gaining clarity on my value as artist

"You can truly step into your business when you gain clarity on the value you're creating. "@nikiszilovics

I've been involved in art in one form or another since 2010 — that's 15 years now.

Throughout my journey, I've often questioned whether what I was creating was good enough. Many times, I didn’t like what I made. It didn’t feel beautiful, professional, or high-quality — and I was very often hard on myself because of it.

Even though I went through many ups and downs, even battled self-doubt and self-hate at times, one thing was always clear: I alway knew I had to keep going. Something inside was driving me, an inner force (or the next school assignment, or a new collaboration :))

This February, I started working with a business coach. I was looking for personalized guidance for my creative path. That’s when I first read the sentence above on my mentor's, Nikis page.

Over the course of our work together, I reevaluated so many things — not just in my business but in how I see myself as a creator.

Besides shifting my business in a new direction that feels much more aligned with who I am — with a different kind of communication — we also focused on developing my business mindset, boosting my creative confidence, and building self-worth.

Right now, I’m fully immersed in rebuilding and redefining the foundation of my illustration business. I'm working towards a personal brand that’s as authentic and aligned with me as possible.

Six months after first hearing Niki’s powerful sentence, it hits differently now.

As the core values, mission, and visual identity of my business slowly come together, I feel — maybe for the first time in my life — that I truly appreciate what I create. And more importantly, I believe that what I create has value. 🩷🌸