How Did I Get Here?

About two years ago my entire identity was wrapped up in my job. I was convinced it was where I would retire, I had no hobbies, I checked my phone every thirty seconds, I responded to emails in the middle of the night when I was almost always awake. And every single connection I had was tied to my job. 

Then, after a decade of dedication, a week before Thanksgiving, I was laid off.

I don’t sit still well so I jumped into action. I took a contracted role that I am still doing today because I believe in it strongly. But it’s impermanent. I longed for something that was mine. I started throwing spaghetti at the wall. I spent 8 months as the Executive Director of a non-profit. I applied to a handful of event related jobs. I even launched a marketing consultancy business in an effort to support the small businesses in the small town where I live. None of these were right.

I started reading books again…because I had time now. I fell in love with making collages. Years ago, while living in LA, I was a professional headshot photographer. I decided to pick my camera back up and I fell back in love with it. Several months ago I started drawing. I don’t know why as I didn’t draw before and have never been remotely good at it. I decided to draw something everyday. Just for me. I drew instead of scrolling. And I have stuck to that promise. Which has led to a serious pileup of art! I am not yet an exceptional artist. I’m getting better every day. Upon the urging of my close friends and a few strangers, I decided to start selling my work. I just did my first big market and people’s reaction to my art overwhelmed me in the best possible way. I sold so many pieces and someone even asked to commission something. There aren’t words to describe the feeling you get when someone loves something you made with your own hands.

I decided a couple of weeks ago to fully lean back into photography and getting better at art. To focus on a creative life. I leapt. And while it’s not a full and trustworthy net…I’ve at least received a loud and clear “go for it!” from the universe. 

Which brings us to the launching of this website. It will highlight my art and writing and will serve as a sort of personal social channel. It will also link to Robin Nance Photography and will obviously feature my photos. I am also working on the details of a snail mail art club. More on that later. There will also be a shop where you can buy originals and prints of my work.

It’s taken two years to get here. My nervous system has never been so regulated. I spend hours in my studio and sometimes never look at my phone. I don’t make six figures and I don’t have a fancy title or a team, but I’ve never been happier. I hope that shines through in my work (I do enjoy drawing stressed out looking animals for some reason). I saw a TikTok a while back that talks about your life having two paths. One where you climb the ladder and one where it leans against the side of your home while you sip tea on the porch with the people you love.

Welcome to my digital porch.

This will be an imperfect place. If you’re looking for glossy aesthetics, I’m probably not for you. If I’ve learned anything it’s that I’m my favorite version of me where vulnerability, authenticity and imperfection meet.

If you’ve read this far, thank you. I hope you’ll continue to follow this journey. If you’ve ever felt like it’s too late, it’s not. If you’ve ever started something and then realized in your gut it was the wrong thing for you, it’s ok to walk away. I am grateful to everyone who is a part of my journey and if any part of it could possibly inspire someone else, it was worth putting it all out there.