Inspirational stories
11
Being dependent on your craft income:
Laura Slade tells us how it is achieved
L
aura Slade, a want-tobe professional artist, is
dependent on the money
from commissions and her parttime job.
As an artist, Laura decided to do
a fine art degree at the University
of Northampton, but soon left after
finding out that the course was not
for her. Instead she has decided to
become financially independent by
means of painting commissions and
her part-time job even though she
has a 3 year-old daughter.
“At the beginning of the year I
decided to apply for Fine Art. I had
always thought against it, believing I
would be forced in directions I didn’t
want to go in. To an extent, this was
true, although it opened my eyes to
new ways of creating art. I left with an
aim that I didn’t require a degree.
“I couldn’t currently live off the
income I make from my craft. I have
a part-time job to supplement my
income but I aspire to make it my
sole income later on in life.”
Despite this, Laura has learnt to
work around the home commitments.
She has to take care of her daughter
and uses every moment of her spare
time to further her craft.
Laura commented: “Pretty much
all my spare time is taken up by
painting. I try to do it when my
daughter is in school (2.5 hours) then
when she goes to bed (another 2.5
hours or more). So, on a day-to-day
basis, I balance my artwork alongside
looking after my 3 year-old daughter
and my part-time job.”
Laura started as an artist working in
a small independent cafe in Newport
Pagnell, where her boss encouraged
her to put some of her art on the wall.
After a while, she gathered a small
collection and a few months later her
paintings started to sell.
“I was over the moon that people
wanted to buy my work. It was such
a confidence boost to sell a painting,
and from there I started to get
commissions too.”
Laura admits that she does struggle
but uses the support she gets from
her family.
“I believe that hard work, passion
and drive (with a little good fortune)
will get me to where I want to be: a
professional artist.”
Laura Slade has her Facebook page
to showcase her work:
facebook.com/LauraSladeArt
Photo of Laura courtesy of Laura Slade
Laura Slade, ex-Fine Art student