Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Open for BusinessI tend to have a hard time living in the

Challenge 144: 10 Years, Looking Forward: Open for Business

I tend to have a hard time living in the moment. I’m a virgo, very type A, so I’m always trying to plan and think ahead. When I think about the next 10 years, it’s hard not to look back on the past 10. While I haven’t been a part of Square Carousel for the last 10 years, I have certainly been growing and learning as an artist during that time. It was almost 10 years ago that I started my time at SCAD, and it’s strange to think how differently I thought these past 10 years would have gone.

Keeping that in mind, I’m sure my vision for 10 years from now will no doubt change and morph into something different, but I’d be crazy not to acknowledge how much of a better sense of direction I have now than I did when I was just a scared little freshman illustration student.

I’ve spent the past several years more deliberately trying to find my place in the art world. Square Carousel has been a huge catalyst in helping me discover my style and learn how to push myself and have discipline with passion projects. When I started as a Square Carousel member, I was living in an apartment I couldn’t afford, working a job I couldn’t seem to get out of, feeling like I was wasting my potential. Now, I’m newly self employed and pursuing my absolute dream of running my own letterpress stationery shop.

My dream for 10 years from now is to have continued to grow and flourish in my creative endeavors. While the planner in me tries to keep goals realistic, I do have a tendency to dream big, and my big big dream for the next 10 years is to open my own stationery store front. It would be amazing to couple a studio workspace with a retail space, and I hope I can make that happen some day.

This illustration is a sort of gallery wall of hopes and dreams. Some things are more abstract, such as the representation of growth or being able to savor more time with friends and family. Some, on the other hand, are more concrete, like the hopes to starts a family and open a storefront.

I owe this time with Square Carousel so much with regards to my growth and understanding of my place in this creative world. It’s been tough at times, but I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

-SCAD class of 2016
-I am a self employed graphic designer and letterpress stationer
-I hope to open my own studio/storefront and further establish my creative endeavors with a solid home base and a growing family!

-Sarah Bloom