My Creative Business Journey – How It All Began

Turning 40: A New Chapter in Creativity

Turning 40 often sparks deep reflection on career and life choices. For me, it led to a new chapter – this is my Creative Business Journey, a story of rediscovering passion and building something new. At that milestone age, many people start questioning their careers and aspirations: Where am I now? Am I happy with what I’m doing? What do I still want to achieve? These are all questions that arise around that milestone age – and I could relate to them all too well! One thing was clear, though: what I was missing in both my personal and professional life was creativity.

Tourism to Creativity: A Journey of Discovery

After completing my tourism studies, I quickly started working full-time in the travel industry, where I worked for over 20 years with great pleasure. This career allowed me to see the world, explore different countries, and experience diverse cultures. My curiosity about the world had already been strong during my youth. Through an organization, I was matched with pen pals from various countries. In an era before the internet, I exchanged letters with people from all corners of the globe. These correspondences gave me a glimpse into daily lives across borders. Choosing a career in tourism felt like a natural step.

A Childhood Passion Resurfaces

When I approached my forties something special happened. During a visit to my mother in my childhood home, she showed me boxes full of sketchbooks, comics, and other creations I had made as a child. That was the moment when everything clicked. I remembered the happy feeling inside that I felt as a child while creating and bringing my ideas to life. I knew: I have to do this again!

Rediscovering and Refining My Art

And so, I began anew. First by simply drawing again. Then, I took a creative writing course, which helped me express stories more effectively. At some point, I discovered digital illustration and purchased a Wacom tablet – a simple, affordable version. I took a course on “designing with vectors” and delved deeper into the world of art and graphic design. Perspective, composition, colors – everything was new to me. I learned by observing illustrations in magazines, art in museums, and visuals on social media and in films.

Developing My Own Art Style

I started exploring my own style and decided to focus on a single subject in the process: Antarctica and its unique wildlife. Many of my early illustrations didn’t make the cut, but some definitely did – and they’re still available in my shop today. Enthusiasts buy them as standalone prints or create an entire “Antarctic gallery wall” in their homes. How amazing is that?
Tip: When you buy four or more prints from the Art Prints and Posters collection, you’ll receive 25% off with the code 4PRINTS25.
Want to learn more about my workflow and the program I use, Affinity Designer? Check out my interview on Affinity Spotlight, where I share insights into my creative process and artistic journey.

Building a Creative Business from Scratch

Now, 12 years later, at 52, I look back on my creative business journey with immense satisfaction. What began as a rediscovery of my childhood passion has grown into my very own creative small business – something I never even dreamed of in the past. It has developed organically over the years, through a natural process of small steps, with ups and downs, hard work, study and practice. And I couldn’t be happier with where I am today.

As a child, I always knew I wanted to do something creative later in life. “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is a question often asked to children. My answer was always the same: an artist. It took some time to get there, but here I am now.

As a young adult, you face many decisions that shape your future. My time in the travel industry? It was full of valuable experiences and inspiration, which clearly come through in my current collection of prints and posters. Moreover, my years of experience in customer service have given me valuable know-how that I now apply in my work as a small business owner.

In 2021, I started selling on Etsy. That experience helped me take the next step: launching my own website.

Balancing My Creative Business Journey with Everyday Life

Alongside my creative business, I work part-time in mental health care, in the admissions department. There, I work in a team setting and help clients take the first administrative steps toward the care they need. This balance between teamwork and working independently not only provides financial security but also brings me a lot of fulfillment. The creative freedom of my own business beautifully contrasts with the collaboration and structure of my other job. Both worlds complement each other.

From Pen Pals to Sending Art Worldwide

In the past, I wrote letters to pen pals around the world. Now, I write blogs and send art prints, posters, bookmarks, postcards, and greeting cards featuring my illustrations of travel, cultures, and wildlife to customers globally. It’s a journey I could never have taken without the experiences and inspiration I gained along the way. My hope is that my work not only brightens your walls but perhaps also brings back a memory, sparks a smile, or even inspires you to embrace your own creative journey. Through this blog, I hope to share my Creative Business Journey and encourage others to embrace their creativity as well. This website is not just a shop; it’s a place where everything comes together and where my passion for illustration, writing, and creativity aligns.

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