My Journey into Surface Design
I've always loved creating. From a young age, my mother nurtured our creative sides, encouraging us to explore art and expression. In 2020, when my grandmother passed away, art became my refuge. I spent hours experimenting with watercolors, then transitioned to acrylics, finding solace in the process.
At the time, we were living in North Carolina, but in 2021, we relocated to Panama City, Florida. My artistic journey continued—dabbling in watercolor but focusing more on acrylic painting. I was also pursuing a degree in graphic design, balancing my studies with painting on canvas. This period marked my introduction to the local art community, culminating in my first solo exhibition in April 2022. It was a thrilling milestone, and I felt like I was finally breaking into the art world.
From there, my artwork found its way into various galleries around the area. Some months brought successful sales, while others were slow. As an artist, it was challenging not to equate sales with the value of my work, and at times, my confidence wavered. But I kept going.
As I neared the end of my degree, I tried envisioning myself as a graphic designer. While I appreciated the skills I was learning, something felt off. The work didn’t ignite my passion—it felt routine, even dull. Then, during my last class in college I realized this is what I really enjoyed, but did not understand how to break into the career. College classes often provide only a surface-level understanding, making it difficult to grasp the full scope of opportunities until you're immersed in the field.
After graduating, I took on a few logo and design projects, but I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me. It lacked the creative freedom I found in painting. Then, after my uncle passed away, I felt an even stronger pull away from gallery-style acrylic painting and found myself drawn back to watercolor. There was something about its fluidity and spontaneity that soothed my soul. Watercolor felt freeing—less technical and more meditative.
As I spent 2024 building my watercolor collection, I couldn’t shake the quiet dream of stepping into surface design. I had always loved walking through Target and Barnes & Noble, admiring beautifully designed cards, packaging, and notebooks. It was a small but persistent nudge toward a path I hadn’t fully explored.
Then, in September, I discovered Cat Coq’s course on building a portfolio, and everything clicked. It was the missing piece—the structure I needed to present my work professionally and get noticed. As I started assembling my portfolio, a wave of emotions surfaced. Could I really do this as a career? Did I love it enough? The answer was a resounding yes.
The biggest realization? Cohesive collections. That was the key I had been missing. Now, I’m embracing this new chapter with excitement, ready to see where this journey in surface design takes me.