When I walked into Sourced for the first time and met Michelle and the studio manager, Jaclyn, I was on the nervous side. Talking about my art and meeting new people has never been the most comfortable for me.

But the first thing I noticed was how warm and welcoming they were. How adorable and love-filled the space was. And how much they were genuinely interested in my story and excited to create an event that would celebrate the series of work I’d spent so long working on.

I felt instantly at home and this really set the tone for the two months I would spend as the artist in residence here.

Before applying to the program, I was feeling lost about my next steps as an artist. I had a body of work almost completed that I felt proud of, but I didn’t know where or how I would show it.

I had an active online presence and did okay selling my work here and there, but I felt isolated in my day-to-day experience. I didn’t know how to plug into my local community or gain any more traction beyond what I was already doing.

I wanted to start actually being an artist in spaces other than my little art studio and my own online platform. I was craving support, community and growth.

The residency at Sourced gave me exactly that.

During my time here, not only did I get to have my first solo show during Art Walk (which was crazy fun and SO well put together thanks to the imaginative Sourced team), but I was supported in the specific ways I was looking grow.

I was given guidance as to how to start reaching out to related businesses in the community, which helped me get way more comfortable building connections. And I nailed a studio visit as a result!

devon walz inner space art walk at sourced.

I was able to do a mural on site with total trust and creative freedom (thanks Michelle!). This was a dream come true and added incredible value to my portfolio. The project also opened up a ton of inspiration and big ideas for me-- it may have been my favorite part!

And I made some amazing friends through it all.

Mural by Devon Walz during her artist residency at SOURCED.

If you’re an artist, you probably already know that the opportunity for a solo show is a big deal.

But what’s an even bigger deal is finding a group of people to support you, cheer you on, encourage your creative ideas, help you brainstorm and introduce you to a friend of a friend who needs a custom piece or who has a space to show some work.

Relationships are your most valuable asset as a developing artist.

But they can also feel the most daunting to build when you have no idea where to start or who to talk to.

This is where programs like the residency at SOURCED. are providing something SO important for emerging artists: a place to root into and grow outward from.

I can honestly say that I feel so much more confident in my place as a local artist after my time here.

If you’re a local artist who’s feeling stagnant like I was, I hope you’ll apply to this program. It will push you to get your body of work together, give you an opportunity to meet some lovely new people and propel you forward in your next steps.

As a past resident who’s stayed on board with the community (because I couldn’t imagine leaving it!), I’ll be SO excited to meet you, grab a coffee and chat about all things art.

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Written by Devon Walz. In addition to being a content creator for Sourced, Devon is mixed media fine artist and art educator. When she isn’t dreaming up new topics for the Sourced blog or chatting away with her co-workers, you can probably find her covered in paint and jamming out in her Santa Ana art studio. Find her on Instagram @devonwalzart and online at www.devonwalz.com.

When I walk into SOURCED. and see Jac set up with her laptop, I light up because I know it’s going to be a fun day.

Not only is Jaclyn a seriously talented artist, but she’s become my biz bestie in the office (we can pass HOURS chatting strategy, art, jokes, just about anything). She also has a killer eye for design. When I need visual feedback on anything at all, Jac’s who I call.

Jaclyn runs a one-woman design and illustration company called Yellow and Lace where she does a little bit of everything: wedding invitations, custom paintings, typography and more. She’s a hard worker, loving officemate and can draw just about anything...in any style.

I hope you enjoy getting to know her as I have. Without further ado- here’s my convo with Jac!

What is your favorite kind of project to work on? And with who?

In general, I like projects that require intentional planning and creativity. From mocking up PDF presentations (yes, I was that girl who was stoked to make her own powerpoint) to an invitation suite. One project may be more graphic design heavy and the other is more focused on illustration, but both require thoughtful planning. Whether it's through placement of shapes and text or illustration and painting, my job is to communicate what needs to be communicated. Anyway, lately invitations have been a lot of fun and mainly because it's illustration heavy and the clients I have worked with want to invest in my creativity and skills.

What is the best thing about being a one-woman small biz?

I get to work in my pajamas, don't have to shower, and can sleep during my break. haha I'm joking (kind of). I've never been great at getting to work on time. I am a creative at heart and if you're a fellow creative, it's difficult to turn creativity on and off whenever you want. My creativity usually comes out in the wee hours of the night, which means when you're waking up, I am probably just about to go to bed. So I guess that's what I like about being a one-woman small biz, I create my own schedule and am not pressured to clock into work!

What have you found to be the most challenging thing about it?

However, with that being said, creating a routine is very difficult for me. And a lot of people say that they start their own business because they want more freedom; however, you quickly learn that routine and having a schedule is VERY crucial. One can get caught up in the "freedom" and really waste a lot of time. Another challenge is that you end up wearing so many hats, it can be a bit overwhelming to work. I end up spending more time on the business side of things that actually creating. Just because I wanted to start a business making art, did not mean that I knew how to run an actual business. I didn't know how to make contracts and invoices. You learn a lot about those things (the hard way) as you go.

What are your co-working day essentials and favorite tools?

Laptop

iphone and ipad

Sketchbook and pencil

(and coffee)

What do you love most about co-working at Sourced?

Uhh, we're right next to the beach. There is nothing more inspiring than nature. I like that I get to be around other creatives! It's nice to know there are a lot of people just like me going through the same struggles I am in their own businesses/work. We have so many different kinds of creatives here, so basically we morph into one giant dream team and create some very memorable events. Speaking of events, I like working here because I get to experience the "office work party" Doing your own thing can be super lonely and isolating. When I work from home, the only person I end up talking to is my dog. I mean she loves me and all, but she can't really give me business advice or critique my work. I can count on her for emotional support though.

You can dive deeper into Jaclyn’s world by following her on Instagram @yellowandlace and visiting her website http://www.yellowandlace.com.

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Written by Devon Walz. In addition to being a content creator for Sourced, Devon is mixed media fine artist and art educator. When she isn’t dreaming up new topics for the Sourced blog or chatting away with her co-workers, you can probably find her covered in paint and jamming out in her Santa Ana art studio. Find her on Instagram @devonwalzart and online at www.devonwalz.com.

Photos by Riley Starr Photo