magic moments and reminds us to find joy in the daily chaos. I’m just at the beginning of this journey and feeling so grateful to finally do what I’ve always dreamed of – creating work that spreads sunshine, love, and a little bit of magic.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My same is Sandra, but my nearest and dearest call me Sanj. I’ve worn a lot of hats over the years; business owner, producer, marketing director, space planner, creative collaborator, and now, full-time artist and founder of SanjMakes. My journey has never followed a straight line, but one thing has stayed consistent, my love of people, creativity, and spreading sunshine wherever I go.

Across every industry I’ve worked in, my favorite part has always been the people – understanding what lights them up, what they celebrate, and how I can support them. My true superpower? I see the best in people. I see their sparkle! I have a natural tendency to lift them up, and make them feel heard and seen. Through my work, I help them see and/or feel it too.

Sanjmakes is all about feel-good art that celebrates magic moments, the little things that make life big. I create original paintings filled with bold lines, bright colors, and a whole lot of “happy.” I’ve also launched a line of love-filled greeting cards, affirmation stickers, mugs, and phone cases, all designed to bring joy into people’s everyday lives.

What sets me apart is the intention behind everything I create. I’m not just making art, I’m creating moments of connection, love, and encouragement. Whether someone’s buying a sticker to add to their kid’s lunchbox or a painting that becomes part of their daily joy, I want them to feel something real.

When I’m not art’ing, I’m momming. I’m raising two amazing boys and doing my best to infuse our lives with magic, traditions, and core memories they’ll carry forever. I’m working hard to raise kind humans who spread love and sunshine too, because let’s be real…the world could definitely use more of that.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

I mentioned earlier that my superpower is seeing people’s sparkle, lifting them up, cheering them on, believing in them. But when it came to my own art, it took me 43 years to do that for myself. Forty-three! I had to unlearn negative self-talk, self-doubt, and the habit of shrinking my voice. I had to learn to root for me the way I do for everyone else.

It wasn’t that I lacked confidence in general, I’ve always believed in myself on so many levels. But putting my art into the world felt different. It’s personal. It’s vulnerable. And for the longest time, I let the fear of judgment hold me back.

So the lesson I’ve been unlearning is this: stop giving so many f*cks about what other people might think. What I do matters. It’s worth something. I am worth something. These days, I hype myself up, repeat my mantras, and keep showing up, even when it feels scary. And let me tell you, I’ve never felt so free. The more I trust myself, the more confidence and momentum I gain.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Life is full of pivots and I’ve learned to lean into them. I tend to lead with my heart, not logic. So when something doesn’t feel right, I pay attention. I pivot.

One of the biggest shifts came when I was working as a producer in advertising for a major global brand (it should have been my dream client). I was feeling frustrated for a lot of reasons. I didn’t love the product, I felt stuck in a non-creative role that revolved around problem-solving, and I craved more freedom and flexibility. If you’ve ever worked in advertising, you know how all-consuming it can be.

We were shooting a live-action commercial in Sri Lanka (yes, Sri Lanka!), and by pure chance, I ended up at an elephant temple. There, I met a spiritual man, and we started talking. He listened, shared some insight, and gifted me a small stone. At one point he said, “You’re not happy. And if you keep ignoring that, the outcome won’t be good.” I felt like I was dropped straight into Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I made a decision then and there… I would finish the shoot, return to the States, and leave advertising for good. I didn’t have a plan. I just had trust in the universe, in myself, and in the idea that something better was waiting. And it was. It always is…

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.sanjmakes.com
• Instagram: @sanjmakes
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraschustack/

Image Credits

Karla Tomanelli Photography