Today we’d like to introduce you to Megan Rizzo.
Megan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always wanted art to be a part of my life but was never really sure how. By the time I got to college, I was convinced I was going to be an architect and ended up graduating with a psychology degree with a minor in art. Then decided to pursue a master’s and eventually a career in art therapy. While on the side fulfilling side jobs designing chalkboards for businesses, creating logos and creating these daily “doodles”. I would post them everyday on Instagram just because each of them illustrating a feeling or experience I had that day (a lot emphasizing my frustration with dealing with my hair). Slowly I ended up creating a small community on social media.
In the middle of all of this, my boyfriend at the time(now husband) got accepted to a phd program in California and asked if I would be interested in moving. And I decided to move, I couldn’t imagine a reason not to. I will say I was not prepared for that “lost” feeling when you move somewhere without any actual plans. I realized it was an opportunity to do something different, I could always go back to art therapy. So I decided to pursue a career as an illustrator. I had all the tools so why not. I literally created an illustration every day to share on Instagram and I started receiving requests from friends, then strangers, eventually brands and businesses who enjoyed my style of work. It came to the point where I was even illustrating children’s books. Now my illustration work has gotten to the point where I can sustain myself financially.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I believe one of the hardest things I had to do to get to be a self-supporting illustrator is believing that this was an actual career. I believe a lot of it comes from growing up being told you can’t be a starving artist, you have to pick a career that will give you financial stability. (clearly, I didn’t care) And I honestly still struggle with this. But in the beginning, this was just a side hustle, I’ve always have 2 to 3 jobs since I left college. My illustration work didn’t start paying bills until the last two years and I have been at this for five plus years, up until then I kept several jobs. I also refused to a regular 9-5. I think I was also scared it was going to drain my creativity, so I stuck with random jobs in the food industry the gave me flexibility. Overall, I believe a lot of my struggles are mental, simply believing in myself and treating my work with the value it deserves. I’ve come a long way from where I started but I have plenty of space to continue to grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m an illustrator, graphic designer and animator at times. I think people gravitate towards my work because it is very relatable and comforting. My work tends to highlight the daily struggles and beauties of being a women of color, particularly black women.
I am not sure if I have any project that I am most proud of, I feel like all of the projects I’ve done all come with their individual challenges. I will say that the work that gets transferred to print such as a book or apparel makes me extremely happy. There’s something exhilarating about seeing your work in the real world.
What matters most to you? Why?
I think what matters the most to me is being happy, I never aimed to be famous or rich, it always more about having the freedom to do what I want and live a life that I choose. This time we have on earth is precious and I never want to limit that to one thing by the end of all of this, maybe I will be directing an animated film, who knows.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: daisyillustrations.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/daizydoodles
Image Credits
Dorean Raye Photography @Doreanraye – Profile picture
