Why I Gave Up My Day Job

My first job was in an office, typing and filing and answering phones. I think I did a reasonably good job, however the boss did ask me to stop doodling on the file covers. Seems I had covered a fair percentage with sketches in my "spare" time. (To be fair I only drew on the inside of the files, but still he had a point I guess.)

A little later, I worked in the travel and hospitality industry which offered great travel perks. I took advantage of these opportunities to visit every gallery and museum wherever I found myself from across Canada to the countries of Europe. In my spare time, I was also taking art courses and studying with various art groups wherever I lived.

By the time I had worked my way up the career ladder to the position of director of marketing and sales, my favourite projects were designing advertising and planning creative social events. Eventually I began free-lancing as a marketing consultant and graphic artist, designing promotional materials and logos for a wide variety of businesses. I was still working in business, but art was slowly taking over my time.

It seems there's no denying where my heart lies. Being a full-time artist now feels good and right and long-overdue. Not everyone gets to do what they love. I am eternally grateful that I finally can. I don't know that I would change the past as I gained invaluable experience over the years. Each job taught me something that made me the artist I am today - doodled file covers and all.

Has your career path led you where you want to go?

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