How to Make a Living as an Artist: Advice From a Brisbane-Based Ceramist

 

The way to fulfil your heart and bank account is to keep doing what you love and embrace every experience along the way.

 

Top-left: Georgie in front of Makeroom.
Right: Georgie holding her Froggy character.
Bottom-left: Georgie at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre hosting her first stall at the Supanova Expo.

 

Meet Georgie, the founder of Froggy Hollow, who shares her inspiring journey from a frustrated architect to a successful artist and entrepreneur.

Froggy Hollow, based in Brisbane, is known for its slowly-made, cute, and cosy ceramics and stationery, bringing a touch of light and sweetness to everyday life. The name "Froggy Hollow" pays homage to Brisbane's old nickname, "Frog's Hollow," and encapsulates Georgie's mission to brighten her surroundings with her creations.

Founded in 2020, Froggy Hollow quickly gained popularity among those who appreciate charming and thoughtfully crafted items. Beyond her ceramics and stationery, Georgie is a photographer who runs Camera Cafe, a project that documents cute cafes, small businesses, and travel finds. She has also started on her next venture, Toasty Art Market, an event celebrating all things cute and cosy, with the first market scheduled for 27 July 2024.

In this interview, Georgie shares her experiences, challenges, and insights on making a living as an artist, providing valuable advice for aspiring creatives.

 

Tell us a bit about yourself.

My name is Georgie, I run Froggy Hollow, a slowly-made, cute and cosy ceramics and stationery business in Brisbane.

Left: Glazed ceramics by Froggy Hollow ready for second firing.
Right: Froggy Hollow reusable sticker book.

 

Tell us about Froggy Hollow.

I created FH to showcase my artwork, connect with my community and challenge myself to grow!

The name "Froggy Hollow" comes from Brisbane's old nickname "Frog's Hollow".

My mission is to bring a bit of light and sweetness to my surroundings!

Left to right: Bunny, fox and froggy bud vases by Froggy Hollow.

 

Where did your journey as an artist begin and how did you get to where you are now?

I have always been a very creative person, so finding a career in art was my dream!

I grew up in a small city called Ipswich (where there was one main street of shops). I chose architecture because I wanted to change my surroundings. I could always see the potential of the places around me and I was always frustrated that they were empty or falling apart.

While I worked in architecture I still found myself frustrated that I was barely making a difference or an impact how I had imagined, working on apartment complexes and office lobbies was hardly my idea of changing my city for the better. I also found that sitting in front of a computer all day wasn't the creative lifestyle I had dreamed of.

During 2020 lockdowns I dabbled in many different mediums from clay to resin to embroidery to print making and more! I began to take my hobbies a bit more seriously in 2021 & started joining markets and events.

I found working full time and on FH was very difficult and I struggled to keep a balance between my work life, my small business life and my relationships. I am very lucky to have such a supportive network of friends and my amazing partner who sacrificed so much of his time to help me!

After some time, I gained some confidence to quit my full time job and gave myself a chance to make it as an artist. Working for myself has been the most freeing, challenging and fun job I've ever had!

 

Can you please tell us a bit about your previous venture, Makeroom, why you closed it and what we can expect next?

Left: Front of Makeroom.
Right: Inside Makeroom.

 

Makeroom was a pop up shop run by myself and my friend M. It was a space created to connect with our community and try all the creative things we wanted to pursue.

We ran workshops, hosted markets and exhibitions, stocked local artists’ works and ran social events for creatives in Brisbane.

Makeroom was always intended to be a 6 month pop up to give ourselves a bite sized experience of running a store. Ultimately, M decided to follow a different path, however I fell in love with the concept even more!

While Makeroom may be finished, it certainly isn't the end. I have big plans for the future, and I've taken all I've learned from my time running Makeroom to help me. I will be hosting the Toasty Art Market (27 July 2024!), a stationery and craft market for people who love cute and cosy things like me!

 

What do you find the most challenging aspect of being an artist?

The most challenging aspect of being an artist is definitely finding the time (& money lol) to do everything I want to do! I'm blessed (or cursed) with big ideas, but it's tough to find the means to bring those ideas to life!

Totoro Chime by Froggy Hollow to be exhibited at Ghibli exhibition hosted by Mechanical Pen.

 

From looking at your instagram, it’s obvious that you’ve attended many markets and have heaps of experience showing your work to the public. What advice do you have for those who want to sell their art at markets but have not yet done so?

I would definitely advise market beginners to have a solid understanding of their target audience and do research on the markets they want to attend. go to that market first before signing up if you can!

Some helpful questions to ask yourself:

• What is the demographic?
• Who else is attending?
• Is there too much competition for your products?
• How is the parking/public transport situation and can customers easily access the market?
• Has the market been advertised?
• Ask some of the vendors what their experience is like at the market!

These sorts of questions help me choose what markets I should attend and which ones I should skip!

 

You’ve dabbled in so many different mediums, what motivates you to try new things and are you scared of failing?

I am never scared of failing! Art is all about trying new things and pushing yourself. I like to think that whatever I try, even if it doesn't turn out how I imagined it, it's better to have made it than not at all!

Every artist has a beginning and comparing yourself to someone who has been doing it for years is only going to hinder your own creative journey. When I look back on my first ceramic pieces I die a bit inside BUT, I remember how proud I was at the time and how hopeful I was that the next iteration would be better.

 

Can you spill the beans about what else we could see in Froggy Hollow's future?

I am so excited to grow from here! My goal is to eventually open another store similar to makeroom, but with my own space to make art (maybe a semi ceramic studio/retail/market space). I am hoping to grow from my local circle and put my work out there for a wider audience! I am planning to enter more sculptural pieces into exhibitions as well as stocking interstate (aha ;) ) and I would love to do some interstate markets as well!

 

What is one question people tend to ask you a lot as an artist and what do you tell them?

"How do you make a living?" is a question I get asked a lot!

I think the best answer is to have multiple streams of income. Although I specialise in ceramics, if I suddenly broke my hands and couldn't sculpt anymore, I would still be able to sell my stationery goods and my photography! Being able to receive consistent income from several sources is a lot more reliable than one source!

Another thing is to delegate tasks! I used to think I could do it all myself, but that uses a lot of precious time and effort, and sometimes it is just easier to order prints for $100 than buying a $1,000 printer to make them yourself!

 

Do you have any cats? If so, please tell us about them and send us some photos

I don't have any pets because I am actually allergic to animals 😭😭😭😭😭 that is a big part of why I create so many cute and fluffy characters! To fill the gap in my pet-less life.

 

Key Takeaways

• Have multiple sources of income. For instance, besides ceramics, Georgie sells stationery goods and photography, ensuring financial stability even if one income stream is disrupted.
• Recognise when it's more efficient to outsource and delegate tasks. Georgie mentions it’s sometimes better to order prints instead of making them herself, which saves time and resources.
• Research and understand the target demographic and market conditions before participating in events. Visiting markets beforehand and asking vendors about their experiences can help gauge suitability and potential success.
• Having a supportive network of friends and family can make all the difference. Georgie credits her partner and friends for helping her balance her business with her personal life.
• Embrace continuous experimentation and learning. Georgie’s journey involved trying various art forms and gradually building confidence to pursue her passion full-time.
• Be prepared for challenges and set realistic goals. Georgie started small with a pop-up shop and gradually transitioned to more ambitious projects like the Toasty Art Market and future plans for a permanent space.
• Manage finances wisely by assessing the cost-benefit of investments. For example, buying a $1,000 printer might be more time consuming and less cost-effective than ordering prints for $100.
• Engage with the community through markets, workshops, and social events. Building a community around your art can provide support and opportunities for growth.
• Embrace failure. Every attempt is a learning experience, and it’s important to keep experimenting and refining your craft.
• Let your passion drive you. Georgie’s love for creating and desire to make an impact on her surroundings kept her motivated through various challenges.

 

Check out Froggy Hollow's collection of cute and cosy cat ceramics at Teef Club here.