Hi, I'm Michelle. I am new artist, entrepreneur, creative and dreamer. At the age of 51 I have decided to return to the world of art and reignite my love of art and creativity. My long term plan is to become a full time working artist. I am going to explore many mediums and avenues of making and selling art. I have started this channel to document my journey, good and bad. My goal is to inspire and support anyone who wants to make their dreams of getting back into art and creativity a reality. I hope you will join me!
I want you to know you are always on time, your dreams are important and there are people out there waiting for you to share your gifts, skills, and knowledge with the world. You can do this, and I'm here to help.
I, like you, started on a Art adventure at the age of 54 ish. I went to school out of the love for creativity. I received a STUDIO. ART DEGREE. I thought I would teach art but the degree for that would have taken longer. I'M 70 now and all I want to do is enjoy my art. I love to do and I can do many art areas. DRAWING, SEWING, PAINTING KNITTING...YOUR INSPIRATION IS GREAT...LOVED WATCHING. Looking forward to how I can increase, especially since I have a degree I never used😅. THANKS
Thank you Michelle. I'm in a mid-life career crises. Have worked in a field for 30 years and feel it does not fulfill my creative spul. I'm also struggling with my family, expecting me to work in a traditional job. Ive always been in survival and struggle mode when it comes to earning miney. I guess I'm struggling with a lack of belief that s creative career is possible. Going from an emplyee mindset to doing something for myself so your videos are inspirational for me and I'm sure everyone who finds this chanbel. Thank your and bless you 🙏 ❤️
I'm a nurse, the high burn out rate is real. There are so many demands of you while at 9-5, most can only do it for a short amount of their lifespan, and then feel stuck their, because of time, money and effort put into that education. There's a million reasons why your life choice may not be right for you NEVER force yourself to stay and don't feel bad about it either. The health and well being of yourself and family are far more important
Thank you so much. These words came just at the right time for me. Delusional is a word that keeps coming up in my fearful thinking, so the quote 'Be delusional. Dream bigger than people's fears' really hit the spot 😂
You should paint the wineries and sell to tourists. My husband made a very good living as an illustrator for a romance book publisher in Canada. When they revamped their operation they stopped using him. He had worked for them for decades. it was very difficult.
I think it’s very fundamental advice, not just for artists but for all people. My dad always taught me to have more than one job. He had one job that paid the bills, one job that he loved and one job just for fun. Although I am disabled and I receive Social Security is my main source of income, I also make jewelry and sell it at local consignment shops, which is the only other Stable source of income I’ve been able to create, but it’s not much. I also create paintings and drawings and mostly watercolor and pastel. I’ve had those in galleries but haven’t sold anything. And I just recently started a RU-vid channel :-) I’m also working with the blind Commission in my area to get me a grocery store job. So yeah 100% agree with you :-) plus it keeps us active, busy and creative! You’re such an inspiration, Michelle.❤️🙏
Hi Michelle what a beautiful location 💓 I live in Southern NJ about an hour from the Jersey shore Atlanta city, artwork to "Printfull" to put on products. I have also thought about starting a blog too. What do you think about these ideas? Thanks I'm enjoying following your journey 😊
Michelle I'm soooo on board. I'm also in my late 50's and have decided too to have a career as an artist. I've been a musician all my life ( I play the cello and have been playing in the symphony most of my life), but I have never REALLY considered myself an artist. I've only been creating art for a year and a half now and I KNOW this is where I want to be. My goal is to become a successful freelance artist. Thank you SOOOO MUCH for encouraging us more mature ladies to get with the program. IT'S NEVER TOO LATE!! :-)
your wedding illustrations are so pretty!! Did you go to school for fashion design? Also, I shared your videos with a friend of mine and we just love how relatable your journey is. Keep it up!!!
Hi! I am in the same path as you! So good to have found your channel. I am 42 heading to a divorce, no kids, but finally going forward to become a full time artist too. I started in 2021 stopped, tried different things such as blogging and selling digital planners, but finally I realized that art is what makes sense to me. I was a creative kid, but life took a different turn, but now I am finally in the right direction. And I am mature enough to understand that it will take a bit of time, but until there, I will be practicing and gathering knowledge. Much love 💖💖💖
Hello Michelle ! I enjoyed listening to your story, very inspiring. Had a very similar experience in my youth and starting my own art business later in life. Wishing you luck and much success.
Have you thought about making a video about your time working in wardrobe for television? It would be so cool to hear the choices and decisions that go in to choosing what a character wears!!!
Really we need to make a club or something - I turned 60 this year and for about ten years I've been working on my drawing/ painting skills with the idea of starting my own business. My husband and I started our own remodeling contractor business 8 years ago, and we're getting ready to retire from that next year. Now's the time to get it together!
I'm only 10 minutes in and love your story! I'm 41 and pursuing graphic design. I've wanted learn since I was in my twenties, but took a path that focused on stability which meant unfulfilling jobs. It's so refreshing to find others pivoting later in life to work that is meaningful and brings them joy. cheers!
Thank you for this!! I'm in my 50's pursuing my goals as an art entrepreneur and I've hit many bumps along the way. I've been feeling pretty off for the the last month and this was very inspirational Michelle I'm so glad I found you! Thanks for this and I'll be following along!
Your drawings are beautiful! I look forward to watching them. I'm glad I found your channel. I'm getting much closer to the 50 group and am embarking on a career changes, so I am thrilled to not be the only one! :) We need more channels for people our age. :)
Hi!!!! I am so glad that I stumbled across your video! Art and Music has always been my heart and soul, everything that you touched on is so on point and pretty much mirrors my earlier Life experiences! My parents always had the mentality that the Arts was more of a play thing, not a career, and that you had to have a good regular 9-5 job and at the time I don't think that they understood that I was this unique creative kid so Art/music was not encouraged even when that was all that I thought about, and envisioned my life to be. Over the Years I struggled with working temporary jobs very low pay, but in my mind it was just supposed to be temporary until I made it professionally in the Arts, or Music Industry! I've also struggled with Mental Health due to becoming this Robot working a 9-5 M-F sometimes weekends with no time for my creative outlets. In my 50's now, it's even more of a challenge because I'm juggling 2 kids as a newly divorced single parent, the whole menopause thing, and yes it is a thing LOL, trying to kick off my T-shirt design Art Business and of course work the quote on quote regular low paying job to pay the bills. Is there any way that I can connect with you on a phone call so that my messages aren't so lengthy? I'm saving to get the printer that you listed but I have some additional questions on how to organically have a Art income and resign permanently from a dead-end job. I would love to share my website, and get some advice from you on how I can make this into a permanent lifestyle and career. Also curios about possible Grants and how I can make that work. Thank You so much for creating these videos, you are a complete Blessing to the Creatives still out here trying to figure it all out! 🙂❤❤❤
Oh this is so relateable! Mine had its seeds in 2008 (kids went off to college, got divorced, went back to college, got that art degree)...but I chickened out and went back to the safety of a "real job" after losing my studio in 2014 (corporate owners ran it into the ground to cash out). I stopped all creative endeavors and went full time corporate - then 5 years down the line when I was told I was literally developing an ulcer from the stress and driving my auto immune disease into full disability - that corporate clown moved all our jobs off shore. I "lost it" - I cashed out my 401K, and took a month long trip to camp and see all those things on my Bucket list. I even hiked The Wave! Started a creative business that uses that degree AND my business skills and not looking back! I'm continually surprised that even in this economy, how much it grows.
All great ideas. Would love to hear more about successes and failures as you move forward. I’m a bit older than you, and also getting back into painting and writing after many years away.
I definitely resemble the getting sucked into a million different things. Sometimes it distracts from what I "should" be doing, but I love the excited feeling of getting into something new that interests me and the process of learning everything about it. I'm a painter but I can also crochet, make jewelry, sculpt, weave, etc. And all of it makes me a better creative in all aspects of life and contributes to my work as a painter. Best wishes on your journey!
This advice truly resonates with me! I'm about to begin my creative adventure and it's been scary as I'm taking a leap of faith. Thank you so much, Michelle, for sharing your experiences, giving us words of wisdom and motivation, and taking us on a soothing nature walk with you! I'm so glad I found your video! 🥰💕
Love this ❤I will be checking out your other vids! I'm mid 40s, just now getting back into art after blocking it out of my life for 20+ years. I had such a block about it i didn't even let myself watch art content the entire time the internet has been around lol. I went to art school and experienced a tramatic event, i quit and from then on led a "normal life", without art. I'm finally ready to bring it back and feel alive again! Love your journey ❤️ inspiring
I just came across your channel, 5 minutes into this video, I head you say the exact line of “art isn't going to make you a good living” speech that kept me from pursuing what I loved doing the most! I'm 54 and spent the majority of my life working in jobs because it was the responsible thing to do.. I did photography on the side for 20+ years, but I'm not considered a Professional because I didn't get a college degree in Photography. I can still shoot better than most Pros Ive met! I'm glad I found your channel.❤
I don’t believe you need a certificate to tell you if you are amazing at anything. Sounds like you should keep doing photography! Wishing you all the best! ❤️🙌🏻🤩
Beautiful illustrations! Also, Q4, yes! I often hear people talking about prepping for that way early. So smart! Can't wait to hear about your art licensing stuff. I don't think I'm going in that direction, but I definitely have thought about it! It would be so cool to see your stuff in Target or something, ya know? You're doing awesome things!!❤
“This is real life, kids.” 😂❤ And please forgive me if I’m overstepping and/or you’ve already thought of these ideas, but I LOVE this idea and if I was getting married I’d love to order them and I want you to succeed, so here goes. Have you thought about approaching: stationery stores that specialize in wedding invitations; wedding cake bakeries; wedding expos; wedding dress shops; florists; photographers? Maybe they can share your print business, or you can partner with them in some way? I don’t know, just some thoughts.
Canva is an amazing app for small business, really worth the cost of the full subscription. I have to admit the printer part of the video was a bit triggering 😂because I know how much time it takes trying to get them to print exactly how you want it. The first time I printed my art on greeting cards it took over a full day. Printers have a mind of their own 🫤
Haha! I know, sorry, I should have put a trigger warning! Figuring out a printer is not for the faint of heart. I don’t know the number of hours I have spent learning how to print what I need. 😂
