Today we’d like to introduce you to Faheema Chaudhury.
Faheema, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Art has always been apart of my life. My earliest epiphany of being able to draw was probably in the 4th grade when I drew some Peanuts characters for a class assignment and thought “Wow, that’s actually good.” I studied art in college and got a B.A. from U.C. Berkeley while working on-campus at a public art studio teaching black and white photography.
After moving back to L.A. in 2010 to be closer to the family when my mum was ill with and eventually passed away from cancer, I started thinking about my next step. I was in the depths of grief and turned to art for some comfort. After doing some research, I experimented with making jewelry and opened an Etsy shop in 2011. Shortly after the success of making some online sales, I decided to apply to sell my new wearables at a local independent market.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The thrill of making sales at art fairs and online made me think that I could turn my art and creations into a legitimate business. I’d never taken a business class, so I was always flying by the seat of my pants and always experimenting.
Luckily, I made some friends that were completely gratuitous and let me ask all the questions I had. I’d highly recommend building relationships with like-minded entrepreneurs. Don’t just send a cold message expecting someone to reveal his or her trade secrets. You have to do the hard work to make your dream work.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Unicorn Crafts – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m an illustrator of the cute and colorful. I draw things that make me happy and turn those goodies into wearable pieces of my artwork. I love the fact that when I work live events, I can see the excitement and joy on people’s faces and hear it in their voices when they see my designs. It elates them, which is my whole intention – makes art that spreads happiness.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I use Instagram as a major tool for advertisement and community building. From creating posts to really buzz about my next collection to making silly stories about my dogs or the dessert I had that day; it all helps to humanize the face behind Unicorn Crafts. Since my brand is a one-woman powerhouse, I like to connect to a fan of my work as well as other businesses or influencers to build personal and professional relationships.
In times of self-doubt, my husband is my greatest cheerleader. He knows I can get overwhelmed at times and reminds me that I’m more than capable of getting things done.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.unicorncraftsart.com
- Email: hello@unicorncraftsart.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/unicorncrafts
- Facebook: facebook.com/unicorncrafts
- Twitter: twitter.com/Unicorn_Crafts
Image Credit:
Faheema Chaudhury, Jessica Watkins (Sweater Photo)
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