Can you make money as an Artist?
Should you even try to make money as an artist? Are you sure you are that good?
If these are questions that are always on your mind, then let me introduce you to my friend, artist, Teacher Thea Ong.
We met online through an app called Tangi(now in Google dead app repository),a place for creative artists to learn and share their work online and earn too. It wasn’t only a helpful place but also a digital space that made me happy. It wasn’t competitive, but nurturing and encouraging.
I digress. On today’s podcast, I introduce you to my first digital art teacher, Thea Ong. Her art is beautiful, and she is a wonderful teacher.
Thea is a mom of two. She graduated from De La Salle University Manila with a degree on Computer Science. Thea worked as a web developer and SAP consultant with Hewlett-Packard before becoming a full-time mom. She started her art journey around 2016 doing calligraphy, then in 2017 with watercolors. 2017 was also when she started hosting workshops and since then she has been juggling art and motherhood. Since the pandemic, Thea started offering online workshops to adults but mostly to kids. Her first international workshop was last 2018 at Bali Indonesia. Thea’s first virtual international workshop was with Tangi with users attending from US, India and Asia. She is currently one of Tombow Philippines Brand Ambassadors and has worked with a lot of brands like MAC Cosmetics, Fitflop Philippines, Charles and Keith, Tokyo Finds, Sharpie Philippines, Titus Philippines, Vivivacolors and PulpandPigment to name a few.
Thea is an advocate of art as a form of therapy and consistently looks for innovative ways to improve my craft and share these through my workshops.
Questions Thea Answers
Tell our listeners who you are what you do?
How did you train yourself to become an artist?
What are your top tips for young people who want to be an artist?
What do you wish you knew when you started off as an artist?
What about mental health and creativity? What comes first?
What are the different ways artists can make a comfortable living in this digital age?
How can someone learn from you, take classes, buy your work? Tell us how they can find you online?
How do you approach a project /commissioned work sponsorship?
Essential points you keep in mind?
How can a young artist become a creative entrepreneur?
Tell our listeners a little about Tgf Creators on Instagram.
You can find Thea on Instagram.
This is part of the Voice of Anchor program and this is Mission 3.
VOA challenged us to interview a guest and Thea was my first guest on VOA.