When I walk into SOURCED. and see Jac set up with her laptop, I light up because I know it’s going to be a fun day.
Not only is Jaclyn a seriously talented artist, but she’s become my biz bestie in the office (we can pass HOURS chatting strategy, art, jokes, just about anything). She also has a killer eye for design. When I need visual feedback on anything at all, Jac’s who I call.
Jaclyn runs a one-woman design and illustration company called Yellow and Lace where she does a little bit of everything: wedding invitations, custom paintings, typography and more. She’s a hard worker, loving officemate and can draw just about anything...in any style.
Taken from @yellowandlace
I hope you enjoy getting to know her as I have. Without further ado- here’s my convo with Jac!
What is your favorite kind of project to work on? And with who?
In general, I like projects that require intentional planning and creativity. From mocking up PDF presentations (yes, I was that girl who was stoked to make her own powerpoint) to an invitation suite. One project may be more graphic design heavy and the other is more focused on illustration, but both require thoughtful planning. Whether it's through placement of shapes and text or illustration and painting, my job is to communicate what needs to be communicated. Anyway, lately invitations have been a lot of fun and mainly because it's illustration heavy and the clients I have worked with want to invest in my creativity and skills.
What is the best thing about being a one-woman small biz?
I get to work in my pajamas, don't have to shower, and can sleep during my break. haha I'm joking (kind of). I've never been great at getting to work on time. I am a creative at heart and if you're a fellow creative, it's difficult to turn creativity on and off whenever you want. My creativity usually comes out in the wee hours of the night, which means when you're waking up, I am probably just about to go to bed. So I guess that's what I like about being a one-woman small biz, I create my own schedule and am not pressured to clock into work!
What have you found to be the most challenging thing about it?
However, with that being said, creating a routine is very difficult for me. And a lot of people say that they start their own business because they want more freedom; however, you quickly learn that routine and having a schedule is VERY crucial. One can get caught up in the "freedom" and really waste a lot of time. Another challenge is that you end up wearing so many hats, it can be a bit overwhelming to work. I end up spending more time on the business side of things that actually creating. Just because I wanted to start a business making art, did not mean that I knew how to run an actual business. I didn't know how to make contracts and invoices. You learn a lot about those things (the hard way) as you go.
What are your co-working day essentials and favorite tools?
Laptop
iphone and ipad
Sketchbook and pencil
(and coffee)
What do you love most about co-working at Sourced?
Uhh, we're right next to the beach. There is nothing more inspiring than nature. I like that I get to be around other creatives! It's nice to know there are a lot of people just like me going through the same struggles I am in their own businesses/work. We have so many different kinds of creatives here, so basically we morph into one giant dream team and create some very memorable events. Speaking of events, I like working here because I get to experience the "office work party" Doing your own thing can be super lonely and isolating. When I work from home, the only person I end up talking to is my dog. I mean she loves me and all, but she can't really give me business advice or critique my work. I can count on her for emotional support though.
You can dive deeper into Jaclyn’s world by following her on Instagram @yellowandlace and visiting her website http://www.yellowandlace.com.
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Written by Devon Walz. In addition to being a content creator for Sourced, Devon is mixed media fine artist and art educator. When she isn’t dreaming up new topics for the Sourced blog or chatting away with her co-workers, you can probably find her covered in paint and jamming out in her Santa Ana art studio. Find her on Instagram @devonwalzart and online at www.devonwalz.com.