We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tara Reed. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tara below.

Alright, Tara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights 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.

One year ago I quit my stable full time job to pursue my life long dream of being a full time artist. It was one of the scariest but most fulfilling risks I have ever taken. I was the Artist Community Manager for the print-on-demand fabric and wallpaper company, Spoonflower. Here I was working tirelessly to help other artists make a living doing what they love, meanwhile putting my own art on the back-burner. I never believed in myself enough to feel like I could be one of those artists. I shifted my perspective and began to think – if I can work this hard for others, why not for myself? Slowly, I started carving out time for my art in the late hours of the night and began sharing it on Instagram @Taranormal. I began getting freelance work from there and decided that I would give myself one year to dedicate 100% of my time to this dream. I quit my job and haven’t looked back since. I’ve just hit my year mark and couldn’t be happier with the risk I took on myself.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am an illustrator and surface designer living in Raleigh, NC. My job as a surface designer is to bring a companies products to life with beautiful artwork. Clients can pull from my extensive catalog of patterns to license or collaborate with me to create custom artwork for their products. I specialize in bright, eye catching color palettes, whimsical subject matter in an illustrative style, and showing diversity in my designs. My work has been. licensed on fabric, wallpaper, phone cases, puzzles, greeting cards, and home decor items. I’m inspired by everything in nature – especially vibrant floral and fauna from different areas of the world. My favorite project so far has been designing a 13 piece fabric collection for Joann Fabrics. It has been amazing and humbling to see what sewists and small business owners make using my fabric!

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Consistency is key! The most important thing is to be authentic and true to yourself. Think of your instagram feed as a living portfolio that potential clients will see. Likes and follows ultimately don’t equal success – being consistent and showing up does. Follow others in your field and build relationships – celebrate their wins and value community over being competitive. I find that being kind and lifting others up far outweighs the opposite.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Yes! Skillshare is an incredible resource for all types of creatives. There are tons of classes available taught by industry experts from all over the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tarareedart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taranormal/