We were lucky to catch up with Nikki Cade recently and have shared our conversation below.
Nikki, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?
If there is a big emotion I’m seeking, such as being brave, feeling good about myself, or showing up confidently, I find it helpful to practice first. Growing up I definitely underestimated the importance of practice, yet I find it the key to unlocking so much potential. One example of this in my life as an artist was when my friend and I held an art retreat in Bali, Indonesia. I flew out to San Francisco for a week so we could have some smaller workshops together before embarking on that journey. It was a great way to see how we worked together collaboratively and get out those pre-retreat jitters.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am an Artist and Maker, living in North Dallas. I started my career as a painter focusing on abstract art. I’ve had some wonderful opportunities in this area such as licensed and wholesale with companies such as Anthropologie, Post 21 Shop, and Chicago Museum of Art. I’ve also painted Murals for American Air and Kafiex Roasters. I tend to dabble in whatever I’m feeling led to creatively in the moment, but for the past two years I have been primarily a doll maker. I’m currently in my 2nd year of running a subscription called Mini Muse Club where collectors receive a newly released doll each month. My dolls have been featured in Mini U a division of Uppercase Magazine and are held by collectors all around the globe. I am now working on a 2nd collaboration with Harper Iman Dolls and I’m also on the home stretch of manufacturing a larger version of Mini Muse Dolls.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, I think the three quality that have been most impacted with moving myself forward with my personal goals are curiosity, vision, and grit. I think curiosity is the foundation for creativity and innovation. I recommend stretching your curiosity by always asking questions about everything. Still to this day I am having conversations with myself and asking things like, “what sounds like fun to you”? I might have to credit my teacher background for this but, I’m also fortunate to be able to visualize quite well and execute plans. Writing plays a big part of flexing these muscles. Always braindump and get your ideas onto paper so you can organize your thoughts.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
I think there is a lot of bad financial advice floating around, especially in the art world. The whole leap and the net will appear strategy doesn’t work for everyone. That is why I loved Profit First by Mike Michalowicz. It completely change the way I organize my money and was a huge reality check about how much it actually takes to run a business. Taxes and profit were two things I didn’t make priority before, but now I do.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nikkicadestudio.com
- Instagram: @nikkicadestudio
Image Credits
fuchsiapixels
