Success

Here’s some of the folks who supported me when I was starting out. No cool client resume. No portfolio. If I’m being honest... not a tremendous amount of knowledge. I literally wouldn’t work for myself today if it weren’t for them. Who are your people?
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@thetober co-owner of @nickelcityatx is one of the first to put my name into small biz circles of Austin. He is so respected in Austin F&B, people hired me simply because of his recommendation.
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That led to two of my first chalkboard commissions at @churrocoaustin and @rooseveltroomatx. These gems and their owners let me build experience alongside their respected brands, always giving me the benefit of the doubt as I learned. *
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The folks at @contemporaryatx (there are too many to name), repeatedly shared my work and teaching at their events. Through this magical art space, I met @janheatonwatercolor who lifts up every artist she encounters.
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She connected me to @eahendley @suellen71 and @shewlitt at @dell_childrens. They gave me my first coloring book design job. That coloring book gig improved my SEO so much that @heb and @letcru266 found me via Google for a reusable bag design. Y’all... I would send them iPhone photos of pencil drawings. That’s how little I had in terms of gear. In fact, I had to plead @whoa_nelson to let me contract her to vectorize that design (and she did!)
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As all of this was spiraling, @thejessicapino wrote a piece about my work at @the_austinot. It caught the attention of @lynniegogo at @aftpgallery. They have sold my work ever since (not to mention flooding my social media with positivity.)
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As the wholesale business began to flood the living room floor of our tiny apartment... the one and only @bradno13 of West Campus Books reached out about partnering on fulfillment. I had no idea what I was doing during contract signing, but I brought Layla to our meeting and she fell asleep on his feet. Dog vibes know. He ended up giving me advice over the years that I still lean on today.
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These are only a fraction of those who gave me a shot when I was starting. As I enter year five I find myself starting to pay it forward more and more... and it’s because of them.

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