How they made it (and what most miss)

One art piece sells for millions. Another - same quality, same concept - barely gets noticed.Same goes for interiors, photography, even entire careers.

How do they MAKE it in the world? What are the differences between those who break through and those who remain invisible, struggling to find clients month after month?

Trust me, this is the topic I’ve also been diving into as I want to expand and step outside my comfort zone and familiar things. And since this is ABSOLUTELY not about talent, then... what is it?

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I want to quickly tell you a story that will set the tone for this newsletter.

Last year, when I was in New York, I attended an art exhibition opening at one of the top high-end galleries in the world. I got there by saying I was an interior designer, which worked its magic since interior designers are some of the main buyers there :D

So, when I first walked into that crowded opening, I felt lost and pretended to study all those art pieces so I wouldn’t look like a stranger relatively new to this world. I grabbed a glass of champagne and kept circling around the designs and art pieces.

Everyone seemed to have a conversation partner except me. Have you ever had this feeling when attending events on your own? If yes, you know that feeling of awkwardness...

About 30 minutes later, a retired racing driver - apparently a recognized one - approached me, complimented my dress, and asked whether I was from Europe (“you look like someone from Europe”).

And then... everything flipped upside down.

It was like a snowball effect. He introduced me to some people. They introduced me to others. Then, someone overheard me laughing and approached me. Suddenly, there I was, standing at the center of the space, talking to potential buyers of those art pieces (and mind you, you could buy an apartment somewhere for that kind of money) and laughing like crazy. Suddenly, I became part of the show.

Then, on my way to the cloakroom, the galleries, which had been ignoring me at the beginning, approached me and started asking how I was feeling, how I liked the exhibit - all in a super friendly way.

Well, the change in their attitude was kind of funny to witness 😅

Then, I got invited to an afterparty, and it was such a blast! So many new encounters, connections, and enriching talks. WOW.

And of course, the New York magic did its thing!

Can you see what happened?

Now, let’s put the moral of this story into practice by understanding exactly how to become THAT visible expert.

1️⃣ They Put Themselves in the Room - Before They Were Invited

Garance Doré showed up in the Paris Metro with a huge portfolio of her illustrations to approach creative directors before social media existed. No one knew her name yet - but she knew what she wanted.

Real Lesson: Stop waiting to be found online. Show up in real life. Email someone. Go to the opening. DM the creative director.

2️⃣ They Seized Unusual First Chances and Overdelivered

Kelly Wearstler’s breakthrough wasn’t a carefully planned brand campaign - it was decorating a hotel for her then-boyfriend’s company. But she treated it like her defining moment.

Real Lesson: Your next “big break” may look small or personal at first - treat every project like it’s your portfolio’s star.

3️⃣ They Pivoted Without Apology

Yayoi Kusama went from painting to installations to fashion collabs with Louis Vuitton. She didn’t “niche” - she expanded her message through any medium that worked.

Real Lesson: You don’t need one lane. You need one voice. Let it guide you across media, tools, and roles.

4️⃣ They Made Their Medium Their Identity

David Hockney didn’t just use the iPad - he made it his creative signature. He showed the art world that digital tools could be fine art - by unapologetically making his version of it.

Real Lesson: Don’t hide your tools. Embrace them and push them to their creative edge.

5️⃣ Identity Creation Before Proof

Before Arnold Schwarzenegger was an actor, governor, or even fluent in English - he called himself “The best bodybuilder in the world.” Before he won. Before America knew his name.
He sold that identity first, and then grew into it with discipline, opportunity, and brutal self-belief.

Real Lesson: Say the thing before it's true - and show up like it already is.

Sum up:

•  Don’t wait - put yourself out there.
•  Overdeliver and treat every project like a world-class one.
•  Pivot and adapt.
•  Your medium is your strength.
•  Know in your core you are already there.
•  Create your own niche.

And one thing is absolutely for sure - being unapologetically yourself, creating from your heart, experimenting with different tools, and BEING the niche.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

at @andshedrawsbig
Resources to Get Started with Drawing with My Guidance:

My complete iPad interior design and sketching course with 100+ tutorials ↓

5-day quick design project ↓

NEW → Drawing challenge, including:

•  Mindset reset: how to become THAT talented artist
•  Drawing process with my custom brushes and techniques
•  Confidence to turn a creative hobby into a career