5 Things You Need to Learn from Fiber Artist Adana Tillman
In the 4th episode of IN BTWN ARTIST, I sit down to interview Adana Tillman
Here are 5 things you need to learn from Adana’s creative career and journey so far.
#1 Starting with passion is more than enough.
Adana paved a way for herself with no college degree in art. Her creative journey is a beautiful example of what it looks like to go after what simply brings you joy. Her mother fostered a love for sewing and fabric within Adana at such a young age, and Adana’s life long learner mentality helped her take those passions and foundational passed down knowledge to new heights.
Adana made a career out of doing what she loves, exploring her interests and pushing the boundaries of her craft. Let Adana’s story be a reminder that it is never too late. Let her story be a reminder that the simple joys in life are enough and can blossom into more than you could ever imagine for yourself.
#2 Life Long Learners Get Ahead
Life long learners get ahead in life, period! Adana is wonderful to work with. She is humble, kind, and always positioning herself to learn AND apply her knowledge to upskill and evolve her craft. A common thread in all my interviews so far is these artists who are killing it are always open to learning from others and new experiences. They are not afraid to admit that they don’t know everything and greatly benefit from positioning themselves to continuously learn more. The more we learn the more opportunities we get to improve, enhance, and sustain our careers in new relevant ways. Take note, if you are not learning new things AND applying what you learn you’ll find yourself stagnant and on a plateau. The key combination is consistent learning AND application of what you learn.
#3 Set schedule for making work
In this episode we hear Adana explain her work regimen for when she was working her day job and then spending her nights and weekends making new art. Since recording this episode, Adana has been able to transition her time to working as a full-time artist. We talk about the stigma around artists working a 9-to-5 job in addition to making art.
Historically there has been judgement and discrimination toward artists who have day jobs. Over the years I also realized that several artists just lie or choose not to disclose their day job details with others. However, that creates false perception and expectations that can burden emerging artists learning to initially navigate their careers. I appreciate Adana sharing her work history and journey navigating her growing career and the reality of the balance and dedication this is not just possible but realistic. The lesson here is scheduling intentional time to make art. Consider even clocking in and clocking out if needed to ensure you put in the hours you need to continue cultivating your art practice. Clockify is a great free tool that you can use to do that available on desktop or mobile app. Don’t let exterior pressures tell you that you can’t do both. As entrepreneurs we have to do whatever is necessary to sustain our lives in addition to our art practices.
#4 Nurture warm connections
As you network and share yourself with others, be mindful to nurture warm connections that are made. Some of the best opportunities come from friends or people that vibe well together. Adana put herself out there to connect with gallerists, curators, and other artists. She wrote the follow up emails, she showed up in person, and she followed through. She kept her options open and approached everyone with an upbeat spirit. People notice these things.
#5 The Beauty of Staying Surprised
As you nurture connections, remember that no one wants to work with difficult artists. Being easy to work with in any field will always serve you well. Adana intentionally behaves in a surprised manner whenever she gets a new opportunity to exhibit or make a sale. This emotional state is a nostalgic one and similar to holding onto a childlike wonder. I think it's beautiful and a coping mechanism for not getting downtrodden when you are rejected and instead staying in a blissful state of surprise to carry you from one win to the next.
If you discover an in between artist mentor or friend in Adana please be sure to reach out to her directly! Watch our full episode linked below and our live Q&A that reveals the latest and greatest parts of Adana’s art career thus far.
IN BTWN ARTIST is a podcast about navigating sustainable creative careers hosted by me, Stephanie Brown, and presented by Next Chapter Podcasts.
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