Meet Remy Joy | Artist and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Remy Joy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Remy, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Running your own business is a rollercoaster ride of exhilarating highs and challenging lows – each twist and turn presents a new opportunity for growth and learning. At its best, running a business is deeply fulfilling with an unparalleled sense of freedom, creativity, and satisfaction of building something from the ground up. It is about pursuing my passion and turning my dreams into reality. It is about leaving a mark on our world and expressing myself through creativity. Art has the power to speak louder than words.

Although amidst the excitement and possibility, there are inevitable hurdles to hop and hardships to overcome. From financial constraints and fierce competition, to unforeseen crises and moments of deep self-doubt… The path of entrepreneurship is paved with uncertainty and risk. These lows are a part of the process. These lows test my resilience, sharpen my skills, and ultimately shape me into a stronger, more resourceful artist. The sun always shines after a storm, even on the darkest of days when that sunshine feels incredibly out of reach.

In the intricate dance between creativity and commerce, my love for art serves as both my anchor and guiding light. It is a flame that refuses to be extinguished – a passion that ignites my soul and fills my life with both purpose and meaning. Art is not merely a pursuit, but the essence of my being – the language through which I express my deepest emotions and aspirations. I am profoundly grateful to turn my passion into a job, to pursue my dreams while making a living – which, above all, is the energy that keeps me going even when uncertainty looms like a shadow.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have always been creative – I grew up doodling on all of my notes pages in school, floating through different artistic phases, from jewelry making to collaging and messing around with Sharpies. Remy Joy Art came to life in 2018, when I started selling tie dyes on Etsy, and at a small shop in Boulder, Colorado, where I was going to college. I took a drawing for non-majors course later that year, where I fell in love with graphite and charcoal. I learned that I was capable of capturing the human figure with a pencil on paper. I learned that realistic sketching was not something that everyone could do. Then, COVID hit our world like a mysterious, dark force in the night; It was 2020, my graduating year, and it was time to look for a ‘big girl’ job. I was passionate about finding a career that would bring joy to my every day. I was passionate about communicating with the world through the language that makes the most sense to me – artistically and visually. I rebranded my business and took a leap of faith – I am going to be a full time artist. I feel like I would not have taken this jump if it had not been for quarantine, if we had not been living in an unconventional world, with limited job opportunities and among a community who was sick of staring at the wall. I drew more charcoal portraits, I taught myself graphic design, and I revamped my online shop. I started working on a commission basis, which would, and continues to, move through waves of long to do lists and not enough work. I had to surrender to the discomfort that is sharing my art consistently; I had to surrender to the vulnerability of networking, and accepting that some people will give me nothing but silence. I have learned that this type of exposure will always be my work in progress – that such silence is not a reason to give up, but rather a catalyst to make more connections. I have learned that there will always be days of doubt amidst the beauty of turning my passion into a job. I know that I cannot expect others to believe in me if I do not believe in myself… I got this!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A day trip to Boulder would be top of the priority list – a hike around the Flatirons, a drive to Gross Reservoir, a bite to eat at Illegal Petes and a beer at Sanitas. With a Golden day on deck, a trip to the legendary Red Rocks would be a must – whether during the day or for a show at night. An ideal day of food would start with breakfast at Bonfire Burritos, lunch and drinks at the Golden Mill, and dinner at Sherpa House – followed up with a stroll along the creek. As for a day in Denver, pastries from Bakery Four, a walk around Cheesman Park, lunch at Fire On The Mountain and dinner at Safta. Easy.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am so grateful for the unwavering support from my friends and family. There are times when they believe in me more than I believe in myself… It takes a village! They inspire me to create and innovate with passion and purpose. They bolster my confidence and encourage me to push creative boundaries. They remind me that my art is both for myself and a shared journey with those who have faith in my talents wholeheartedly.

I also want to take this opportunity to talk about Instagram. Social media is a crazy world; it provokes a vulnerable energy, a sham reality to some extent. There is a pressure to consistently share the behind the scenes, the moments of my art process that I had always held for myself. Although we live in a time where social media is also a platform for connection – a platform to connect with more clients and other artists. Amidst the wave of imposter syndrome, I also see a bright beauty in our digital world. I do not have a boss, nor a team of coworkers to turn to for questions and mentorship… Instagram has introduced me to other artists, like-minded folk who are on a similar journey as me. I have made friends that feel like colleagues, people that I admire and look up to for advice. I feel grateful for those artists who take the time to chat with me, as we are all traveling different routes to the same destination.

Website: https://remyjoyart.com

Instagram: @remyjoyart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/remyjoyart/

Facebook: Remy Joy Art

Image Credits
n/a