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

Tatiana, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

Oh my gosh, the first time I sold a painting I was so surprised! I had this moment of, holy smokes people actually love my work! My pet portrait journey began with a playful, colorful painting of my dog that I just happened to share on Instagram. It was the beginning of the pandemic, and I was re-exploring all of my art supplies that I had tucked away and forgotten about. I was slowly experimenting and playing. Just getting familiar with “old friends” and gaining the muscle memory of holding a paint brush again. I didn’t think the painting wasn’t very good, just a little doodle, but I started to get messages from friends and family asking if I could paint their pet. Of course I was just doing it for fun, so I never thought to ask for payment. And they brought so much joy to everyone, that I was happy to keep it going. Then a dear friend requested a portrait of her pup and asked how much I was charging.. I told her not to worry about it, that it’s just for fun. She insisted on paying me anyways, and then there it was…. the first time I was ever compensated for my work.. my first $75 for a pet portrait commission!
That first dollar was truly the first big step in turning a passion into a profession. It gave me the encouragement to move past the “imposter monster” and pursue this growth as an artist.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have always been engulfed in the creative world. Maybe it’s because I’m an only child, but my imagination has been my greatest asset for as long as I can remember. I was also fortunate to have family and friends who encouraged me to keep chasing creative pursuits. Art classes were always my favorite subjects, but I never knew that someone could actually make a living from their art. (Some things are not taught in art school haha!)
Instead of finding a career in the arts, I fell into the service industry and I’m still there. I’ve been working in restaurants and cafes since I was 16 and I’m 42 now. I’ve learned more about people and how the world works from these jobs than any college professor. It’s also where I’ve made every connection so far! Just talking and building relationships with my customers and work family are where I’ve received most of my pet portrait commissions! And I realized, that most people do not buy art with logic, they buy art with emotion. People want a connection. A link to each other. It’s an amazing feeling knowing that my art has touched so many people on an emotional and personal level. It’s a truly beautiful relationship.
Pet portraits, I think, are what most people in my little bubble of the universe know me for. Maybe it’s my obsession with dogs and other animals, or that I sometimes cry while painting a memorial painting of someone’s pet, or maybe it’s all of the colors and loose brush strokes I use. I’m not sure, but I’m incredibly grateful that so many people trust me to commemorate their most beloved companions.
After my dog, my soul-mutt, passed away last year, I didn’t know if I could continue painting pet portraits. I had to take a break and grieve. I still turned to painting as my outlet, but discovered abstracts and landscapes. Painting abstracts became an art therapy session for me. Letting myself just feel colors and shapes without really thinking about it. I could release all of the stages of grief and past trauma that I had locked away, and throw it on canvas. Surprisingly, some truly beautiful pieces emerged! These explorations and emotionally driven play, taught me new ways of painting, color explorations, and composition. I think these experiments have made me a better painter, and brought me back to painting pet portraits with fresh eyes.
I also work as a surface pattern designer. I use my watercolor paintings and turn them into patterns for mostly fabric and wallpaper, but really any surface you can think of. I have a licensing contract with Natural Roots Fabric. They are an all organic fabric printer in the United States.
I love that my work adorns so many spaces! My hope is to bring beauty and comfort into people’s safe spaces to create more of a home-like feeling.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Oh my gosh, could our local government please stop cutting funding for the art programs in schools! Seriously, painting, music, theatre, all of the art forms are so dang important. Humans need to be able to express themselves and share their ideas with each other. I truly believe that art is necessary for our development. Can you imagine a world without art?!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I absolutely love painting pet portraits! I get to read your stories about your quirky hilarious dog and look at the reference photos sent to me. I get to learn just how much your pet means to you and what a huge impact our little companions bring to our lives. And I get to make so many people cry when they receive the finished portrait. I love that for a brief moment in time I was a part of this beautiful connection between someone and their pet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shopdog.studio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopdog_studio/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tatiana-roberts-9022a2207/