We recently connected with Sarah Davis and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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?
I feel like I’ve led 100 different lives in my professional career, constantly evolving, adapting and switching gears, but always in something creative. I always knew I wanted to work in the arts, but it took me a long time to figure out in what capacity. After an initial failed attempt at an economics major in college, I ended up transferring to the Savannah College of Art and Design, and ended up studying fashion design. I moved to New York City after graduation and worked in that industry for a bit, but it was really disenchanting and I no longer felt the desire to pursue a career in fashion. I got married and we moved to Charleston, where I shifted gears into interior design. I ended up working in that industry for a while, continuing after a move to Washington DC. I learned a lot from colleagues and also had to teach myself a ton. After about 6 years of doing interior design I wanted a change, so I took an online course to get a graphic design certification through Parsons. That took about a year to finish, but it allowed me a whole new set of skills. I became really adept at the entire Adobe suite, and ended up working for a magazine doing the graphics and the layout. In the meantime I was personally returning to a lot of handmade art and illustration, and started posting a lot of it on social media. That led to private commissions here and there, mostly of personalized portraits; a lot of dog portraits; personal illustrations for invitations, things like that. I also got a side gig doing graphic design for event venues, their signage and advertising material. So I had a good balance of both digital design and handmade art.
After the birth of my daughter things changed again. We decided to move to Atlanta to be closer to family. That was a hard transition in many ways, including in my career. I continued with my occasional art commissions and graphic design side gig, but I needed something a little more steady. I worked temporarily in marketing which I hated, and wanted to really return to an arts-centric career. I basically cold-emailed every single art related company/studio/gallery/person in Atlanta, and finally landed a job with Amy Parry Projects which is a boutique art consulting firm, and have been with her ever since. I am now the visual design director, and my day-to-day is curating art packages, mainly for hospitality and multi-family. I still do a lot of graphic design and illustration freelance on the side as well, as well as making time to create the art I want to create, not just commissions. I am now able to make my living from an amalgamation of creative endeavors.
Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
When people ask what I do for a living, its hard for me to fit myself into one box. I do so many things – I’m a fine artist, an illustrator, a graphic designer, a decorative artist, a visual merchandiser, an interior designer, an art consultant. The list goes on. I may not have a traditional route like some artists; I’m not represented by a gallery or have my work in shows. But who knows, maybe I will one day? I am open to everything.
If I could draw and paint all day, I would – and the types of jobs I get most excited about are those that allow me to do just that. After a career with forays into so many different areas of design, I have found that illustration and painting are what I like to do most. I get equal excitement in creating something custom for a client and working with their vision, as I do creating my own art just for me.
I tend towards the whimsical and eclectic – I’ve been told my work is a bit child-like. which is fine with me. I do always try to add in some element of quirk into everything I do, something that may look out of place, or a small oddity hidden somewhere in the composition.
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?
There is definitely a way to make your living in the arts, you just need to map out your own route more so than say a doctor or a lawyer would; those paths are pretty straightforward, while my own career in the arts has taken quite a bit of trial and error. I come from a family of physicians and lawyers, and my career path has definitely been met with a lot of eye rolling and question marks and doubt. But any time I’ve tried to go down a traditional path with a “real” job, I’ve felt bereft and lost, like I wasn’t doing what I was meant to be doing. So I’ve kept on and have found what works for me. As a creative I’ve realized you really have to diversify, as it’s harder to make a lot of money in one area. Most creatives I know have their hands in a lot of different pots, whether it’s licensing or teaching. You definitely don’t have to have your work in a museum or have your painting sell for millions of dollars to have a successful career in the arts, which I think those on the outside may not realize.
Do you have multiple revenue streams – if so, can you talk to us about those streams and how your developed them?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sarahknightdavis.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesekd/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahknightdavis/
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/thesekd/
Image Credits
All Images © Sarah Knight Davis