Image Alumni ’06 Education BFA in Drawing and Painting Current Career Fine Artist and Stylist Assistant Location Minneapolis, Minnesota How did you get your job? Word of mouth, a lot of showing up for myself, and making my own opportunities. What was your major and how did you choose it? Was it the right choice? Painting, because I love it. Yes. Who was your favorite teacher and why? Michael Kareken because he taught me discipline in my craft. Name your one biggest takeaway from MCAD? “Work makes more work,” or inspiration doesn’t visit the lazy. What inspires you/your work? The world. Archaeology, travel, other painters. What advice do you have for current MCAD students? Learn how to make and sustain a studio practice. Invent deadlines and stick to them. Figure out what you can do so you can eat and pay your bills that will also allow you to have headspace and time for making your work. How do you network yourself and your art? Social media. I go to shows and build relationships with other artists and galleries. I keep my website up to date so I can refer people there if they are interested. Most things happen organically through word of mouth. The internet has made the art world smaller. I plant seeds everywhere I think something exciting is going on where I would like to collaborate with people and I don’t take it personally when something doesn’t work out and I am grateful when it does. Do the Twin Cities offer many opportunities for creatives? Yes. My husband and I chose to stay here because it has a thriving freelance creative community and the cost of living is low. There are also a lot of grant opportunities here to help emerging and mid-career artists as well as a lot of great artists who are now choosing to stay for these same reasons. Current obsession? Tal R. Website