My True Colors: 2 Years of Painting My Own Path
It feels surreal to sit here, two years into this extraordinary journey, and reflect on how far I’ve come. Two years ago, I stood at a pivotal moment, eyes wide with a mix of excitement and trepidation, utterly unsure if this massive decision would pay off. The leap from a stable, progressive career to the exhilarating, yet unpredictable, world of a full-time artist was daunting, to say the least.
For thirteen years, I navigated the tech and advisory industries in various roles—from software engineer to business analyst and product owner. On a parallel track, music has been a constant, joyful companion; I've recorded and performed as a vocalist for over 20 years. And then there's painting, a practice I’ve embraced for more than two decades, though never professionally.
These creative pursuits—music and painting—have always been my sanctuary. Amidst the relentless noise of corporate life, demanding schedules, and everyday situations, they offered solace, calm, and a quiet space for solitude. My happy place, indeed.
The Pull of Creative Freedom & Crafting a Life of Creative Ownership
All my life, I've harbored a dream of a truly free existence, unburdened by the rigid structure of corporate hierarchies or the relentless pursuit of someone else’s vision/goals. While a steady paycheck and job security are undeniable comforts, I craved the creative freedom to experiment, to own what I created, and to connect directly with customers who genuinely resonated with my unique voice, whether it was music or a painting. In the grand scheme of things, it was about eliminating the noise and focusing on what truly mattered.
The pandemic amplified this realization. It made it crystal clear what I didn't want: the corporate grind that stifled genuine creation. At my core, I love to create, whether building an app or designing a product. But creating becomes meaningless when you're restricted by time, people's temperaments, and churning out work for others where you have no connection to the end user. Your worth is often tied to the company's brand, not your individual contribution. I wanted to represent myself, my goals, and put out work in my style, my way, trusting that the right audience would naturally gravitate towards it, allowing me to filter out the rest.
I've often found clarity through elimination; It's usually easier to know what you don't want when you're feeling stuck. And as an introvert who's a bit socially awkward, focusing my energy on what I genuinely enjoy and letting my art connect with those who truly get it became my way to cut out all the extra noise. Painting, in particular, offered the ultimate freedom and accountability for every aspect of running my own business. What better feeling is there than creating something wholeheartedly accepted by a customer who values it and owns it for years, perhaps even beyond my own time?
The Leap, The Learnings, The Lovely Surprise
Making this decision was hard, intensely thought-out, and came hand-in-hand with significant anxiety, a fear of failure, and the awareness of a massive learning curve ahead. Yet, looking back, it has been unequivocally worth it. These past two years have been the most creatively fulfilling of my life, despite the real, day-to-day challenges inherent in running a business.
When I first broke the news that I was quitting my corporate job to become a full-time artist, I faced a barrage of questions and oh, those reactions! Advice and opinions, often unsolicited, poured in, but little did those well-meaning (or not-so-well-meaning) individuals know that their attempts to undermine my confidence only fueled my resolve. I actually love that feeling!
Reflecting now, every single skill I gained from my education and work experience in the corporate world—from organization and project management to critical decision-making—has been invaluable in building and running my own brand, on my own terms. There's no limit to what I can aim for, and that, despite the hurdles, feels incredibly empowering.
I've gathered many more lessons and realizations from being self-employed, which I'll delve into in my next post. But for anyone contemplating that leap, holding one foot out of the traditional corporate world to step into your dream job, I say: Don't doubt it. It is profoundly fulfilling. I won't say it’s easy, but I can affirmatively assure you that you won't regret it.
