Meet Ava Wolf

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ava Wolf. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ava below.

Hi Ava, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I’ve learned over the years that it’s important to connect your values to your work; if you are only going after things to earn success and money, you will burn out quickly. When I think about my purpose as an artist/business owner, I think about human connection, creativity, fighting the patriarchy and self-trust. I want to show others that they can create their own income, their own job, their own business.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Ava Wolf and I’m the owner/illustrator of Aviate Press. I started Aviate Press with a vision to help people connect through punny greeting cards and colorful art, but over the years it’s also become a place to bond over deeper, more meaningful illustrations about self-reflection and growth.

I am now focused on custom illustrations that help others express how much they care for their loved ones. I’d love to create one for you!

I plan to continue making meaningful art through Aviate Press for as long as I can and I hope you’ll join me along the way.

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 things that helped me the most as I began my career were 1) having a beginner’s mindset 2) connecting with other small businesses and artists in the community 3) getting an accountant!

I tend to be a perfectionist with most things, but when I started out in illustration I didn’t even know you could be an ‘illustrator.’ It wasn’t until I met other women who were doing it professionally that I learned about all the possibilities. I owe so much of my career to the people who helped me with art and illustration in the early days!

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The pandemic changed a lot for my business – it grew in sales when people were shopping more online, then it declined when wholesale became less stable and Instagram changed its algorithm. I also became a mom in 2022, which has made it hard to pivot and find time to adapt to these changes. I am working on finding new clients to collaborate with on freelance illustration and am doing more outreach to work with other small business on a wholesale level.

It has been a good lesson that it’s okay to slow down. It’s also been a good realization that businesses, just like people, go through ups and downs. We don’t have to be growing and reaching new achievements all the time. This is a slower season and that is okay.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Alex Crawford

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