I remembered thinking about this question a long time ago, like back when I was still in high school. I remembered getting promotional mailers from the Art Institutes and thinking to myself if it was worth it to go or if I could even get into one? I also didn’t know if I was able to financial afford it.

There are a lot of things to consider before deciding whether to go to an art school (or a college that offers an Art or Design major). For one, it isn’t for everyone. A lot of high schoolers get bombarded with the message that they have to get a college education to get a good job or career after high school. That isn’t always the case, especially for artists or designers. Sure, some companies may require you to have a technical or Bachelor’s degree, but if your portfolio work stands out, there’s a chance they might consider you anyways.

Nowadays, with the help of the internet, one can learn how to improve their craft through the means of taking online classes, watching video tutorials, and of course reading and learning from good old books. You can actually teach yourself how to draw better by using the resources around you and doing some independent study and/or life drawings. Not all great or successful artists attended art school, some were self-taught. If you are the type of person who can learn on your own or be self-disciplined, not going to art school can save you a lot of time and money.

Then what is art school good for then? Is it worth it to go into debt for an Art education? Well, that depends on your situation and what you want out of it. I was that person who went to college and majored in Art, specifically Entertainment Design. Why did I go you may ask? The answer at the time was simply because I needed to get a college education. I was a first generation Hmong-American college student and this was my chance to prove to my parents that I was capable of fulfilling their dream. They wanted all their children to go to college because to them they saw it as a means of success and because they themselves were never given this opportunity. I went because of their encouragement, but also, because I felt it was the right thing for me to do. I knew I didn’t want to go into the workforce yet, and I knew there was more to learn and explore. I also wanted to get better at my craft, so I applied to local universities and got accepted into the University of Wisconsin-Stout. I chose Stout because it offered my field of study, the type of community I wanted, and it was affordable. I was thankful things fell into place and I was able to afford it. I took every opportunity I could to fund my education, such as applying for grants and scholarship, and it all paid off. I spent four years at Stout doing my best in every course and taking advantage of what it had to offer.

One misconception people get about art school is that it is supposed to teach you everything there is to know about being an artist, and that is just not true. Sure, some colleges could probably offer more business classes for artists, but as much as they would like to teach you everything, there’s just too much to know that cannot be covered in such a short time. Most of us learn on your own after college, and that’s just a part of being an artist and a part of life! We do things, we make mistakes, and we learn from them.

What I did learn in college was you got to work hard to get what you want, and that it takes great practice and discipline to stay an artist. You have to treat your art like a job, otherwise it’ll never be finished. Being in art school pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone and to do things I wouldn’t have ever done on my own. I was able to try all sorts of mediums (such as screen printing, oil painting, and graphic design) and realized which ones were and were not for me. While in art school, I learned about the human figure and did a ton of figure drawings, which helped me improve my anatomy. Taking art and design courses meant being involved in critiques, which played a major role in improving my work. Art school allowed me to connect with professors and other art students that shared a similar interest as me. It enabled me to build life-long friends and partake in all sorts of experiences that I wouldn’t have gotten had I not gone to it.

So what does all of this really boil down to?

Go if you feel it’s what you need. Things will work out only if you’re willing to put in the effort to make it work. And if you go and don’t like it or things didn’t work out, it’s okay to leave.

Don’t go if you feel you don’t need it or if you’re unsure what you want to do yet; however, it’s never too late to go later in life if you decide to change your mind.

Simple as that.

Last updated: October 1, 2025

Growing up as a Hmong-American girl in a mainly Caucasian community, it was difficult to find books (picture books, chapter books, novels, and graphic novels) featuring Hmong characters or experiences or books written or drawn by Hmong individuals. I always felt insecure about being Hmong and there were not enough resources to reassure the way I was feeling. 

In a way, I felt like our narratives didn’t matter when they barely exist in literature or the media. I often wondered to myself if there is someone out there going through the same things I’m going through?

For the longest time, I didn’t bother with my culture. I thought that if nobody cared about it, why should I?

It wasn’t until I took a children’s literature course in college that I realized the importance of portraying diversity in books. I learned that a good book can aide a child’s growth and that books can provide guidance to some of our issues and questions in life. Good books connect with our emotions and show the world in a way which we may never have imagined. When you portray diversity in literature, you have the ability to empower an individual, and when you empower someone, you’re showing them their voices matter. 

And so, I embarked on a mission to search for books that feature Hmong characters or Hmong-related subject matters, or books written or drawn by Hmong individuals. Over the years, I’ve compiled a list of published and self-published books with these qualities.

I hope that my list will continue to grow as I am certain there are authors, illustrators, publishers, librarians, educators, parents, and readers who feel it is important to have books for all individuals. I hope individuals like me will be able to open books and see themselves as the main character of their story.

BOARD BOOKS

    

            

   

PICTURE BOOKS  

   

       

       

       

    

      

   

          

    

   

      

     

        

       

       

        

    

CHAPTER BOOKS / EARLY READERS

          

      

          

          

           

           

           

           

Last Updated: July 2025

“In a 1974 National Geographic article, Lyteck Lynhiavu, a young Hmong Leader, was asked, “why virtually no Hmong become artists?” To which he responded, “The Hmong dream only at night…An artist must dream all day, and we don’t have time.” Festival organizers say that things have changed since 1974 – today the Hmong community has found time to dream and to realize their dreams as artist in a wide variety of disciplines.” Source

Growing up, I’ve always wondered why there wasn’t more Hmong artists? I’ve always wished I knew more Hmong artists. And so, I’ve made it a task to find and create a list of Hmong visual artists from around the world. Visual artists include painters, illustrators, photographers, graphic designers, cartoonists, sculptors, filmmakers, and more. The names listed below are only a few that I have found. Feel free to suggest any that are not listed below, or feel free to add yourself! Just email me.

Adam Lee – Concept Artist
https://hwhuaj.artstation.com/

Adora Her Designs (Adora Her) – Graphic Designer / Photographer / Illustrator / Digital Artist
https://adoraherdesigns.com

Alex Yang Art (Alex Yang) – Visual Artist / Creative Storyteller
https://alexyangart.com

Angel Lee Yang – Digital Illustrator
https://alyartportfolio.com

Art by Dru – Tattoo Artist / Artist
https://www.instagram.com/art.by.dru/

Art.Lees (Mai Vang Lee) – Artist
https://www.instagram.com/art.lees/

Ashley Vang – Visual Development Artist / Illustrator
https://www.artstation.com/ashleyhlivang

Aulora’s Crafts – Arts & Crafts
https://www.facebook.com/AulorasCrafts/

Bert Lee – Graphic Designer
https://bertlee.myportfolio.com/projects

Billy Thao (BeeTee) – Mixed-media Artist
https://www.billythao.com

Boon Ma Yang – Fine Art Painter
http://bumahmongartist.blogspot.com/2007/02/fine-art-painter.html

Cha-Ji – Graphic Designer, Illustrator & Photographer
https://cha-ji.deviantart.com

Champa Lo – Designer / Illustrator
http://www.champonit.com

Cheers From Bow – Handcrafted wooden dolls, laser cut goods and stationery
https://www.etsy.com/shop/CheersFromBow

Cho-Zero – Illustration
http://cho-zero.deviantart.com

Chompalot Art (Sammy Saykao) – Digital Artist
https://www.chompalot.art/

Choua Xiong (Tshua Xyooj) – Artist / Graphic Novelist
https://tshuax.deviantart.com/


Christina Vang – Art Director / Designer

http://christinavang.com


Cki Vang – 3D Concept Designer
https://www.vangcki.com/

Cy Thao – Politician / Painter
http://chgs.elevator.umn.edu/asset/viewAsset/57ed9baf7d58aeea1d9043ac#57ed9d6b7d58ae3c7a9043ed

Dara Lashia Lee – Illustrator / Visual Development Artist
https://lashialeeart.weebly.com


David Thao – Photographer
http://www.davidthaophotography.com


Dej Txiaj Ntsim (Kuab Maiv Yaj, Koua Mai Yang) – Artist
http://www.kouamyang.com


Dina Her – Painter / Comic Artist / Graphic Designer
https://www.facebook.com/dibnashawj

Duachaka Her – Cartoonist / Illustrator
http://duachakaher.com

DouaJai Yang – 2D Animator / Illustrator
https://douajaiyang.com

eatalllot (Teng Lee) – Digital Artist
https://www.facebook.com/eatalllot/

Fue Vang (Fulish) – 2D & 3D Artist / Designer
https://fulishdesigns.com

Gaoshua Vang – Illustrator / Photographer
https://www.artbygaoshua.com

Ger Xiong – Artist
https://www.gerxiong.com/

Goldie Vang – Animator / Illustrator
https://www.instagram.com/go.ki___/

Hai Lo – Animation / Illustration
https://www.facebook.com/hailoart/

Hlee Chang Xiong – Illustrator / Graphic Designer
https://www.instagram.com/hlee.studio/

Hooksnfangs (Ricky Fang) – Pinups / Cartoons / Comics
https://www.instagram.com/hooksnfangs

Houa Vang (Houa Vang Photography) – Photographer
https://houavang.com

Hua M. Conry – Art Director / Graphic Designer / Illustrator
https://www.huaconry.com

Hue Vang – Digital Artist / Matte Painter at DreamWorks Animation
https://huevang.artstation.com/

Jae Thao (Jadeyon Maiyer Thao) – Designer
https://www.jaethao.com

Jay Xiong – CG Imagery & 3D Modeling
https://www.jayxiong.com

Jennifer Lor (artbyjennlor) – Artist
https://artbyjennl.square.site

Jim Vang – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/JimVangArt/

Ka Lee – Designer & Illustrator
https://dribbble.com/kaleedesign

Ka Oskar Ly – Artist + Cultural Producer
https://www.kaonwards.com

Kangbao Thao (Miv Nyuas Hmoob) – Arts & Craft
https://www.facebook.com/Miv-Nyuas-Hmoob-613916242278143/

Kao Lee Thao (InnerSwirl) – Painter / Animator / Designer
http://www.innerswirl.com


Katherina (Kat) Vang – Fine Arts Portraiture Artist
https://www.maivabphotography.com

Kazua Melissa Vang – Multidisciplinary Artist / Filmmaker / Photographer / Cultural Producer
https://kazuamvang.com

KB Lor – Artist
https://artbykblor.com

Kelly L. Her (khruri) – Digital Artist
https://kellslee.wixsite.com/khruri

Keu Cha – Comic Artist
https://keucha.deviantart.com

Khamsao Yang – Painter
https://www.facebook.com/artkys1


Khou Vue – Illustrator / Designer
https://www.koovoo.me

Kia – Illustration
https://katzmiao.deviantart.com


Kimberly Yang (Shop KGY) – Designer / Developer / Aspiring Illustrator
https://www.facebook.com/shopkgy/

Kong Lor – Filmaker / Photographer / Graphic Designer
https://www.konglor.com

Lee Sand Art (Coua Lee) – Sand Artist
https://www.facebook.com/people/Lee-Sand-Art/100027318146841/

Lee Xiong – Painter & Digital Illustration
http://www.leexiong.com


Lee Yang (Elver-Lee) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/elverleeart/

Linda Lor – Game Developer / Comic Artist
https://doodlelor.weebly.com/

Linda Vang (Linda Vang Art) – Art / Illustration / Craft
https://www.facebook.com/LindaVang-Art-Illustration-Craft-532722550183018/

Lor Lao (Studio Lor Lao) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/StudioLorLao/

LoTou S. Xiong – Comics / Illustration
https://vchengxiong.wixsite.com/my-site

Love Rainie (Rainie Kong) – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/loverainieshop/

Ly Kune – Artist
https://www.deviantart.com/lykn

Ma Ly – Painter / Educator
https://vernissagefresno.com/ma-ly/

Maimee May – Illustrator / Singer / Songwriter
https://www.instagram.com/maimee_may_illustrations/

Mai Chao – Artist / Author / Social Justice Leader
https://magentaspirit.wixsite.com/maichao


Mai Chao Vang – Artist
https://www.facebook.com/maichaosart/

Mai Dao Thao – Photography / Digital Media
https://daoartblog.wordpress.com

Maixia Xiong – Artist & Designer 
https://maixiaxiong.com

Mai Lo Her – Designer & Illustrator
https://www.mailoher.com

Maz Hawj – Interdisciplinary Artist
https://mazhawj.com

Melanie Xiong (XioPrints) – Artist
https://xioprints.com

Mina Lor (mungbeanmina) – Artist
https://www.instagram.com/mungbeanmina

Misha Xiong -Character / Creature Artist
https://www.artstation.com/azurecyan

Nancy Her – Visual Artist
http://theartnher.wix.com/arts


Nee Vang (neebeanz) – Digital Artist
https://www.instagram.com/neebeanz

Neng Thao – Scientist / Artist / Informal Educator
https://www.facebook.com/nengnow

Ngianhormua Yang – Educator / Illustrator / Concept Designer
https://www.nsyart.com/

Nicollazzi Xiong – Graphic Designer
https://nicollazzi.com/design

Nikki Hang – Artist
https://nikkyhang.artstation.com/

Orion Vang – Concept Designer
ovangdesigns.com

Ouji Studio (Bao Lao) – Illustrator
https://oujistudio.weebly.com/

Pabgha (Sheena Vang) – Illustrator
https://pabgha.com

Pang Khang – Film & Photography / Graphic Design
https://pangkhang.com

Pao Houa Her – Visual Artist
http://paohher.com

Pheng Thao – Contemporary Artist
https://portfolio-wmjszxo.format.com/intro

Sandy Yang – Graphic Designer
https://yangsandy.wixsite.com/portfolio

Sean Vang (Drawn By Sean) – Graphic Design & Illustration
https://www.facebook.com/drawnbysean/ 

Sébastien (Tchou) Vang – Painter / Sculptor / Educator / Artist
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063631115500&ref=br_rs

See Xeng Lee – Painter / Educator
http://www.seexeng.com

Sheng Lor – Visual Artist
https://www.shenglor.com

Shoua Yang (Ceev Tseg Press) – Printmaker
http://shouayangprints.weebly.com

Sieng Lee – Installation Artist / Graphic Designer
http://www.mcad-mfa.com/sieng-lee-graphic-design/

Song Yer Thao – Visual Artist
http://www.carbonmousestudios.com/carbon_mouse_studios/Song_Thao.html


Stacey Lo – Graphic Designer
https://www.instagram.com/maivfolk/

Stacy Lee Yang – Graphic Designer
http://651slydesign.wix.com/portfolio


Suzie Chang – Illustrator & Painter
https://www.facebook.com/suziechangart/?fref=ts


Tai Moua – Illustration
http://tailmoua.blogspot.com


Teeko Yang – UX/UI Designer
https://www.teekoyang.com

Tigers from the Mountains – Product Development/Design / Interactive Media/Games
https://tigersfromthemountain.square.site

Tori Hong (Ntxoo Art) – Interdisciplinary Artist
https://ntxoo.art

Tou Her (Studio Tou) – Illustrator
http://touher.com

Tou Vue – Comic Artist
http://www.twovoo.daportfolio.com

Tou Yia Xiong – Illustrator / Designer
https://touyiaxiong.myportfolio.com

Tshab Her – Interdisciplinary Artist
https://www.tshabher.com

Txia Yang – Artist
https://society6.com/tsey

Unicorn Eclipse (Chia & Hleeda Lor) – Stickers & Stationery
https://unicorneclipse.com

Vam Moua – Fashion Illustrator / Graphic Designer
http://muajtiagclothingco.weebly.com

Vanghoua Anthony Vue – Visual Artist
http://www.vanghoua-anthonyvue.com


Vee Portraits (Vee Vang) – Portrait Photographer
https://www.veeportraits.com

Venlaa Vang – Craft and Illustration Artist
http://venlaa.com


Victor Ku (Mighty Pegasus Art) – Artist
https://www.mightypegasusart.com/

Victoria Kab Vang – Graphic Designer / Illustrator
https://www.victoriakabvang.com

Victoria Kue – Visual Artist
https://victoria-kue-f43f.squarespace.com

Xai Yaj – Story Artist
https://www.xaiyaj.com/

Xee Reiter – Visual Artist
https://www.xeereiter.com/

Yayao Yuying (DA-POW!) – Comic Artist
https://yayaoyuying.wixsite.com/studio

Yer Vang – 3D Character Modeler
https://thesmallvillager.artstation.com/

Yer Za Vue – Artist / Painter
http://www.yerzavue.com


Yinkong Vue – Animation / Illustration
https://www.facebook.com/yinkongvue/

Youa Vang – Visual Development Artist
https://www.youavang.art

Ziang Her – Design & Illustration
https://ziangherart.square.site/

Zoua Kha (KAJiRA) – Illustrator / Manga Artist
https://kajira-kreations.artstation.com/

Hello everyone!

I’m always on the lookout for Hmong books and educational materials, not only for myself but for kids as well. I’ve compiled a list of businesses and products that feature such items. If you’re looking into gifting Hmong-related books or educational materials to someone, consider the list below. If I missed something you think should be on the list, please let me know and I’ll look into it. Thanks!

Door in the Mountain – Children’s Books

Duachaka Her – Comic Books

HER (Hmong Educational Resources) Publishers – Books

Hmong Baby – Books, Flashcards

Hmong Children’s Books – Books

Kao Kalia Yang – Books

Project Hmong – Books, Toys & Games

Reading Karma – Children’s Books

Shoua and the Northern Lights Dragon by Ka Vang – Chapter Book

Skill Stacker – Children’s Book

*If you are looking for more Hmong books to add to your collection, please check out my other blog post.

Hello all!

With the holiday season coming around the corner I thought I’ll post something a little different today. I’ve compiled a list of gift ideas for people who are planning to buy something for their artist friend/family member, but don’t know where to start! These are just a few things that I’ve come up with or would personally love to receive as a gift.

1) Tools – It never hurts to have more tools! Of course, these are our essentials to making great art! Depending on the type of medium your person uses or the level at which they are at in their career, you might consider purchasing some of these:

• pens
• brush pens
• pencils
• erasers
• markers
• brushes/brush set
• colored pencils
• watercolor/watercolor set
• ink
• paint
• paper
• sketchbooks
• drawing pads
• digital drawing tablet & pen
• laptop
• desktop
• scanner
• camera
• external hard drive

2) Gifts for the Workspace – Having stuff for the workspace is also an essential component of our art making. Maybe the person you’re gifting actually needs a nice place to work or a way to store their art supplies? Well, here are some things you can considering gifting:

• desk
• table
• chair
• bookshelf
• shelves
• lamp
• storage/filing cabinets
• wall art

3) Subscriptions/Memberships – I know I work with Adobe Photoshop and InDesign a lot, but to do so I must buy a subscription! If you know your artist uses an art service or might be interested in taking online art course, how about consider gifting them a membership or paying for their class? Below are a few examples:

• Adobe suites subscription
• Online art courses
• Tickets to conferences, conventions, or workshops
• Premium accounts (DeviantART, Patreon, etc.)

4) Books/Artwork/Miscellaneous – As much as we are artists, we are also art lovers and consumers! We are most likely fans of another artist’s work or collect items of some sort. If you know your artist friend/family member well,  here are some ideas of stuff to consider gifting:

• art books/“art of” books
• art prints
• posters
• plushies/toys
• stickers/sticker books
• buttons
• enamel pins
• patches

5) Gift Cards/Money – Yes, it never hurts to gift them a gift card! Chances are, the artist will probably have a better idea of what to get themselves. Here are some places where artists shop for art supplies:

• Michaels Arts and Craft
• Hobby Lobby
• Dick Blick
• Amazon
• Ebay

6) Something you created! – We love thoughtful handmade gifts as well, so if you’re on a budget consider making us something!

I hope this helps some of you out. Again, the holidays isn’t about just gifts! Gifting your time and attention is the most important gift of all.

Duachaka Her

Hi everyone! I hope everyone is doing great. I wanted to update you guys about what I’ve been up to and what to look forward to.

1) Fox Cities Book Festival 2017

First of all, we’re less than a month away from my author visit at the Fox Cities Book Festival in Appleton, Wisconsin. The event will be on Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the Appleton Public Library. I’ll be giving a presentation about the making and inspiration behind my comic book Then and Now. Click here for more details about the event.

2) Qhia Txog Kuv Tsev Neeg: About My Family

This is an illustrated book I am currently working on about Hmong family names. It is currently getting edited and will most likely be available 2018.

3) Then and Now Kickstarter

I’ve been planning one! Currently working in the rewards right now. This story is already done and you can read the full version for free here or buy the PDF here. The goal of the Kickstarter is to allow me to print more copies of this book and possibly enhance it some more. I plan to launch the campaign sometime in 2018, so keep your eyes out!

4) My online shop

I’ve recently added The Greedy Couple a Hmong children’s book I’ve illustrated to my shop. The story is a Hmong-inspired folktale about a greedy couple. Get your copy today or browse through the other goodies! Shop here.

Again, thanks to everyone who have supported my work. It has definitely kept me motivated to create more awesome content to share with the world.

As always, you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates, doodles, or awesome links. You can also email me with questions or inquires.

That’s it! Until next time. Have a good one!

Duachaka Her

Hi everyone!

It’s been a while. I have some AWESOME news that I would like to share with you all. On Tuesday, October 10th, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. I will be a guest author at the Fox Cities Book Festival in Appleton, Wisconsin. I will be giving a presentation on my comic book Then and Now. More details to come as the event gets closer.

In the meantime, please visit the Fox Cities Book Festival website for more information about the event and other authors that will be present throughout the week! The festival runs from October 9th-15th. Hope to see some of you there!

Duachaka

 

Hey, everyone! Here’s a short comic about the superstition of pointing at a moon.

Hello!

I know, it’s been so long since my last blog post, but I have WONDERFUL NEWS! If some of you recall from my previous blog posts I mentioned that I was illustrating some children’s book projects. Well, I am very happy to announce that they are finally out and available for purchase! Yes! You can get your hands on these babies!

The Greedy Couple by See Lor:
A Hmong-inspired folktale about a greedy couple.

There’s A Baby in There!: A Kid’s Guide to Understanding Pregnancy, Birth and the Newborn by Ann Wrzosek-Manor:
An illustrated children’s book intended to educate readers about the pregnancy, child birth, and the newborn.

Speaking of babies, I’ve been quite busy these past few months because I myself recently gave birth to my son! Yes, I’m officially a mommy now; thus, my personal projects might slow down a bit, but nevertheless, I am still making work! So stay tuned and until next time.

Duachaka Her

CONGRATS! You just graduated from art school (or with a degree in Art or Design)! First of all, give yourself a big pat in the back for pursing something and getting it done! Hopefully you’ve made the most out of it!

In 2015, I graduated with a degree in Entertainment Design and concentration in Comics and Sequential Art. I was happy, my family was happy, and life was good. I took a few months to reorganize my life and readjust back to the “real world.” I was no longer in school, which meant no more late nights, homework, and classes! Although this meant a ton of stress off my shoulders it didn’t mean everything was set and good. Unfortunately, being out of school meant that you were given “other responsibilities”—some of which you have to learn to manage and maintain over the years.

After graduation I had a mini postgraduate crisis about my next steps in life. What do I do next? Where was I going? Was this really it? Then I recalled some advice that were given to me from professors and peers about what to expect after college. Once in a while, I will remind myself of these to help make me feel not so bad about where I am in my art journey. And the truth is, I still don’t have everything figured out, and that’s okay!

So without further ado, here are 7 Suggestions for the Art Graduate:

1) Have a source (or sources) of income: As much as we’d like to stay in our rooms and make art for the rest of our lives, we know this won’t happen unless we pay for rent, food, our student loans, and other expenses. The truth is, adulting kind of sucks. When it comes to your income, it could be anything from a day job, to part-time job, to gigs or projects you do. If you decide to get a job, don’t be too hard on yourself if it initially isn’t your “dream job.” We all got to start somewhere. Also, don’t feel bad if it’s not even art/design-related; it doesn’t make you less of an artist. What matters is at the end of the day you don’t mind working there for now, and it pays you enough to live and still make art, or it gives you the flexibility you need to live the life you want! Everyone’s situation is different nowadays, so do what you have to do to make ends meet!

2) Make work: The only way to continue growing as an artist is to keep making work, but we can all agree that making work or having personal projects is much harder to manage outside of school for most people. If you decide to be a self-employed or freelance artist, YOU have to be the person planning your career, scheduling client meetings, and making business decisions. Plus, you might have to find time to make work around your day job (if you have one) and other daily obligations.

It’s going to be hard for a while trying to find a balance between life and art, but it’s not impossible. I would also like to note that there might be periods in your life where you cannot make art (maybe due to your health, financial situation, or other things), and that is OKAY too. Creating is a time-consuming process and taking breaks are often necessary. When you feel the time is right again, you can always continue where you left off.

3) Put your work out there: This could mean posting your work on social media, starting a mailing list, making a website, opening an online shop, going to conventions/craft fairs, applying for artist residencies, etc! Anything to get your awesome stuff out! Note that you don’t have to do all of these at once, just pick one or two to start off with and get really good at them. You can always add more ways to market your work along the way.

So why is it important to get your work out there? The truth is, nobody’s going to know about you or your work if you have nothing to show for. In an ideal world, it’ll be nice if a client or employer just found us one day and gave us our dream job, but that won’t even happen unless we have stuff to show, or show up for ourselves!

4) Stay connected: Being an artist can be a lonely occupation, so why not surround ourselves more with like-minded individuals? In college we had our art peers and professors there to support and guide us. If you can, try to stay connected with those who you’ve already made connections with; however, even if you didn’t made much connections in college, there are local and online communities out there nowadays to support individuals just like you. Find one that fits you. From my experience, surrounding yourself with supportive individuals will hopefully aid your growth and encourage you to keep making art because you are all in this together!

5) Continue learning: Be open to learning even after college! Chances are, you have not learned everything you need to continue your artist journey. Most likely you’ll experience many more things after college that’ll help aide your growth, but that’s only if you choose to learn and grow. All the great artists I know are always learning new skills, perfecting their craft, growing their network and learning from each other.

Continuing your growth could mean reading books from the library, taking online courses, going to conferences/events related to your profession, or watching movies or videos pertaining to your field. The hungrier you are for knowledge, the more well-rounded and regarded you become. Chances are, all of your knowledge can one day help someone who was once just like you!

6) Be patient: Maybe you’ve always wanted to be a children’s book illustrator, but is stuck flipping burgers 5 days a week. Keep in mind that “success” does not come immediately and that it’ll probably take time (maybe years) to get to where you want to be. It is also extremely difficult not trying to compare yourself with other artists on social media nowadays. I’ll admit, I still do that sometimes too, but I don’t try to let that upset me because I am reminded that you never know what that other person is really going through. Everyone’s life is different, and what may seem “successful” to you may not be the same to the other individual. Just focus on yourself and nourishing your path. Remind yourself of your purpose, and work on making it happen!

7) Enjoy life: Don’t forget to make time to enjoy life! Life is short, so we should cherish it. Making art is important, but also remember that the stuff we produce comes from our experiences and everyday life. Try not to spend your entire day in a room drawing. Take the time to go for a walk, go to the movies with your partner, catch up with friends, travel, and whatever else you want to do. Give yourself a break once in a while and be ready to go back to the studio refreshed!

That’s all I have for you. Hopefully you guys found this useful as it was for me after I graduated. Pass it on to someone who may be in need of some post-graduate advice, or advice in general. Until next time!

Duachaka Her

Modified: 05.15.2023