We were lucky to catch up with Tracy Updike recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In January 2018, I took a risk and quit my full-time corporate job. I left because I felt desperate and needed to regain control of my destiny. I was on the wrong path. Creating has always been an integral part of my life’s journey, and I have dreamt of being a self-employed creative all of my adult life. However, I lacked the conviction to pursue making art as a means of living. By January 2018, I had stopped pursuing my creative endeavors and resigned to filling the void with other activities. I had let fear and lack of self-confidence hold me back.

When I left my job, I knew I needed time to rediscover who I was and what I wanted. After floundering briefly, I decided to pursue real estate. It had a low barrier to entry, and I thought I needed a “real job.” At the same time, I also decided to return to a previous creative endeavor: making artisanal handbags.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a genuine desire to be a Realtor, and without the drive, I did not succeed. On the other hand, my art began to thrive, and by 2019, I had upped the game on my designs and applied to art shows. I had gotten into four shows, one of which I considered the pinacol of them all, Summerfair Cincinnati. As a kid, I grew up attending Summerfair and dreamed of one day participating as a professional artist. I could hardly believe I was accepted. That summer was magical, and I thrived making and selling my art at shows. I knew I was in the right place.

Although I was finding success in the art world, I still was not making enough and decided to return to a job where I could trade my time for money. However, this time I promised myself I would not lose sight of my dream and would put my passion first. If I do the work, I can and will succeed as a self-employed creative.

Quitting my job was a risk and one I do not regret taking. The experience is one I had to go through to get to where I am today. It gave me the space I needed to rediscover my creative side, and although I no longer make my handbags, the journey led me to the art I am making today. We can’t go through life sitting on the sidelines and regretting what we have or have not done. When we take a risk, the outcome may be different than what we want, but it will be one we can learn from. Risk is an integral part of growth.

Tracy, 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?

I am an artist, avid button maker, and animal lover. 2019 I started Maker Street Studio shortly after purchasing my first button machine. I initially used it to craft accessories for my artisanal handbags. Now I use the equipment for my on-the-spot photo button booth and to create merchandise featuring my animal art.

At live events, I offer on-the-spot photo button-making. I help people transform their favorite photos from their phones into pinback buttons, magnets, coasters, keychains, and more. The photo buttons are a lovely way to celebrate our human and four-legged friends. My customers use them as personalized keepsakes or gifts for friends and family.

In addition to the on-the-spot photo button-making, I sell merchandise featuring my designs of pets depicted with human-like characteristics telling fun and relatable stories. I started creating my digital collages in 2021 after being commissioned to develop pinback buttons for Rabbit Hash Kentucky’s Historical Society fundraiser. In one of the designs, I pasted the head of Wilbur, a French Bulldog and Mayor of the small town, onto a biker’s body. I thoroughly enjoyed the process and was off to the races armed with a bunch of punny dog-related ideas. My initial images were basic graphic designs, but as my skills expanded, my images became complex illustrations. I now offer art prints alongside my mugs, t-shirts, magnets, and other printed merchandise. Offerings include breed-specific designs that are easily giftable and personalized art based on my client’s pets.

Maker Street Studio is at the beginning of its journey. As I grow the business, I plan to expand what I offer and provide a go-to place to celebrate and learn about our four-legged friends. One of my favorite surprise benefits has been participating in fundraiser events for rescue organizations. It has been a fantastic opportunity to help raise awareness and support the non-profits through donations. My goal is to continue supporting rescue organizations financially and through my art.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I am an avid knowledge gatherer. I usually seek a podcast, self-help book, or online course to help me navigate when struggling with something. Using outside sources is an excellent way to remove roadblocks and overcome fear. I listened to Heath Armstrong’s podcast, Artrepreneur Now, as an exercise to be inspired by other creative entrepreneurs as they told their stories of pursuing their creative passion. It gave me the conviction to believe it could be done. When I struggled with pricing and how to grow, I turned to Megan Auman’s online course, How to Make a Living Selling What You Make, on the Creative Live educational platform. The modules on pricing provided an easy-to-follow methodology. It helped me understand my numbers and gave me confidence in my pricing. I recently finished reading Rafi Perez’s books: The Rogue Artist Survival Guide and The Rogue Artist Art Marketing Guide. I love his perspective on making, marketing, and creating an income from your art on your own terms. I especially enjoyed his interpretation of marketing. Simply put, it’s about finding creative ways to put your art in front of your audience. He has given me the license to think of it creatively, and I can’t wait to play around with some new innovative marketing ideas.

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?

Once you find that thing that makes you tick, the one activity that puts you in a state of flow, you must do it. For me, it is creating arts and crafts. Anyone who has yet to tap into that passion, that one thing that lights them up, may have difficulty understanding. Jonathan Fields, author and the founder of the Good Life Project, coined the term Sparktype™. He describes it as the work that is essential to you and makes you feel alive. My Sparktype™ is Maker. It is in my nature to want to manifest ideas into reality. Sometimes I have so many ideas in my head that I find it hard to focus on anything else. There are periods when I stopped making art, but I always return to it because it is an essential part of my being.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/MakerStreetStudioLLC
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makerstreetstudio
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MakerStreetStudio/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/makerstreetstudio