Thank you for joining me for this audio series! I just really wanted you get to know me on a little bit of a deeper level, hearing my entire journey as a self-employed artist.

I opted for an audio recording because I find the medium more personal and intimate, just like if we were chatting over coffee at a nearby cafe. I hope you enjoy it!

Episode 1: My Journey to Self-Employment

In this first episode, I walk you through my journey from just a kid who dreams of being an artist to finally being self-employed. A few highlights you’ll hear me talk about:

• Learning how to create my first repeat pattern in a screenprinting class in college
• Struggling to find full-time work after college and starting a pattern-related side gig
• The realities of being a graphic designer at Pottery Barn
• How I left the corporate world behind in 2013 to become self-employed
• My love of scrapbooking and how it led me to become a full-time surface designer
• Why it took me 9 years to pursue patterns as a career

Helpful Resources:

• INTERVIEW: Living with a Self-Employed Creative – an IG interview with my husband
• BLOG POST: Overcoming Perfectionism & Why Making Mistakes is Ok
• BLOG POST: 7 Tips to Be a Better Beginner in Surface Design
• FREE PDF: Goal Setting for Surface Designers

Episode 2: My Surface Design Career

In my second episode, I’m focusing on my time as a surface design, from newbie to veteran. A few highlights you’ll hear me talk about:

• Debuting my portfolio at my first trade show – Surtex in 2017
• How I adjusted my marketing in 2018 after all my Surtex leads dried up
• The reason I gave myself an ultimatum of earning at least $75k from my biz by 2020
• My pivot to teaching in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic
• Moving to Ireland in 2021 as a direct result of my growing business
• How our art businesses tend to evolve over time and why that’s ok

Helpful Resources:

• BLOG POST: How to Develop Your Surface Design Portfolio
• FREE PDF: 5 Tips for Emailing Art Directors
• IG VIDEO: MYTH – You’re Annoying When Sending Follow-Up Emails
• FREE WORKSHOP: Increase Your Design Income
• IG VIDEO: Life as an Expat Artist

Episode 3: Why I Created SDR

In this last episode, I share the reasons behind WHY I started Sketch Design Repeat. A few highlights you’ll hear me talk about:

• My passion for teaching started long before I found surface design
• Struggling with a lack of info about exhibiting at Surtex & how it led me to teaching
• How my surface design mentor made me realize I could teach the way I wanted to teach
• My love/hate relationship with Skillshare and why I quit offering classes there
• Following my heart to create biz-focused classes which led to me starting SDR

Helpful Resources:

• FB GROUP: Jennifer Nelson’s Advice For Artist Group
• BLOG POST: How to Choose Your Streams of Income as an Artist
• IG VIDEO: MYTH – You Have to Do “All the Things”
• FREE MINI CLASS: Portfolio Advice You DON’T Have to Follow
• SIGNATURE CLASS: Pitch Your Portfolio – open for enrollment April 23-26