Today we’d like to introduce you to Maura O’Connor.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Well, I’m originally from a small town called Highland Mills, which is in the Hudson Valley area of New York. I came to live in Beverly while attending Montserrat College of Art and graduated in 2015 with a degree in Illustration.
During my senior year, I did an independent study where I made an observational watercolor painting in my sketchbook every day for an entire semester.
By the time graduation rolled around, I had realized that the work I was most passionate about making, were those observational paintings and after graduating continued to make a painting every day. Well, almost every day. Balancing part-time jobs along side trying to grow a freelance business for illustration was difficult to say the least. Along with my daily painting series, I was also working on any art job I could get my hands on: logo designs, portraits, architectural renderings, promotional illustrations, coloring books, you name it!
Eventually with the guidance and encouragement of my mentor and friend Alyssa Watters (owner of Art By Alyssa, an illustrated product line based out of Beverly MA), I began attending craft fairs and selling product which included my original ‘daily paintings’, some paper goods with my paintings printed on them, (cards, prints, etc.) and advertising my availability and interest for freelance work. This was how Maura Oconnor Illustration really started getting attention and how it has continued to grow.
In 2017, I was fortunate enough to be invited to illustrate a children’s book with the author Laura Ventimiglia titled ‘Nonna, What is St. Peter’s Fiesta”. This book teaches children about why the tradition of St. Peter’s Fiesta is celebrated in the town of Gloucester and will be available to purchase in June of 2018. This project has been a dream come true to be involved with and I hope to work on more illustration projects like this moving forward. Meanwhile, I continue to do my daily paintings and post about them on my Instagram @oconnoisseur . They are all available for sale on my website www.mauraoconnorillustration.com!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The fickle thing about freelancing is that sometimes you have absolutely zero work and then other months you have 4 projects due at the same time. Selling my daily paintings online has turned out to be a bigger part of my business then I ever thought it would be and I hope to continue making work and growing my business. The past 3 years out of college, have been like a non-stop roller coaster. Year 2018 marks the first year, I am devoting all of my energy to building this brand full time without relying on another job. It’s a very exciting time for sure but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t scared too! I know in my heart it’s the right time to take the chance and pursue my passion. If I continue to work as hard as I have these past three years growing this brand then I am sure, I will find the path to success that works for me.
A big part of starting out doing craft fairs was very difficult, too. I think for the first 2 years of participating in fairs I hardly ever broke even on what it cost me to participate in the event. The biggest thing that helped me was making friends with other artists who were doing what I was trying to do, asking questions and learning from them what worked and what didn’t. It might sound cliche but I’ve definitely learned from my mistakes!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Maura Oconnor Illustration has two halves.
One half consists of Freelance Illustration which is made up of watercolor/colored pencil illustrations and detailed black and white ink drawings. I am always interested in working with people and businesses to help bring their creative visions to life!
The other half is my daily painting practice, where I make an observational painting daily and sell the original work on my website. I also reproduce these original paintings on my line of products that are available for sale at craft fairs in the area as well as on my website.
What were you like growing up?
I was very shy growing up and had a difficult home life in New York. I was into video games, fantasy books, mythology and spent a lot of time running around outside to get out of the house. These things have definitely influenced the types of stories and scenes I like to paint. Drawing and painting was always my escape and became a meditative process for me. When I was younger, I used it to tune out all the negative things that were happening around me. Painting still has that meditative quality even now that I’m older and that’s why I try to do it every day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mauraoconnorillustration.com
- Phone: 914-714-5537
- Email: mauraoco@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oconnoisseur/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mauraoconnorillustration/
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