After a beautiful family holiday in New Zealand—filled with fun, adventure, and a much-needed break; I came home ready to dive into personal projects. I finally had time to focus on a book I’ve been dreaming of illustrating, a new collection of large paintings on canvas, and watercolour illustrations I had set aside for too long.
But instead of feeling excited, I felt stuck. Frustrated.
The Constant Balancing Act
As an artist, slow months are a double-edged sword. They give me time to create freely, but they also bring financial uncertainty. While my heart pulls me towards my brushes, my brain reminds me that bills still need to be paid. On top of that, there’s always something demanding my attention—emails, social media, orders, newsletters. The creative flow I crave is constantly interrupted.
I’ve been navigating this path for over a decade, and you’d think I’d have it all figured out by now. But the truth is, the cycle never really changes. What has changed is me; I recover from the lows faster, I trust that work will come, and I’ve learned to embrace the unpredictability of this journey.
Shifting My Mindset
Instead of fighting the ebb and flow, I chose to embrace it. I started my days with early morning anyting sports sessions, let my creativity lead without pressure, and painted just for myself. I explored new techniques, revisited the artists who inspire me, and reminded myself why I fell in love with painting in the first place.
I also broke down my overwhelming to-do list into small, manageable steps—because let’s be real, you can’t eat an elephant in one bite.
And then, just like that, I created a new series of illustrations for my folio, which led to new commissions, made progress on my book, soon starting illustrating a new boardgame, and secured a wonderfull-wonderwall mural project for a client. Pressure off for a time!
The Reality of Being an Artist & Entrepreneur
Being an artist isn’t just about creating—it’s about running a business, marketing yourself, and constantly adapting. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions, but one I wouldn’t trade for anything.
The Perks:
✅ Freedom: I decide what to paint, when to work, and where to create.
✅ Endless Learning: From social media marketing, video editing, website creator, I’ve become a one-woman business machine.
✅ Meaningful Connections: The people I meet, the messages I receive, they make it all worth it.
The Challenges:
⚡ Less time for actual painting: Admin work often takes over.
⚡ Unstable income: Some months are amazing, others… not so much.
⚡ No off switch: When you’re your own boss, work is always on your mind, you have to set real off time to disconnect your brain.
⚡ The post-project panic: Finishing commissions means hunting for the next one.
My Truth About Being an Artist
🎨 I've changed my art style so many times because other artists always inspire me, I get bored easily, I love exploring new things, and I’m never satisfied with my art. I feel there’s more than one way to express yourself. It’s scary because I worry I’ll lose customers and followers or confuse them with different styles and topics. But evolving and discovering new things feels true to myself.
😬 I cringe when I look at my past illustrations, from last week all the way back to the beginning of my painting journey.
🫣 Sharing my paintings is terrifying. There’s so much of me in them, and I feel like people will see right through me. I’m basically a Nemo kind of girl, hiding behind my brushes.
✏️ I prefere sketches more than finished pieces. There’s something so raw and magical about the early stages of a drawing.
🎢 Starting a new painting? Both nerve-wracking and thrilling. Every. Single. Time.
🙈 I’m too introverted to show my face in stories. And you’ll never hear me talk in my videos. Nope. Not happening.
⏳ I rarely miss a deadline. Even though watercolour is not forgiving, I’ve almost never had to repaint a commissioned piece. That’s how much pressure I put on myself.
🖼️ Illustration pays the bills, but my dream is to be an artist. I have a pile of blank canvases and a notebook full of ideas waiting for me to take the leap
🤷♀️ I hoard original paintings I don’t like. I won’t sell them, but I also can’t throw them away. Artist struggles.
💸 Being my own boss is freeing… and terrifying. Some months, I think about getting a “real” job with a steady paycheck, but then a lovely commission or customer message lands in my inbox, and I’m back at it—until the next panic.
📦 Some days, I don’t paint at all. I’m packing orders, answering emails, writing posts, or doing accounting (ugh). But the days I do paint? That’s why it’s all worth it
💖 Your feedback means everything. When you share the story behind a commission or show me where you’ve hung a print, it keeps me going. You are the colours to my water.
😅 I almost never get attached to my paintings—they're part of my artistic journey, part of the process, and I'm happy to let them go to your homes to bring someone joy.
📱 Instagram used to frustrate me. I’d scroll through stunning art, thinking I’d never be that good. Now, I just let it inspire me, knowing every artist has a messy process and unseen failures behind their masterpieces.
🎭 Art is a journey. It takes practice, constant learning, and a whole lot of self-doubt (fun!).
🤖 AI "art" freaks me out. I really hope people keep choosing art made by humans with creative minds and beating hearts.
Finding a Way Forward
Despite the struggles, I wouldn’t trade this life for anything. It’s unpredictable, yes, but also deeply fulfilling. Slow periods allow me to grow, experiment, and push my art in new directions. And soon enough, the next wave of projects will come, or I will create a new opportunity to find it. It always happens🤞🏽
Last week, a dad sent me an email about his 7-year-old daughter, inspired by my paintings—believing she could follow her passion one day, too. And honestly? That’s what makes it all worth it.
So I’ll keep painting, keep learning, and keep showing up.
Because that’s what being an entrepreneur/illustrator/artist is all about. 💙