I Quit My Corporate STEM Job to Become an Artist
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Story time. In this video, we sat down to talk about Cathy's journey from a stable, financially rewarding STEM career to her transition to becoming an artist. The transition happened in 2016 and we feel that we are far enough from it now to be able to speak to it more objectively and introspectively.
We also want to share this story to normalize making drastic career changes in our 30s or beyond, and from a stable well paying one to a creative one (aka one that can disappoint Asian parents). We share how Cathy picked up art in her 30s, eventually reached her decision to leave her stable job to start an art business with very little formal training in art, and how we approached this decision as a couple with more life responsibilities (hello, kids and mortgage!).
Toward the end, we break down the decision into 3 important categories to help you be better prepared, if you're considering a career change: the financial, self/ego, and friends/family.
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Cathy is a self taught watercolor artist and businesswoman based in Los Angeles, CA. Easy Sunday Club is a collection of Cathy's watercolor art, and baby/children's soft goods that showcase playful interpretations of subjects in her loose and expressive painting style. Prior to art, Cathy got an MBA and worked in corporate for over 10 years and Nam is an attorney. This channel is our way of giving back to the art community.
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Music: In French (Used w/ Artist Permission)
/ infrench
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I'm 31, started drawing last year (pandemic inspired) and am now freelancing as an artist on instagram and preparing to launch an official website. You have no idea how much your videos have helped me. The last time I did art was 10 years ago at Uni.. and I've felt very insecure about the time it has taken me to come back to doing what I love. But I'm here now :), and with your videos as an extra (If they can do it I can do it too boost) I'm ready to give all my energy to it. Thank you so much for sharing your story and experience with us! nothing has resonated with me more!!! May god continue to bless your marriage and business (and anyone else who's reading this) Ameen x
Thank you Naeema. Bless you as way. This video in particular was something I was personally looking for as I was making my transition and I could not find it. We will be releasing another video in the coming weeks about considerations (financial, emotional etc) as you make the art transition. Thank you for sharing your story as I too lost confidence in my art at uni and got a “safe” psychology degree :)
Thank you for this. I left a (not really high paying) career in academia to pursue art/illustration (also starting with watercolors), then found myself in a design school, worked as a designer, and now I'm again trying to improve my watercolor art. Still trying to make a living out of it. Fortunate to have a supporting hubby.
I'm so thankful to you guys, for making it easier for me to make all those business-related decisions with your helpful videos!
BTW, I know of at least one other woman who did a similar switch: Dow Phumiruk is one -- she's used to be a physician but now she's a successful illustrator.
Thanks for your comment! It’s nice to hear of others who made the jump. Career paths are a lot more fluid nowadays than a decade or two ago. And you’re right, having a supportive partner made this transition much easier, it’s almost an unfair advantage.
@@EasySundayClub Haha, it does feel like it :)
I really appreciate that you made this a conversation between you two. My husband and I have some of the dynamics- helping foster a positive supportive perspective while going through a bit of a roller coaster. I'm perhaps in a more traditional path, in that I have always painted, but became a teacher and now am staying home with our son and building my side hustle into something more consistent. Thanks for this!
Thanks Lisa. Great to know other partnerships going through the same journey. We here so much dont ever get into business with your spouse! But want to show it is possible but takes effort and openness.
I’m still employed, well into the 6-figure bracket. This year, on EBay and Etsy, I sold less than $300 worth of art. But that gave me more satisfaction than my job. I’m slowly moving into doing art more than my job. It will never pay the same, but that’s ok. I’ll be ok financially. But the art is very satisfying. Thanks for your tips; it’s all very helpful.
:) thanks. The stable job helps pay the bills and insurance but growth from art and you tube is so much more rewarding. Thank you for sharing.
This is so Inspiring! I feel a lot of the same ways you felt starting out. I’m also older and recently got married and wanting to one day do art full time.Thank you for sharing your story.
Thank you Michelle. Congrats on the wedding plan and hope all is well on a personal and creative front.
I've quit my job today, I couldn't do it anymore, i'm 32 and never properly tried to try the artist way... Few years back I started tattooing more and that worked for a bit until I stopped for one or another reason, I did it at a small town which is my hometown, so I have very little to pay for living costs. I decided for some reason to stop doing that move to the capital and get a full time job to pay the rent to do art on the side and live like so... 3 months later my body is in rashes, I'm stressed out , the kids at school that I work at pushed me to the limit and I froze, my boss tried to talk me back from quiting but I just sent my resignation email yesterday, and properly quit today. This pattern has repeated itself through my life so many times. I see myself now just going back to my hometown and painting, which is whaat I started from, which is what my granpa did. Another thing im considering is getting another job and staying in the capital, but that just seems to be going wrong always. I've lived for 11 years in London and that didn't get me far. I'm questioning what is wrong with me and it is probably that I never allowed myself to do what I love the most - paint, draw, tattoo... Am I going insane? I'm not sure maybe, but I feel better after quitting and I'm painting now as I'm listening to you. Greetings from Lithuania, I hope you guys are well , if you want to check my insta it's @domas.gla lots of love and thank you for sharing your story, it was not over self indulgent at all
thank you for sharing your story. I believe every “dead end” in our career path will bring us closer to what we were meant to do. Doing something we love, are good at, and can be paid for is a lifetime pursuit. Good luck with yours!
Hey! Thanks for sharing! I'm at a similar place, trying to work up the guts to leave a cushy career. Lisa Congdon has been a great source of inspiration, as she only started making art in her thirties and made a full-time career out of it. And now I can add your story to my 'permission' list! You mentioned you had come across some other similar stories. Could you share some names of folks who got a late start in art? To add to my data set ;)
Ha you’re speaking my language! I was looking for that “permission” list too and Lisa Congdon was on top of that list! I can’t think of anyone else off top of my head right now who are as advanced in their career as Lisa, but you’d be pleasantly surprised how many working professionals are starting creative side hustles mid-career and I’ve met quite a few on IG, so you’re def not alone :).
Im Still scared to jump. 😩
So am i - nam
Can I vent as well about the haters and the passive aggressive comments ppl have about working as an artist?! Also coming from an Asian American background with Asian American friends that can’t quite wrap their heads around my career choices too. They think I’m super poor but that’s not the case at all! I’m also done trying to justify being an artist! Vent done. Thanks for the videos guys and keep up the good work! Hopefully we get to see you guys again at another in person craft fair, post covid 😅😅
Worse when they come from our own fam!
Thanks for posting this. As an asian in the wrong field (engineering, not my choosing), I have been doing this now for 20 years and never liked it....I have kids and a house (kinda late), and I am feeling like I need to do something very soon!!!!!!
I can empathize with that. Now that we have one kid and life obligations, I can already see it's harder to start something from scratch than 5 years ago. However, the one thing that helped me was to start small with no expectations. I leaned into art as a way to cope with my career dissatisfaction. It was nothing more than that for a while. Just do something new that brings you joy, and your kids will thank you for it. :)
@@EasySundayClub Thanks for your reply. Your art is very unique and quite funny - esp. the one with the duck ;) I've been talking about doing art for 20 years instead of engineering so now that I am 40, i think it is time to try something real! My husband and I love your posts and the dynamic between you and your husband. Thanks for all your videos - your information and content is so great!
@@MrMrsGlass I hope you do give it a try! You might be surprised how much your engineering background can influence your creativity and give you a unique artistic voice :).
@@EasySundayClub Thank you so much for the encouragement. You guys are the best!
Such a good story guys. I can identify with not being happy at a job and literally feeling ill every time i had to go or think of going, hence the point i am in my life now where i am pursuing Art. I honestly did not see it coming but i always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Thanks a million to you guys. YOu have taught me so much and continue to teach me. Nam you are the man. I wish you and Cathy every success in life as partners, as parents and as a couple.
kudos to you for making the leap and recognizing that about yourself! I did too, a little late, but better late than never. And yes life is too short to hate something we spend half of our waking hours doing.
as a mid-20s Asian American in LA I was really happy to find this! I went to school for engineering and it was the choice that made the most sense at the time, but I also spent lots of time in college dreaming about taking the different art classes my university offered because art was always my first love. i’m also in a bit of a unique position because my dad did graduate with an art degree and so had the experience of being both a starving artist AND an immigrant, so i was raised to be risk-averse with his deep struggles as a firsthand example. anyway my engineering job has its ups and downs and it’s fine for now, mostly what I wrestle with is making up for the time that i spent hating myself in school, not realizing until adulthood that i didn’t have to hate myself. I’m aware that i can forge a new career path if my heart desires it, whether in art or something else. I’m also aware that I may never actually make money from art, but I do need to actually do it again to be happy, and that’s hard when you just want to go home and veg out after work.
I appreciated you both sharing emotional triggers that have come with this journey. Thank you for being relatable and forthcoming, and for letting me share a piece of my heart in your comments 😂 and I’m excited for your future as a family as well!
Hi, heart pouring is our favorite kind of comment so thank you for taking the time to share your story with us! I understand the risk aversion being passed down from the previous generation. I sincerely hope you will find the motivation and time to make art (even if it’s only for yourself). I think your engineering career will set you up nicely to be able to take some risks down the road and your experience will be different from your father’s. ❤️
Any advice about finding like-minded people? The only like-minded people I find are those making TH-cam videos.
FB groups, paid business communities, etc. They’re out there, TH-camrs just happen to be the ones that make it easier to be found :).
Thanks guys, I really appreciated the vlog. My hubby got very sick six years ago and neither of us has worked in a job since. My hubby has always been a very good artist but never done anything with it until a few years ago when he just started doodling. I got very depressed last year (I think the last few years snuck up on me and wacked me in the head hehe) so I started playing with my kids old watercolour set to get my mind off things. Forward to this year and we both have products lines because of our art. Very exciting. If we can do this anyone can.
Hi Paulene, thanks for sharing your story of how you and your husband overcame the many challenges in recent years and found a good landing spot with your creativity. It’s very inspiring and yes if you both did it others have no excuse! It comes down to having the commitment to do the work.
@@EasySundayClub For sure, Life is to short not to commit hehe
Wow, I have almost the exact same story, except I draw vs. paint! I still work a corperate job but starting to draw again and have posted once on FB with good response and a commission request. I think I will follow your footsteps (starting w/Instagram and YT)! Thank you so much for making this video, super encouraging!
Good for you! Link your TH-cam here so other people can check it out :).
@@EasySundayClub Thanks! Here is a link to my noobie TH-cam Art channel: th-cam.com/channels/ZVzxvgJOMaue-yK1PxDk3Q.html
Thank you so much, I love your channel and advice. Please keep going 🙏
In June 2020, I quit my 16 year professional career, I moved from CA to CO with my boyfriend, and made the decision (with his full support and encouragement) that I'd pursue Art as my full-time job now. I wasn't always unhappy at my old job, but most recently (even with a fresh hefty raise) I realized I was extremely unhappy, hated going to work, and no amount of money would fix it.. The relief I felt on my last day was
Exactly as you explained in your situation.
You are a fantastic mentor, and I'm trying to learn all I can from you guys (right down to the recommended cardstock brand!)
Thank you for sharing your story and your kind words. It really motivates us to continue to produce this content and democratize this information for other artists. Let us know what other topics that interest you :)
Glad you two are well and going strong w the art stuff! I have all the support in the world from family yet keep getting caught in self doubt - which is the worst. Still plugging along though, just need to get out of my own way to flourish. 👍
Yes! Artists need to be less critical of themselves! :) thank you for all the support Kali!!
😆 drawing pictures. I love this channel and am looking for my tribe. Your shared info is priceless! Thanks.
Thanks these comments are very heart felt!
Thank you for this - really interesting!
Your welcome cheers!
Thank you for this! I was a graphic design major when I started college in the mid 90's, graduated with a BS in Psychology and started my career in financial services right after having my first son. Here I am 20 years later, 20 year marriage, 2 sons and many hated corporate jobs in tech and financial services. I have been trying to make the leap......but haven't gotten there yet. Look forward to hearing more of your story.
Love those bubbled commentary. Thank you for making this video. Is Nam in this art business full time too or is he still an attorney? I'm Chinese myself who works in the health system based on my STEM background too. My working environment is very nice. Everyone is friendly and supportive. Yet i'm still very unhappy. I found your channel when I was about to take the leap myself. Hope I can see you around in LA!
Hi Daili. Nam here. I am in a non legal corporate role and help out during my free time while still trying to be a present dad :) yes we want to build community and hope to see u around as well. Best of luck and let us know if u have q’s.
I can really relate to what you are sharing. I am in the "transition" phase, recently leaving full time teaching to substitute and build art business. I have had to set boundaries with some more critical relatives in order to insulate myself while my business is fresh- I don't want to quite before I start so to speak. Here's to staying on course and pursuing a dream!
Thank you for sharing your experience. This really resonates with my current situation.
I’m glad you can relate! Sending you positivity as you sort out your career situation.
coming across this now 3 yrs later. I cannot thank you enough.
I’m glad it’s still relevant :).
Don't worry Cathy its a good rant :) I enjoyed listening to the process.
I'm going through literally the same thing! so inspired!
Save money and take small steps forward : )