Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lenka Brabcová, illustrator and freelancer at Casy's Art, located in Bratislava, Slovakia.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I am an illustrator, currently specializing in quite a niche field, which is creating graphics for streamers and content creators. More specifically, the majority of my work is creating emoticons for chats on streaming platforms, mainly Twitch.

Tell us about yourself

I always wanted to illustrate for a living, but I never imagined it being possible and that I could do it as a full-time job. During my university studies, I worked on my illustrations in my free time and got reached by a smaller streamer, asking if I ever created emoticons for Twitch chat. I never did, but I said that I could give it a try. 5 years later, it is my full-time job, and I created a few thousand emoticons for various streamers. Sometimes it's quite a repetitive job, but seeing people using emoticons that I created in various chats and communities always brings me the biggest joy and motivates me to get back to work.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would say owning a business itself. I never really believed in myself enough to think that I would be capable of being my own boss and dealing with all the struggles that business owners have to go through. It's a big responsibility.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

In my case, it's being my own boss. It's very hard for me to turn my mind off after work and not think about it 24/7. I have to plan and manage everything by myself, starting from communication with clients, managing social media, creating schedules, streaming, and creating the artwork itself.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do what you enjoy/love doing. Your business gives off a completely different vibe if you do it because you love it and do not just pay the bills. My dad used to say that person who loves their job is not working a single day in their life. And that's how you win life. That's what I try to do.
  2. Stay consistent and believe in yourself. It took me a few years to get to the point where I am now, and it wasn't an overnight success.
  3. This one is specific for art creators, but I believe that degree is not everything. Your portfolio says more about you than a diploma, and nowadays, with all the online learning sources, it's easier than ever to learn!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.casynuf.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/casyart/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/casynuf/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/casynuf

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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