Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Violeta Rotstein. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Violeta, appreciate you joining us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t pick a career specifically because of how much happier I felt I’d be if I followed my passion. Though it can be complex taking something you love so much and turning into a career. I definitely had several years at the start of my career where I tried out several “regular” jobs while my freelance work was small to none. These positions taught me a lot, helped keep me afloat financially, but inevitably left me feeling stifled and often worried I’d never be able to return to my dreams. I’m definitely much happier in this stage, and no longer am trying to fit myself into a 9-5 career box.

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

Yes! My name is Violeta Rotstein, I’m a freelance Illustrator and Artist, based in the Twin Cities. I create digital illustrations, as well as traditional art, & jewelry! I’m also a contract artist at Gray Duck Art, a MN based small business. Alongside my contract work, I run an online shop and sell my work locally at fairs and in store at Primitiva Collective in Uptown.

I studied Illustration at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, after exploring several options, and found my perfect fit in storytelling with visuals. I’ve been an artist and storyteller for as long as I can remember. My parents can attest to the stack of kid airplane drawings I made, documenting our many flights to visit our home country of Argentina. My background as first gen immigrant has lead me to create a body of work that celebrates diversity, and curiosity, even when my subjects are plants and animals. I tend to find in inspiration from my upbringing and experiences, as well as my personal connections to nature itself.

I’m most proud of how far I’ve gotten, not giving up despite the hardships, and the meaningful connections I’ve made along the way. As creatives we tend to feel isolated, working on our craft and afraid to open up about our struggles. After all, we’re supposed to be “living the dream” of following our passions! But the field is not easy to break into, and only way we make it out here is together, lifting each other up.

I’m always surprised by how fulfilling AND difficult it is to be a working Illustrator. Each new client/project brings a new challenge that keeps me growing and learning.

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?

People tend to not understand that as an illustrator, or creative in general, you are running your own business and you have to take on all the roles that entails. As a creative I am the artist, the social media manager, business owner, the accountant, the list goes on. Many of these skills require their own degrees, but we are out here wearing so many hats we wouldn’t fit through a doorway! Seems like a dream to be making art all day but it’s a serious career path that I honestly wasn’t prepared for until I made some big mistakes, in my early career, and learned what it takes. And I have the privilege to have survived those mistakes thanks to help from very supportive family and friends.

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

I feel that there needs to be more support for small business owners/creatives in our society, but more importantly, built into our governmental structures. The best thing that you can do to support local creatives, besides buying our work, is to uplift initiatives that will keep us afloat. Mainly initiatives that will give us more access to healthcare, that we often pay out of pocket due to not being on a company plan. We don’t get paid sick days, and we don’t get paid family leave. There are so many systems that uplift big business, let’s uplift small business that are a part of your actual community!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.violetarotstein.com
• Instagram: @thebirdvioleta
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/violeta-rotstein-06a71b68/
• Twitter: @thebirdvioleta
• Other: Tiktok @thebirdvioleta