"Get a Real Job", "Learn to Draw" & "You Have No Talent"

These are three comments that often seem to go hand in hand, so I thought I'd answer them together.

I've never claimed to be an artist, and I have a huge amount of respect for people who are. If I could draw to the standard of a professional illustrator, I probably would. It would save me a lot of time, money and frustration. But at 42 years old, "just learn to draw" isn't a realistic answer. Becoming a skilled artist takes years of dedication, practice and talent.

That doesn't mean I don't have talent of my own.

My creativity has never been in drawing. It's in ideas, concepts, recognising relatable experiences, solving problems, learning new skills and continually adapting. Those are the skills I've spent years developing, and they're the reason I've been able to build a business with multiple income streams. My colouring books are just one part of what I do.

As for getting a "real job", I've spent my working life in real jobs. I've worked since I was 14 years old, across different sectors, built a wide range of transferable skills, and spent years working two jobs just to get by. Those experiences are exactly what gave me the determination and skills to build something for myself. If you'd like to know more about that journey, it's explained in the About Me section above.

Not everyone will see creativity the same way, and that's okay. Some people see creativity in a drawing. I see creativity in ideas, innovation, problem-solving and building something from nothing. Those are the skills I bring to my business every day, and I'm proud of the fact that I've continued to learn, adapt and create a way of supporting myself.