We recently connected with Aja Rolland and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Aja , great to have you with us today and excited to have you share your wisdom with our readers. Over the years, after speaking with countless do-ers, makers, builders, entrepreneurs, artists and more we’ve noticed that the ability to take risks is central to almost all stories of triumph and so we’re really interested in hearing about your journey with risk and how you developed your risk-taking ability.
I developed my ability to take risks because it was necessary. I knew that I wanted to be an artist, that was my dream from day one, and I needed to make that my reality. It was difficult to follow that dream initially. Sometimes, when you tell someone that you want to be an artist, the response can be a little dismissive; the phrase ‘starving artist’ comes out on occasion.
My journey has been more than just developing the ability to take risks; it has been learning how to continue even after the first risk doesn’t quite pay off. It’s about learning to focus on the dream, winning some, losing some, and feeling anxious about the next; the hardest part at times can be to simply continue. The highs can be great and the lows can really challenge you.
I am an introvert by nature, naturally, the idea of selling myself or selling my art was very difficult. Getting over that hurdle was about realizing that if I didn’t paint, then I wasn’t living my life. This was my calling, making art was how I could share my heart with the world. The failures, and the set-backs, they exist, by my dream of being a known artist could leap over any obstacle.
In my opinion, the best way to develop your ability to take risks is to simply do it; even if it feels uncomfortable, even if you think you’re going to fail, because the secret is that you will learn and grow from each experience. I invite everyone who reads this to fail quickly, fail miserably, but learn from that failure and evolve from the experience.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Ever since I can remember, I have had a love for the arts. Growing up my mother always had our house adorned with paintings, pottery, carvings, and tapestries which really cemented my love for the arts and decorating. I am a firm believer that it would be better to live in a one-room shack that had real soul in the decor, rather than an empty, heartless mansion.
Starting in 2024, my family and I will be starting a community show. We hope to create a community space through locals, for anyone who wants to join in on the conversation centered on the arts, and a YouTube channel for people to see the art, hear the story behind the naming, imagery and just connect about life. It has been a difficult decision for me because it does of course make me feel nervous and a bit self-critical, but I am looking forward to taking this risk and meeting others who feel similarly about art. The first step is always the hardest, but making the world a better and more beautiful place through color and good vibes is my mission, For anyone who would like to get updates on all upcoming developments, events, and artwork please send me an email at RollandStudios@gmail.com
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?
1. Never Give Up – There are many times along my journey that I have felt like hanging up the towel and giving up, but I have learned that anything worth having is not going to come easy and you have to keep on pushing until you get the results that you want. I say it a lot, but it’s because of the truth that it brought to my life: Fail Fast. My dad taught me that, he said ‘…if you fail along the way, have a quick pity party and then get back up and keep going.’ I think the ability to bounce back after failure or disappointment is really the only thing that separates those who find success in the end from those who don’t.
2. Only YOU can determine your self-worth. I think about the events where people loved my art, but they wanted to pay about the price of the canvas for it; like it was a clearance item at Walmart. I had to learn how to appreciate someone’s love of the work and forgive their pricing ability; they didn’t really know how much work went into every piece, nor could they know what my costs were for the paint. It took me a while to handle this gracefully and let it get under my skin and devalue my work; it just wasn’t the right time, or it wasn’t the right place, and I could find a way to appreciate this experience – even if it was not bringing in a sale.
3. Even if you don’t have your business all together and polished, just start anyway and learn and grow through your experiences. While it is tempting to buy into excuses like “I don’t have my website up and running” or “I am low on inventory”, the truth in the matter is that if you wait for all conditions to be perfect you won’t EVER start. It is impossible to know everything that you need to know before starting and experience is a great teacher; you will be surprised by what you can learn when you lean into it and begin.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My clientele is as diverse as the art I create, however, here is a breakdown of some attributes that would describe my ideal customer; although art can move any soul that allows it.
1. People who love brighter colors, whimsical abstract images, and anyone who likes their art a bit ‘loud’
2. Anyone interested in the creative process that comes from transforming abandoned and/or unwanted canvases into something vibrant and alive
3. Art lovers who crave displaying one-of-a-kind originals and enjoy the experience of something special that is unique to their space
4. Households with kids or businesses that cater to a younger audience. Personally, I try not to take myself too seriously and neither does my art. I find lots of love from kids with developing imaginations and who appreciate the energetic imagery used in my work
5. People who are keen to support small businesses, creative thinkers, or even just a mom with a dream to reach her destiny and live a life that her kids can be proud of
6. Business owners that wish to bring vivacious energy to their space through color, art, and abstract design
7. Contemporary designers who are looking for a fresh style to solidify their design ideas
8. Socialites or influencers that are looking to share with their community stories behind creatives, or focused on the hand-made expression that modern markets often miss
9. Anyone who is bored of the reprints offered by mainstream retailers
10. Fans of Jean-Michael Basquiat, Keith Haring, and Andy Warhol may have an appreciation for my style. This is often due to the use of color or color combinations that I use to evoke happiness and other positive vibes.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: art_by_aja_rolland
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Artbyarr
