Today we’d like to introduce you to Haley Mistler.
Haley, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I had always been an artistic kid, favoring coloring and crafting over any other activity. I went to a high school that was very much focused on academics and didn’t have too many creative outlets, and I lost focus on artwork when I was in my teens. I also wasn’t a great student, so my high school years were pretty trying. When it came time to decide what college to go to, I was definitely lost in trying to figure out what to do since I hadn’t really been focusing on anything that spoke to me. I was more or less just going through the motions academically. I ended up at a large university and declared myself a communications major, not really even knowing what that meant. That first semester, I took my required communications classes, but I also signed up for an Art History course. They had offered this course at my high school, but I had been advised not to take it because my counselors didn’t think I could get the grades. So it was a nice surprise to me that in college not only did I enjoy my Art History classes, but I excelled in them, earning as across the board. At the same time, I nearly failed my communications classes, so it was very clear to me that I needed to be on an artistic path in one way or another moving forward. I made the decision to transfer to a small art school in Boston where I could explore majors that made more sense for me. I ended up in the Graphic Design program, and it felt like the right fit for my talents and interests. My senior year, I signed up for a study abroad program in Italy which was offering courses in Art History and Watercolor, which would fulfill my Illustration coursework assignments. I learned how to paint in watercolor while sitting in the Boboli Gardens in Florence, under olive trees in the Tuscan countryside and along the canals in Venice. It was the most magical trip of my life, and I discovered not just that I loved painting in watercolor, but that I was actually pretty good at it! It’s a notoriously difficult medium to work with. I graduated school and took a job as a designer in marketing, but along the way I would often pull out my watercolor paints for fun and make a few paintings here and there. When I left my marketing job and took my graphic design work freelance, I started introducing watercolor illustration into my services. I got so much positive feedback on my style that I’ve been inspired to make it a more prominent part of what I do!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road! I started freelancing because my husband’s job transferred us across the country to a very remote location, so I had to figure out a way to keep working in design in an area where I couldn’t find a job. It’s very difficult being self-employed, because you often don’t have anyone to guide you through a messy experience or tell you you’re doing the right (or wrong) thing. Having a network around me that is in a similar situation career-wise has been invaluable. I share a studio space with many people in creative industries and it helps to have people to bounce ideas off of, or sometimes just to vent about things. For those just starting out in a similar field, my biggest piece of advice is to just put your work out there. I had imposter syndrome when I first started, but by just putting my work out in to the world and calling myself what I wanted to be – an illustrator- you can carve your own path. Work begets work, so even if it’s just personal work, get it out there! People won’t know what you’re trying to do until you tell them.
Please tell us about Haley Mistler Illustration.
I paint watercolor pieces for weddings, stationary, gifts, businesses, books, apparel companies and more! I’m most proud of my ability to make something with my hands. What I create is very tangible, you can often hold it. So much of our lives now are lived on computers or on phones. My work often ends up on a screen of course, but it was created by my hands. As things become more and more digital, I think there will always be a need for the handmade, and I feel lucky that I have a skillset to meet that.
Were there people and/or experiences you had in your childhood that you feel laid the foundation for your success?
I’ve just always been a visual person – I used to drive my friends crazy at playdates because I was more interested in re-arranging their bedroom furniture or drawing out logos for our pretend “stores” instead of actually playing. I remember taking art classes as a kid at the Museum of Fine Arts and being so completely drawn to the Ancient Egypt exhibits that all my artwork had some kind of Egyptian reference that year. Ancient art is still a huge influence on my work today, thanks to the many hours spent in the museum! It always came naturally to me to create things, or to try and make things more beautiful. I tried to fight it off by thinking for one semester that I was going to become an Oceanographer, but in the end being artistic has always called to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: haleymistler.com
- Email: hello@haleymistler.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/haleymistler/
Image Credit:
Nicole Baas
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