Dear friends,
With a heavy heart, I write this note to all my friends, clients, and fans of my art. For the past eight years, I have had the privilege of creating art on a daily basis in order to support me and my family. Not all who venture on this journey are fortunate enough to be able to call illustration their profession. I am one of the lucky few who has enjoyed waking up each morning and drawing. I am extremely blessed by brilliant fans, clients, and artistic representation. Who really could have asked for more in this situation. It pains me to inform all of you that I have now closed the doors to my illustration business. Over the past year and a half, I have been struggling with a repetitive use injury to my drawing arm that I have simply not been able to overcome. It appears that complete rest is the only thing that will bring healing. I have gone through extensive doctoring, seen a specialist, and been dedicated to months of occupational therapy. Now, this therapy and doctoring did indeed garnish positive results. However, it became apparent that the ups and downs of this injury simply do not allow for me to continue operating my illustration business. I apologize to all my clients who I am not able to fulfill my obligation and finish projects. This truly pains me and it certainly leaves me feeling discouraged and defeated. On a positive note, I have experienced immediate relief once I stepped away from drawing and the computer. After a few weeks, it is hard to deny that my arm simply needs sustained rest. Now for many of you the fact that I was battling an injury may be new news. I did not speak much about it on social media, or on my website. After I put some distance between myself and the closing of this illustration career, my hope is to write about my experience in order to tell the story of how it happened, and how future illustrators can avoid the similar situation.
I have put countless hours energy in my heart into illustration and I am shattered to put it aside. Before stepping into this job I had never run my own business worked with spreadsheets are dappled with any sort of accounting. The learning curve has been immense but rewarding. I had a goal being an illustrator, and I succeeded. I leave nothing on the table.
Now you may be asking what does this mean for me and my family. The short answer is that we simply do not know. There are a few different career options before me, one being full-time ministry. As things unfold, I will do my best to keep you all informed of how we are doing.
My artistic future is unclear. It may be that my arm needs a few months of rest, or perhaps twelve. At this point, it is hard to know when I will be able to pick up a pencil again. It may be that I do not ever do illustration in the same manner, or be as prolific as I once was. This, however, may be an opportunity for me to focus on my own stories in my own illustration rather than spending all of my time telling someone else’s. With that in mind, this is an exciting opportunity. But for now, I pencil/stylus will remain in its holder on my desk waiting for the opportunity of creativity to flow again. If you like to actively support my art, please keep an eye on my at the store as I will keep that open. I have loads of old prints and my hope is that I will be adding new ones in the future.
I am immensely grateful for all the support I received from all of you over the years for me in my art. Your encouraging words, interest, and purchase of my artwork have been instrumental in my success as an artist. I go on into the future with no regrets and thankfulness for the opportunity I had to make creativity my profession. I go on trust in the Lord that he will provide.
The best is yet to come.
