Art has been a great source of inspiration for creative minds for as long as we can remember. But, let’s be real. Pursuing a traditional career in the creative field can be challenging, with so many people vying for limited opportunities. This can be a total bummer for those who dream of turning their artistic passions into a legit career. It’s tough to know where to begin, and it’s easy to feel like giving up.
Through *SCAPE’s career discovery programme, *SCAPE Career Studio, two creatives – Rachel, floral acrylic artist, and Angel, clay artist – found the courage to pursue their passions. They share about their work and takeaways for budding artists. This is the second of a two-part series featuring four youths’ creative careers and how they bring their career dreams to life with *SCAPE.
The Art of Maintaining Connections: A Story of Sending Love Across Borders Through Acrylic Paintings
As an artist, Rachel likes exploring how colours work together, and the freedom of experimentation painting offers. She loves incorporating soft pastel colors such as pink, purples, and green into her artwork. (Photo: Rachel)
After experiencing burnout from her work in 2020, Rachel turned to painting as a form of therapy, which later blossomed into a passion for exploring colours and experimenting with her artistic style. Her artwork, inspired by nature and personal connections, has reached people across the globe, providing an emotional connection to many.
To Rachel the most exciting part about painting is communicating with people abroad through her artwork. She loves the connection that painting allows her to make with the people in her life. “My paintings will always be there with them. It’s an interesting way to keep a slice of myself and my life with the people I love, no matter where they are,” she explains.
Rachel is an artist who spends much of her time painting, but what does she enjoy most about the creative process? Rachel says it’s all about gathering inspiration from the people around her. She elaborates, “When I create a painting for someone, I love hearing about their perspective on the person they want me to portray. It’s always fascinating to learn how different people see the same individual.”
Rachel working on an activity as part of *SCAPE Career Studio. (Photo: @tommyweirens)
The creative field can be a daunting industry to enter into, especially for artists who are just starting out. *SCAPE Career Studio has helped Rachel in various ways. “Attending the programme, helped me promote myself as an artist and took away the fear and anxiety of embarking on a new career in the creative field,” she explains.
It’s amazing how a spontaneous decision of clicking on the *SCAPE Career Studio ad on Instagram led to where Rachel is today. She says, “One of my biggest takeaways was to think from a new perspective – if you really like doing something, but nobody is willing to pay you for it, then what you have is just a hobby. And that’s completely fine too. It also gave me the confidence to pursue my calling as a floral acrylic artist and take away the pressure of needing to do that and just enjoy the process of making good art.”
Rachel’s painting of a cat in a field of flowers brought tears to her ex-colleague’s eyes on Zoom, who later sent a photo of her now healthy cat next to the painting. (Photo: Rachel)
We asked if she has ever gifted something that unexpectedly brought immense emotional connection to someone? Rachel has, and it changed the way she saw her art. “It was the first piece I’ve ever gifted to someone. As part of the gift, I painted a rendition of my friend’s cat, which brought her to tears,” she shares. Unbeknownst to Rachel, the cat had been hospitalised, and the painting brought immense comfort and solace to her friend. It was a reminder of the emotional impact art can have on people, even unknowingly.
Looking back, what advice would Rachel give to her past self? She would ask herself to think less and try more. In the past, Rachel used to be more of an overthinker. “Before trying something, I would think of reasons to discourage herself from attempting it. But I realised that you never know if you’ll like something unless you give the experience a shot,” she says.
Rachel is always looking for new ways to explore and express herself creatively. She’s done YouTube videos of her painting and wants to get more into content creation, which is a different form of media to explore than painting and writing. The possibilities for creativity are endless, and Rachel is eager to explore them all.
Through Rachel’s story, we are reminded of the importance of embracing our passions and following our creative dreams, no matter where they may lead us. Her experience through the *SCAPE Career Studio programme highlights the value of taking a chance on new opportunities. From learning to view her passions from a new perspective, to gaining the confidence to pursue her calling as an artist, Rachel’s experience shows the incredible impact having the willingness to try something new can have on our lives. Through her story, we are reminded of the importance of embracing our passions and following our creative dreams, no matter where they may lead us.
With every brush stroke, she brings to life the unique qualities that make each individual so special. So if you’re looking for a special gift for someone or want to capture a moment, consider commissioning a painting from an artist like Rachel. You’ll not only have a one-of-a-kind piece of art to cherish, but you’ll also have a unique perspective on the person or moment that inspired it!
The Power of Believing in Yourself: Angel’s Success with @kireikoii
Angel, with her sister, at one of their pop-up events. (Photo: Angel)
Meet Angel, a young artist and entrepreneur who turned her passion for clay into a thriving small business. At 23, Angel is a student at NUS who found solace in art during the pandemic. Her journey began as a way to fill her time and soon turned into a fulfilling creative pursuit. Despite limited opportunities to explore her artistic talents when she was younger, Angel discovered her love for clay and began crafting small accessories like keychains, earrings, and trinket dishes. Today, she runs a successful business, @kireikoii. Angel’s business has also flourished; she now participates in monthly pop-ups. She shares her journey with us.
Angel’s journey into the world of clay art began with a simple decision in 2020: “I decided to spend a bit of money on clay, and I started making stuff.” As she honed her skills, she quickly realised she had a natural talent for them. “I got some knack for it; the rest is history.” With three years of experience, Angel has grown immensely as a creative. She’s learned to discern the type of clay used through trial and error, and has become more daring in pursuing her artistic vision. “I never thought I would be pursuing art now because it was a subject I was mediocre in. And despite that, here I am today,” she shares.
Angel is a creative who enjoys making things when inspiration strikes. “When I get an idea or inspiration, I’m very focused,” she says. However, she also experiences art blocks occasionally, which can be scary because she worries that she has run out of ideas. “Over time, I’ve learned that these art blocks are cyclical, and they eventually pass,” Angel elaborates. When Angel experiences art blocks nowadays, she turns to other less clay-related activities until her creativity returns.
Angel joined Fish Tank and pitched her idea of producing semi-DIY art kits. (Photo: @tommyweirens)
Angel learned about *SCAPE Career Studio through Esther, a fellow artist who was also freelancing as Social Media manager at NUS Co-op, where her products were being displayed. “Esther posted on her IG Story to give the programme a try. As a small business owner, she mentioned that it was helpful for her. Intrigued by it, I signed up without knowing what to expect,” she says.
As a small business owner, Angel sometimes found it disheartening when even friends and family struggled to understand and support her unconventional career. “As much as they want to support what I do, it doesn’t come as naturally because they’re not sure what the future holds for me in this path,” Angel explains. That’s why participating in *SCAPE Career Studio’s third stage, Fish Tank, where youths pitch their creative career idea in front of a panel of judges to launch their projects, was empowering for her. “Having someone else apart from myself, believing in my art, was reassuring. I’m more confident in my abilities and am motivated to continue pursuing my passion,” she says.
Pictured above is one of Angel’s clay creations. (Photo: Angel)
Angel advises her past self to go for it and not be afraid to try new things. “I’d encourage her to step outside of her comfort zone and pursue opportunities that may seem challenging or intimidating at first,” she says. Angel would also like her younger self to practice self-care, prioritising her physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Angel’s story is a testament to the power of following one’s passion and taking risks. Attending *SCAPE Career Studio gave Angel the boost of confidence she needed to fully embrace her talents as a skilled clay artist. Her journey is a reminder that it’s never too late to pursue one’s dreams and that success can come from unexpected places.
If you like unique, handmade accessories and trinkets, check out Angel’s small business, @kireikoii, and support her thriving clay art creations. Let’s support small businesses like Angel’s and help her continue to grow her passion for clay art!
Final Thoughts
These two stories of Rachel and Angel are inspiring examples of how following your passions can lead to incredible fulfillment and success. Rachel showed us that it’s never too late to pursue our passions and that creativity can be a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.
Similarly, Angel’s story is a testament to the transformative power of following your dreams. Her success also serves as a reminder that it’s never too early to start pursuing our dreams and that anything is possible with hard work and determination.
Take inspiration from their stories and dare to start embracing your passions and follow your creative dreams. Let their success be a beacon of hope and encouragement for you to take that first step towards your goals!
If you’re looking to turn your passions into a career, look no further than *SCAPE Career Studio. Rachel and Angel have found the program to be an incredible resource for exploring their interests, connecting with mentors, and building their careers. The opportunities for growth and discovery are endless, so don’t hesitate to sign up for the next season of *SCAPE Career Studio and unlock your creative potential!
*SCAPE Career Studio is brought to you by *SCAPE and My Working Title. Wantedly is proud to be the marketing partner in sharing stories and updates for this programme.
