Growing up, graphic designer, illustrator, and business owner, Molly was surrounded by creativity.

Her family was brimming with art.  Whether it was her mom sewing, her brother drawing characters, or her grandma including little illustrations with her handwritten letters. Molly learned that creativity wasn’t just about drawing or sewing.

It was about connection.

“Drawing was something that brought us together. It made creativity feel like a meaningful part of everyday life, and that feeling has stayed with me.”

Molly would continue using her art not only to connect and explore her creativity, but also to grow her confidence. Eventually leading her to creating Molly Marie Pea.

Read More: Participating in My First Instagram Art Challenge and How it Helped Me

Studying graphic design in college, becoming an illustrator and business owner was not even on Molly’s radar.

She shared classes with other students minoring in illustration, but Molly felt she wasn’t cut out for that path. She decided to focus on brand design. But overtime this changed. Molly found herself becoming more interested in illustration.

“It taught me the importance of staying open to where your interests and instincts lead you.”

After landing a graphic design job, Molly realized she wasn’t able to be as creative as she wanted to be.

To exercise her creative brain, Molly would spend her weekends and evenings creating designs that made her happy. This led her to greeting cards which led her to opening her own Etsy shop.

At first her designs were all made in Adobe illustrator making them more graphic. But after getting an iPad and an Apple Pencil everything changed.

“Once I started illustrating digitally, something clicked. I fell in love with it and that’s really when the transition from graphic designer to illustrator began to feel natural.”

While Molly was exploring her interest in illustration, it took a little more time before she acknowledged she was a business owner.

She didn’t simply wake up one morning and decide to become a business owner. Even though she was creating and selling her own products, she saw it as more of a hobby.

“It took time for me to recognize that what I was building was real and meaningful. That mindset shift was a huge turning point.  Looking back now, it feels less like a single decision and more like something I grew into overtime.”

Even though Molly started to pursue illustration, her education and experience in graphic design influenced her illustration career.

Graphic design taught her how to make her overall designs communicate clearly and effectively, which are important skills when creating for commercial use.

She also learned the foundational principles like composition and balance, and she was able to translate these skills over into her illustrations.

“I often describe myself as a graphic illustrator, meaning my work tends to have bold shapes, strong structure, and a flatter, more defined look – although I’m experimenting outside of this.”

Molly is now a Senior Web Designer. She juggles her full-time job with her art business.

Read More: Nicole’s Inspiring Story on Chasing Her Passion and Changing Her Career to Pursue Art

“Balancing a full-time job and an art business requires a lot of discipline, and it’s something I’m constantly working on.”

Some days aren’t as productive as Molly wishes. She’s had to learn to adjust her mindset and stay flexible. She listens to her body and allows herself to rest when she needs it to avoid burnout.

Molly also doesn’t let comparison distract her anymore.

“If you only have a few hours a week, that’s going to look very different from someone who has several hours every day and that’s okay. Progress is still progress.”

In the beginning Molly was envious of artists who seemed to be growing at a faster pace and outputting new work more often than Molly was.   

She also noticed her artwork was also starting to lean heavier into imitation, instead of inspiration as she fixated on other artists whose work she was seeing constantly in her feeds.

“That experience taught me how essential originality truly is. Your uniqueness is your greatest asset. The work that resonates most deeply will always be the work that reflects your own perspective, stories, and instincts.”

Molly doesn’t get hung up on pressuring herself to have a recognizable style anymore either.

“I’ve also learned that there’s a lot of pressure in the creative world to “find your style.” While it’s wonderful if your work is recognizable, it’s not a requirement. In fact, many companies value versatility. Having a range and being able to adapt can be just as powerful as having one highly defined aesthetic.”

By letting the comparison and pressure for a distinct style go, Molly has realized it’s better to stay true to yourself.

“At the end of the day, staying true to yourself will take you much further than trying to replicate someone else’s journey.”

*If you want to gain more creative confidence in just one week, subscribe to my newsletter to receive your FREE copy of the 7-Day Confidence Building Workbook*

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Read More: Why I Started Drawing Again at 29 and How it’s Going

Nowadays, instead of focusing on other artists’ journeys, Molly dedicates time to her own.

Molly typically spends an hour or two in the evenings to her art business, Molly Marie Pea. She also has systems in place to keep her organized and avoid overwhelm, like Airtable.

Molly is also in the habit of adding any new idea she has to her to-do list so it doesn’t take up mental space. With her systems in place, Molly can make consistent progress towards her goals.

“It’s less about doing everything at once and more about staying consistent over time.”

This consistent progress also includes promoting herself, which was a challenge for Molly in the beginning.

Promoting herself and her business initially made Molly uncomfortable. Overtime she was able to shift her mindset on self-promotion to being more about connection. She was simply offering people an invitation to connect with her and her work.

“That shift helped me see self-promotion as a way to connect rather than convince. It’s allowed me to grow my confidence, advocate for my work, and create more opportunities, while still staying true to my personality and values.”

With her systems in place, confidence to promote herself, and losing the deadweight of comparison, Molly has been able to achieve a huge goal for Molly Marie Pea.

She landed her first licensing deal which was a huge milestone for her.

“When it happened, it felt incredibly validating. It was the first time I saw my artwork not just as something personal, but as something with real value in the world. It gave me confidence in both my creative voice and my ability to build something meaningful as a business owner.”

This licensing deal changed everything for Molly and how she saw her business.

“That moment shifted how I saw myself. It helped me realize that what I was doing wasn’t just a hobby but it was something real, and something worth continuing to pursue.”

Now, Molly has her sights set on wholesale. She plans to learn more about this income stream to help create more balance in her life by placing her energy where it’ll have the most impact.

But Molly’s dreams for Molly Marie Pea don’t stop there.

“Looking ahead a few years, my dream is to see one of my designs in stores like Home Goods, Target, or Anthropologie or, heck, maybe a gift card for Starbucks. It’s exciting to imagine my artwork reaching more people in meaningful ways while continuing to grow Molly Marie Pea in a way that feels balanced and sustainable.”

In the meantime, Molly will continue to enjoy being an illustrator by growing her style and skills.

“What I love most about being an illustrator is the opportunity to keep growing on my own terms. I never want to put myself in a box of “this is my style, and I must never stray from it.” That just isn’t fun!”

By using resources like Skillshare, an online learning platform filled with courses on different art mediums and creativity taught by dozens of different teachers, and YouTube, Molly will also continue to experiment and explore.

“I love experimenting by trying out new brushes, taking a class that has nothing to do with what I normally do, or exploring areas that don’t feel like my usual realm. Those moments often lead to unexpected discoveries and creative “aha!” moments that make the work feel fresh and exciting. For me, the joy is in evolving constantly and staying curious.”

Read More: Why I Started Drawing Again at 29 and How it’s Going

Molly will also continue to do what she does best, which is connecting with others and growing her art community through things like Instagram art challenges.

“Art challenges are such a wonderful way to connect with the Instagram art community. I’ve met so many people through these challenges who I now consider my internet friends, and there’s something so joyful about celebrating the artwork everyone creates.”

Molly has even had some pieces she’s made for art challenges get licensed by companies which is a great reminder that you never know who is seeing your art.

 Challenges also help you get the creative juices flowing when you’re staring at a blank page.

“Even if you don’t participate every day, I recommend saving the prompts because they’re great inspiration for when you’re not sure what to draw at a later date.”

Whether through challenges or online groups, Molly encourages every artist to find their community.

“Build community, celebrate other artists, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or share what you’re learning. Art is more fun and more meaningful when it’s shared, and you never know where those connections might take you.”

Molly’s story is proof that if you stay true to yourself and stay open to learning and growing, incredible things can happen for you and your art business. She started as a graphic design student with no interest in owning her own art business. And now she is the owner of Molly Marie Pea where she sells and licenses her own original artwork.

“I think the biggest piece of advice I can give is to stay curious, stay consistent, and most importantly, stay true to yourself. It’s easy to get caught up comparing yourself to others or trying to follow a “formula” for success, but your unique perspective is what will make your work stand out.”

If Molly’s story inspired you then pick up your pencil, paintbrush, Apple Pencil, marker, or whatever tool you use and create!

“Creativity isn’t about perfection but instead it’s about showing up, experimenting, and enjoying the process. Giving yourself permission to create without pressure is ABSOLUTELY where the magic happens.”

Don’t be afraid to try something new even if you orginally didn’t think you were cut out for it. You never know where this new interest will lead you. 

Molly was able to incorporate her skills, education, and experience as a graphic designer into her art business and illustration career. 

We all get stuck in the comparison cycle sometimes, but the key is to not let allow yourself to live there permanently. Like Molly, focus on your own path instead. 

*If you want to gain more creative confidence in just one week, subscribe to my newsletter to receive your FREE copy of the 7-Day Confidence Building Workbook*

If you’re pursuing a goal and juggling a 9 to 5, like Molly, have systems in place to help you stay organized and have a clear mental space. 

Having a supportive community especially in your area of interest will help keep you motivated. Being able to encourage and support others is just as important as getting support and encouragement. 

You don’t need to get a whole new degree to pursue art. By using accessible resources like Skillshare and Youtube, you’ll be able to gain the knowledge you need to move forward. 

Use art challenges to help get your creative juices flowing and to connect with others and start building your artist community. 

If you want tips for participating in your first art challenge check out my post with 7 tips here. 

There’s only one you. Your unique perspective is valuable. You can be inspired by other artists but remeber to always stay true to your unique ideas and creativity. 

Your style is ever evolving. Like Molly said, part of the fun of creating is getting to explore new techniques and styles. 

Molly’s journey started by creating designs that simply made her happy in her free time. Now she owns her own art business and has plans to grow it. But initially she just started creating for her own joy. 

Make what makes you happy.