Personal development
In January 2024 I decided (whilst still employed full-time) that I wanted to invest in myself and if I were to become the full-time artist I wanted to be, I would need some help doing it!
Patrycja Hannagan (better known as PJ) at Mural Nomad is a traveling mural artist based in Australia. I initially connected with PJ on Instagram, and she offered me a free 1:1 discovery call to understand more about her mentorship program for aspiring muralists. I remember feeling instant relief from finding someone who was already doing what I had hoped to be doing one day and doing it successfully.
I was so excited and driven to start a new journey
I knew I wanted to make art, paint murals, and be creative again, but I had no idea how to start or how to make a successful career out of it. PJ had 2 years of mural-specific experience over me, but it felt like so much more when she talked about what she did, how she did it, and how she could help navigate me through the process of launching my own business. I contacted some artists already on her program for feedback and to be 100% sure this was for me. One week later I signed up for her Mural Nomad Business Program and committed to investing in my personal development.
*Picture by Mural Nomad
The program consisted of online modules which covered the fundamentals of business. The course wasn’t about art per se, or ‘how to paint’, it focussed solely on the strategies you need to start your own business and make it successful. Mindset, Marketing, Sales, and Financials were all modules within the course that made up the structure of the program. What I loved was how it was all online, so I could study in my own time around my full-time job. This flexibility allowed me to retain that work-life balance, whilst still working on plans for my new career!
In addition to the online learning modules, PJ hosted weekly group calls whereby all the artists in the program would come together to discuss their projects, their wins, and their concerns and just have that wonderful feeling of community. In my previous role as an Interior Designer and Project Manager at a global corporate company, I often felt I was in the minority as a creative, surrounded by marketing and sales professionals. I found this online art community a breath of fresh air finally being alongside people who understood my passion for art and creativity, who spoke my language and were my tribe!
An awesome group of like-minded creatives!
*Picture by Mural Nomad
One thing I loved about this newfound community was the artists. I regularly chatted with international artists from Australia, Europe, UK, and America. It was fascinating hearing about their localized experiences and their mural journeys. Some artists were well-established and just needed the support of a like-minded community, and some (like me) were completely new to the world of murals and running their businesses. The program not only supplied me with important strategies for learning, but it also gave me a whole new support network.
Our weekly group calls were always educational and themed, constantly learning, however we always made time to chat. The opportunity was there to ask for advice on our mural projects, tips on products, and how to overcome a creative block. It was invaluable to have that group of people to turn to, who could give their opinion on the matter, or bounce ideas off.
Screen shot of our group artist calls with Mural Nomad
*Picture by Mural Nomad
Being a self-employed artist can be a solitary job at times. Yes, occasionally you would collaborate with other artists on a project, however, 90% of the time you work alone, you design alone, and you paint alone. I wasn’t just grateful for the learnings that PJ was providing, I was grateful for the connections I had made, knowing I had that group of people I could go to if I ever needed help or reassurance.
As I mentioned, each artist was at a different stage of their mural journey, so when one of us hit a milestone, we all celebrated. Like when someone won a pitch, launched their first website, or painted the biggest mural of their career. It was like having your very own group of cheerleaders in your corner every Tuesday!
What did become apparent whilst working through the modules was how much general knowledge, I already had from my time working in corporate. My exposure to marketing and sales, and being in a client-facing role, gave me so many transferable skills. It made my life much easier when it came to setting up the business basics. Creating and marketing my brand, managing my social platforms, creating proposals, maintaining client databases, and tracking my KPIs. All things I had done previously and took for granted that I knew how to do!
Remember to be your own cheerleader
This allowed me to get ahead and focus on the details and parts of the mural world I didn’t know much about, like how to find my ideal client. What software, design tools, and systems were available to aid me in making my life easier and saving me time. PJ had great suggestions for all of this stuff and I eventually found my groove on which of those strategies worked for me as an artist in the UK.
PJ was always on hand when I needed her. Whether it was a specific question about a product I hadn’t tried before, or how to elevate my proposal when applying for a Call to Artists. Sometimes, even just a check-in to see how I was doing, was everything OK and did I need support in any way.
About six months into my 12-month mentorship with Mural Nomad, PJ offered me the opportunity of a lifetime. When I say this was next level, I mean NEXT LEVEL. PJ announced she was going to host an artist retreat in Brisbane, Australia, and invited all the artists in her program to join. Not only that but for any international artist wishing to go, she would extend the retreat by a week and offer us the opportunity to collaborate with her on a mural project in Oz. Obviously, I said yes, and the rest of the story will become a blog post for another day.
As the mentorship came to an end in December 2024, I reflected on how far I had come in 12 months. The knowledge I had learned, the connections I had made, and the confidence I had gained were worth every penny of the program investment. I knew I had the tools to move forward with my business in 2025 and the drive and determination to become the successful muralist I know I can be!
Document your journey and give yourself praise for how far you’ve come!
The moral of the story, invest in yourself. You won’t regret it.
Catch you all next week,
Kate & Norm x