Welcome to another episode of The Cassandra Gaisford Show, where I interview inspiring men and women from around the world and tell you THEIR story of finding, launching, and growing their own passion-driven life and career. I call these people – Passionpreneurs.
Now let the journey begin…
Today I am super happy to be speaking with RACHEL BARBER. Rachel is now a full-time artist. Like me, she has set an intention to stay open to the joy of love and have fun!
“It was a really stressful time. It wasn’t meant to be a career flip…I just went back to my original passion.”
Discover how losing everything overnight during an eight-week Covid lockdown forced this New Zealander to do what she had always loved. And how becoming a full-time artist was a happy and unplanned side-effect.
Whether you are an aspiring artist or looking for the courage to make a midlife career change, I know you will enjoy this super inspiring interview with Rachel. At 30-years wise, Rachel shares her secrets of feel-good success.
We discuss why following your passion is the secret sauce to making a successful career change, how she absorbed herself in her joy to help manage worry and anxiety, and how sharing your work creates an unexpected and loyal market. It’s so important to listen to feedback, create what people want, while still maintaining your unique voice and infusing your work with fun and love.
SCROLL TO THE END TO WATCH OUR INTERVIEW
I’m an artist. I’ve been a sole trader for the past 4 years, previously working as a florist, then made the switch to an artist when covid hit. I decided to use my name and create @rachelbarberartist as my Instagram handle when I first started uploading my work online.
28-years young!
I lost all my upcoming florist work overnight when covid hit. The wedding and events industry got hit very hard and I didn’t hold out hope to return… instead focused and re-routed back to my passion- and first love- painting.
No ideas! blindly giving myself and my passion a chance…
I just started posting every painting I did in lockdown… every sketch every drawing… and friends and followers on Instagram encouraged me to paint more. I developed my style over time and now people want to buy custom pieces in my style
Through Instagram.. once I had explored and settled into my style, i just started offering specific custom artwork and branded myself as a commission artist on Instagram. niche down. followers translate well into customers especially when it’s super clear what you’re selling.
The easiest was just to use my name!
It’s not ‘hard’ work, but it does take up a lot of my time… turn up the music! coffee, engage with my audience on social media, go into nature. all these things give me energy.
I was in a lockdown situation with no job available to go back to, so I was really pushed by my own determination to really make it work. I do keep multiple freelance jobs open- to gain income in other ways sometimes I work 1 day a week as a retail contractor and sometimes I do street markets on the side or I created a pop-up shop last year. with art you can kinda play around with doing bits on the side… play with it.
It’s however much energy you want to give to it… sometimes I spend a whole week being not productive at all.. and sometimes ill be full of energy and smash out a whole lot of work in a short time. allow yourself to flow with your natural pace. time is elusive.
not required. I already had a whole lot of art supplies which got me started. You’ll probably have equipment or supplies if this is already your hobby and passion! you don’t need mountains of supplies to start.
Don’t over plan everything and buy a whole lot of one canvas or something, just create little by little, and when certain things sell, focus on those and create more of those in the moment, then move on organically to the next thing that is selling well.
Learning more about Instagram, how to keep followers engaged is an ongoing, valuable skill.to selling online. and something I will keep learning as technology evolves quicker than ever.
just honestly start creating. your own motivation will come. and you will want to put time and effort into creating this new business when you start.
Who knows… I was kinda forced into it and just figured it out as I went along. there is no such thing as a right way… it’s different for everyone
nothing. I have learnt from every moment. life is crazy like that.
Have fun! and just do it!
https://www.instagram.com/rachelbarberartist
Join me in my in-person abstract painting workshops here in the beautiful Bay Of Islands, New Zealand.
It’s never too late to make a career change. Discover more inspiring career change stories in MidLife Career Rescue: Employ Yourself.
To enjoy your copy from Amazon, click here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BH9GVE6
I PULLED THE PLUG ON MY SAFE, SECURE ROLE DURING COVID
JUDY WOOD THE UPBEAT ARTIST
HOW TO EMPLOY YOURSELF: TRUST YOUR PASSION
WHY PLAY IS THE KEY TO AN INSPIRED CAREER CHANGE AND HOW TO DARE GREATLY:
Posted in: Blog
ABOUT CASSANDRA
I am an artist, storyteller, intuitive guide, mentor and Reiki master. All my creations are infused with positive energy , inspiration, and light. I believe in magic and the power of beauty, joy, love, purpose, and creativity to transform your life. My greatest joy is helping your realize your dreams. That makes my soul sing!
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