In this episode, Sarah shares her journey going from a corporate career to becoming a full-time artist specializing in paper flowers and sculptures. Based in Montreal, Sarah discusses how she was pushed to explore her creative side, leading her to discover a passion for crafting realistic paper flowers inspired by her garden. She reflects on her previous corporate life, the stress it brought but also how she was able to utilise it in order to build the financial stability she now leans on and how she transitioned to a more fulfilling creative practice that allows her to work with her hands and connect with nature. Sarah emphasizes the importance of financial planning and how her past experiences in the corporate world have shaped her approach to running her creative business.
Throughout the conversation, she highlights the challenges of pricing her work, the importance of understanding her market, and the need for a balance between creativity and financial sustainability. She shares insights on how to navigate the complexities of being a creative entrepreneur, including the significance of experimenting with different materials and ideas. Sarah's story is a testament to the power of following one's passion and the courage it takes to shift from a stable career to a more uncertain yet rewarding creative path.
Follow Sarah Kestenberg over on Instagram at @ateliernaturemorte
Check out her current exhibition at Pari Passu in Montreal!
If you are a Creative/Maker and would like to come on the show and discuss your relationship to money in your business, please reach out over on Instagram.
Offers:
Grab 50% off an annual subscription to Monarch Money, the budgeting app I use to keep an eye on my finances and make sure my money works for me
Some key takeaways:
'I wanted to work with my hands.'
'I think that when I ideated about what I would do when I retired, it was this.'
'You just can't stay stuck in the dreams.'
'Money means different things to me now than it did.'
'I let myself test things and bring them to markets.'
'If you keep creating, you will find the thing that clicks.'
'I hope that people can appreciate that there's a way to transition from one career to the next.'
'You have to try different things.'
'The process to get to where I’m at now was very untidy.'
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:00 The Journey to Paper Flowers
05:50 Transitioning from Corporate to Creative
10:52 The Impact of Personal Life on Creativity
17:36 Understanding Money as a Creative
21:04 Starting to Sell Art and Market Experiences
31:29 Finding the Balance: Art and Market Needs
33:23 The Struggle of Pricing Art
35:21 Evolving Business Strategies
40:08 Navigating the Online Space
42:52 Overcoming Fear and Self-Promotion
45:45 Future Aspirations and Projects
47:53 Advice for Aspiring Creatives
Where to find me!
Keywords: Sarah Kestenberg, paper flowers, creative entrepreneurship, Montreal artist, financial planning, art and business, creative journey, handmade art, floral sculptures
