Do you feature your art on other mediums besides tarot?
I love illustrating by hand, and have plans to get back into painting, this summer. I have also started designing pendants and enamel pins from some of my illustrations, and I now have a new Tarot mat that works with all types of decks. I currently have a number of other items that I am also selling through my online shop (like tapestries, cushions, prints etc...).
I also work with my best friend, Sylvia, through our sister brand, Zaleska, which features healing crystal jewelry and more! She is currently the mastermind behind the gemstone adornments, but over the years, we have worked closely and collaborated on lots of art projects, shows, and editorials under that creative platform. She is a big inspiration to me (and is also the Empress in The Starchild Tarot).
When creating new art, what's your creative process?
I spend a lot of time in my studio in front of my drawing tablet and computer. I usually have a list I am working through, which includes notes and sketches that I add throughout the day. My pieces generally include a combination of my own photographs and hand illustrations.
I would have to say that a lot of my imagery is also built on dreams I've had, or worlds I imagine to exist. Sometimes I will see the images ahead of time, or I will build them as I am working – almost like I'm trying to remember how the scene looks from memory. It's super fun to see a completely new world come to life, through the layering of images and working with different mediums.
What has been one of the biggest challenges in growing your online business? If you could go back and do it differently, would you?
I think if I could go back, I would have asked for help sooner. My greatest challenge was trying to find the time to do everything in a day, as I'd end up feeling burnt out, trying to juggle everything at once. I now have a small team of people who help me with running my own business, which gives me time to work on other projects. I think it's okay to reach out for help. Sometimes this opens up new connections and opportunities for collaborations.