How I Became a Full-Time Artist: Origin Story
“Every Child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
- Picasso
So let’s address the problem. You need money to make art, money to sell the art, money to survive.
What do most Artists not have? Money.
It doesn’t take long for a child to put together what is needed to get what they want. What I wanted was to make things—anything, everything.
The idea of doing anything else with my life was like signing up for years of torture. Sounds dramatic, I know, but for a kid like me struggling with learning disabilities, struggling to read or write, Art was the little light flickering at the end of the tunnel, and I was going to make it there.
Blue Bird | Ceramic
Brains Vs Bones | Pen
Dreamer | Watercolor on Yupo Paper
All that was needed is two steps.
Make - the Art Part
Sell - the Business Part
Oh, but if only it were that simple…
In Elementary School, I made decorated fruit baskets and sold them to my Mom’s friends, who couldn’t resist my cuteness.
In the 4th grade I got my first domain for my art, www.taylorannart.com
In middle school, I slung candy and hand-drawn mazes from my backpack.
In the first year of High School, a friend and I made Button Bracelets and covered our arms in the merch.
Later in High School, I tried selling Pastel Portraits despite not being that good. FAIL
In College, I started Face Painting and Balloon Twisting, where I got a taste of success.
Also tried Jewelry making, that was a Huge Fail
Up-cycled bottles and Coke Can Flowers, even bigger Fail.
Sports Zombie Prosthetics, almost, people loved them but they were not profitable, took to long to make for the cost soooo….also a Fail.
…..Keep trying, keep trying, keep trying
Watercolor Pet Portraits, Fail.
Belly Cast Decorating Fail.
Just plain old selling my Artwork (every age)
At Craft booths - Fail.
At Art walks - Majority Fail.
At Small Galleries - Fail.
Online - Fail.
For way less than it was worth
- STILL a complete Fail
I had a bit of hope with “Taylor Ann Art Party,” a little face painting and balloon twisting business. I was just getting it to the point I wanted it to be. It wasn’t my dream job; the social requirements for it took quite a toll on me, but hey, I was getting to be creative, to paint, so it was all worth it.
Things were about to change; I was growing up, I graduated from college, and then I got engaged.
Getting married meant moving to San Diego. My fiancé had a job there, and as an engineer, his future was a bit brighter than my clown career.
Moving meant losing my only income,
the only little successful thing I had made. I’d have to start from scratch again in SD, except this time, I did not have the time to build a client list again. I was going to have to grow up a bit more, help with the bills, and get a “real“ job.
Desperately trying to get any work I could, I revamped my website into a huge portfolio, basically saying I can do anything Art you need; just ask! PLEASE
In the end, I had maybe 200 followers on Instagram with a handful of people that actually bought any art from me. That's it.
Everything I did was not enough to make it as an artist full-time. I was so embarrassed, I knew it didn’t look good ".....so she doesn't really work? ...she's never worked? except for like a clown? ...Chasing some wild dream, good thing she's marrying an engineer." Maybe no one thought that, but I did.
That fueled me to pour out my soul and creativity on my wedding day. Art has a way of masking your insecurities; It’s like painting a better picture of yourself. I didn’t have a lot I could say for myself, but I could at least show who I am and what I can do.
Wedding Photos by James Tang Photography | Location Pine Rose Cabins
Recycled Crayons | Handmade Heart Mold
I am a colorful soul.
I wear my heart on my sleeve and see the world with 100x Saturation. I added the color to my hair, to my dress and speckled it all over the venue with handmade flowers and centerpieces. White is the color of a blank canvas. I never leave those unpainted long.
The color made the dress a perfect fit for me. It was bridal but Colorful, traditional yet Unique, bold but Elegant.
It was a beautiful day, a wonderful gift I was so fortunate to have.
Following the wedding, I moved to San Diego and got to work, hustling as hard as I could. We had enough savings to get us through June…. then July………. things are getting tight now; August, not a single sale in the new city, and September….. my time was running out. Trying to be a good wife, trying to get a gig as a face painter, as a balloon twister, a sale at a craft fair, or into a gallery.
I had been so blessed my whole life to chase my dream to try and be an Artist, but time was running out.
I needed to contribute to the bills. No money to fund any new art ventures, no sales, “no followers,” no income, no hope left.
I thought for a second I could sell my wedding dress to buy some time, but who would buy a painted dress? It seemed a blank canvas would be more valuable.
It was September 4th, 2016
I had been married and in a new city for three months; it was time to face the facts.
I couldn't make it as an artist
or an entrepreneur; I'd have to put my dreams aside. I cried myself to sleep holding job applications and handing over my dreams. I prayed, surrendering my hopes for the Lord’s, admitting I can't, only He can. I gave up.
For the first time, I gave God the one thing I thought I couldn’t live without. I Trusted God with all I had, that this wasn't the end, and that he still had plans for me; they just might not be the plans I had. I didn't ask for a miracle; I just surrendered. If He has set for me to stock shelves and make one new work friend that I could bring a little light to, I would, and I would be content in doing so.
I'll admit, part of me didn't believe I even could do that, so I prayed my dreams and desires would change to His that He would give me strength, over and over again, for only His plans, His will, Crying until I fell asleep.
Only a few hours later, as the sun rose, my Facebook and Instagram notifications chimed like an alarm.
I thought it was so odd; how were these random people finding my page? I went to get more job applications…..and my phone kept chiming.
Then, a tag.
There it was, a wedding picture of me in my crazy painted dress on the front page of a UK gossip blog climbing in the ranks and likes. They didn't credit me; they just cropped off my head and posted it. Millions saw it, people hated it, people loved it, and thousands searched for me.
From there, my painted wedding dress was skyrocketing into viral wedding madness.
Hundreds of people started asking me to paint their dress, and I just said yes.
Again crying, this time because God gave me more than I had asked and blessed me more than I could have imagined. For a week, my phone would not even work from notification overloads. I was able to collect a few deposits so I could afford some equipment and turned a part of my home into my workshop.
This is the First Dress I did for a Client.
Since then, a lot has changed. My life has taken quite a few twists and turns, but this business has stayed with me and evolved. From married to divorced. From San Diego, CA to Kansas City, MO. From working custom to upcycling and creating one-of-a-kind gowns.
Knowing that God gave all this to me is unreal. It has not been easy, nor always fun, but it has been a precious gift getting me through the hardest of times. Knowing I’m in his hands, and this business is His, is the assurance I stand on each and every day through every challenge.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11
Thank you for taking the time to read my story.
~ Taylor Ann Art
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Now you can see if the perfect dress for you will be hitting the shop soon. I update this blog regularly to show what I am currently working on, so check back in often!