I have to continue to thank Scott Hull, who is a Visual Ambassador as he likes to call it. He represents amazing artists, and was kind enough to email me with some thoughts and advice when I was exploring this interview series and thinking about the focus of the book I'm co-writing with Heather Kirtland on Art and Motherhood.
Tell us about yourself. How old are your children? Where can we find you?
I am a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, and constant dabbler in artistic pursuits. I have one little boy, Isaac, that is 6 months old. I can be found at juneletters.com and on my newest endeavor freelance-wisdom.com
- Instagram @juneletters
- Twitter @juneletters
- Pinterest @June Letters Studio
- Facebook June Letters Studio
How has your approach to painting, your processes, medium, or your inspiration changed since having children?
Now that I have a baby, those moments that I get to paint or do something creative (not for clients) is extremely precious. It is hard to find the time, but when I am able to sit down for even a few minutes to paint - I feel so much more relaxed and fulfilled.
Is it easy or difficult for you to find/make time to create? Did you have to give anything up? Do you have advice on what works for you?
I am lucky that my profession is creative, but there is such a difference in creating for yourself vs. creating for clients. 98% of my creative time is working with clients, but I treasure that 2% of me time. Right now my reality is that I have to squeeze in as much work as I can, but every few weekends (when my husband is home) I will carve out some time for self-creation.
How does being an artist make you a better parent to your children? What do you hope they take away from seeing you as an artist doing something that fulfills you?
I am still very new to parenting, but I think it is important for my son to see that I have a creative life of my own. I am a strong believer in kids having alone time to play (sans technology) and let their imagination run wild, and I think I will set an example by showing him that I have my own personal time to be creative. I hope they will take away that even as an adult, they can aspire to continually use their imagination and creativity.
Where do you paint or create? What are your favorite things about your workspace and what would you improve? Do you ever create art with your kids?
Right now I live in a studio loft with my husband and son - with the open floor-plan it is difficult to get in the zone when everyone is in the same room! Hopefully someday I will have an office or studio space that I can call my own! My son is too young now, but I really look forward to creating art with my kids someday soon!
Do you have any tips to streamline / delegate / outsource household and childcare activities so that you can focus more time on your art? Has your lifestyle changed in any major ways?
I recently hired a wonderful mother's helper that comes to my loft 3x a week in the mornings. It is a lifesaver! She helps with the baby, laundry, dishes, and other household tasks. I am able to focus on work and not worry about the laundry in the dryer or the dishes in the sink! Even with the help my lifestyle has majorly changed! I used to work 50-60 hours a week on freelance projects and I have scaled back to under 20 so I can be with my son during his first year. It is tough financially, but I don't want to miss out on this special time with my baby.
Do you have any big goals or dreams for your art that you’d like to share? What would be your dream project?
My biggest dream is to create artwork and self-created projects full-time, that is a long way off (or maybe never) but a gal can dream!
