Brushing Burnout Aside: A Bold Artistic Beginning!

I quit my full-time job to become an artist.

I can hear it now, all of the

“Whats”

                    and

“Whys”...

I’ll be honest, I'm burnt out from feeling burnt out — not just from my recent role as a manager of an escape room or the 2 previous full-time jobs, but from the perpetual cycle of trying to "secure my future" only to hit endless plateaus back to back to back…

I worked at Callaway Gardens with kids for 3-4 years, but management changed and it no longer felt like I was making personal connections with the kids and their families, it was all more transactional. I then worked at Target but quickly fell into a very depressed state because I was treated more like a cog in the machine than an actual human. There were also weird cliques in the leadership that caused a tar-like toxicity that weighed everyone around them down. After freeing myself from that hell, I landed my favorite job ever: working at an escape room! I got to be social, and creative, and at the beginning, the workgroup was the most fun and uplifting I had ever experienced in a work setting. I was making new connections and growing my interests as a person. I felt seen, heard! After 2 years though, almost everyone from the original crew had moved on, and the new connections I was making weren't as fire-y. The fun environment turned into just another job site. The 3rd and final year was the toughest. I still loved the job and people, but the environment was dead. We were severely understaffed that whole year, making it difficult to call out or take time for myself, and we never did the fun outings to bond anymore. I’ve saw no personal growth with me being there anymore. Plateau reached. 

At the same time, I am dog-sitting for fast cash to store away, scrambling to get this very website up and running, (which took an embarrassingly long time) and going through several personal situations. I now feel out of breath down to my very soul. Making friends, trying new hobbies, relationships, all examples of areas of my life that have gotten stale, stagnant, or unkept. My constant reprieve through all the chaos though has been my art. In a time of uncertainty and ever-changing challenges, art has been my anchor, my sanctuary.

But here's the catch: the looming anxiety that I’ll fall into the 'starving artist' stereotype, amplified by my newfound aversion to social media. : ) Surprise, Surprise, huh? In this society, a 24-year-old with no socials?? In all honesty, I don't have time for the doom scrolling or the constant comparison train I let run me down every day. I’m trying to rid my life of toxins, not wallow in them.

All this said, my passion for art isn't just a fleeting interest; it's my lifeblood — a feeling that has grown and blossomed with every breath I've taken.

My goal in life has always been to sell my art, but I always looked at it as a side hobby. Fuck that. Art is more than a hobby; it's my identity. I've decided to embrace my passion, not just for myself but to share it with others. I want to help people discover the electric emotions that creating things can evoke. This decision is more than a career change; it's a journey to infuse life with the very essence that has fueled my existence, to add a little color to this world.

As I embark on this journey, I invite you to join me behind the scenes. I'll be sharing insights into my creative process, snippets of my daily life, and the stories behind the pieces! And don't worry, It most definitely won't always be this serious...

Have a passion of your own? Dying to share some advice or ask a question to lil' ole me? Comment below!

Let's make this a shared space where life becomes more than a routine, and where you can get to know both me and my art a little better. : )

Stay tuned for more!

Mads <3