Deanna First - Artist & Fashion Illustrator!

In this episode Nikolay & Yuliya (Julia) are joined by Deanna First as their guest. Deanna is an NYC-based artist known for her amazing fashion illustrations and live sketching events. Tune in to learn more about how she followed her passion, grew her network, built her business - and what she has learned along the way!

As a bonus, you can email us at info@nyglobalgroup.com for a special discount code to use at Deanna's online shop!

To learn more about Deanna:
Webpage: https://www.deannafirst.com/
Instagram: @deanna_first

To learn more about Nikolay & Yuliya:
Webpage: http://nyglobalgroup.com/
Instagram (Nikolay): @Nikolay.NYC
Instagram (Yuliya): @Julia.Afanasyev

DM or email us at info@nyglobalgroup.com if you have a story to share!

Transcript

0:00  
This is Success & Setbacks in NYC podcast with your hosts, Julia and Nikolay, coming to you from New York City with some of the most amazing life stories of how various people turn their challenges around. Tune in to get inspired, learn more or simply enjoy.

0:22  
In today's episode of Success & Setbacks, we have an amazing artist and illustrator, Deanna First. I've had the personal pleasure of knowing Deanna when her career was just starting off and was already taking off back then. And I witnessed an amazing growth of how much of an amazing person and artist she has become. To learn more about her journey, what she has done, what were some of her challenges and how she overcame those challenges, tune in to today's podcast. And additionally, she has been very kind to share a special discount code on some of the products that have her special illustrations on them. So inquire today with us at info@nyglobalgroup.com to receive that code. We'll be happy to share it with you guys. And hope you love the podcast as much as we do. 

1:15  
Hello, our dear listeners. Today we have a very, very special guest I've had pleasure of meeting. Let me know if I mispronounce your name Deanna. Yeah. Yeah. Great. I had the pleasure of meeting Deanna before back in, I think five, six years ago, when I had the pleasure of helping you find a rental property on the Upper West Side. Now she's in a better, even more amazing building downtown. And she does a lot of illustrative stuff. We see it at all sorts of different exciting events for Tiffany's and other places. So how about you give yourself an introduction? And Julia, say hi too!

1:57  
Hi, everyone. We're super excited to have Deanna and she is certainly a very different guest doing something completely different from a lot of our previous guests. And yet, we're super excited to hear your story and to have you share your experience with our listeners.

2:17  
Well, thanks for the intro, guys. Yeah, I am a New York based fashion and beauty Illustrator. So I'm an artist that specializes in everything fashion, everything beauty, I work a lot with in store events. I draw a lot of guests and then I also do custom commissions.

2:34  
Okay, very exciting. So I think first question, first is what did you do before this? How did you transition into all of this?

2:42  
Great question. So I was in fashion design. That's what my degree is in. I graduated from Kent State University. And then I moved to the city and I got my first corporate job. So it's taken a few years, slowly to get to where I am now. But Originally, it was in the design industry.

3:01  
Nice. How long were you in the corporate job for before you were like, you know what? Maybe this is not for me, I want to do something else.

3:09  
Honestly, I think it was only a year or two tops. I knew I knew right away and I was at enough companies, because I interned and then I freelanced. When I freelanced, I jumped around kind of maybe like three or four spots. So by that time, I was like, okay, great experience that I need to work on myself. Yeah.

3:30  
Nice. So I assume it's a difficult industry and probably not an easy transition. How did it will work out for you? Because I know most of the people like for example, for us, when we started in real estate, I think first year, I practically made no money. I don't know if I made anything.

3:48  
The first year was rough. So I was just applying for any kind of job that could give me lenient hours. So I could have some income coming in while I started growing my client list. So I remember even applying to an art supply store, and I didn't get that job. And I remember thinking, Oh my gosh, I can't even get a job at an art supply. I was like getting so down. And then I found a job doing graphic design, like three times a week, which is perfect, because not a lot of companies would be so lenient with hours. So it was actually it's called 90 degree by reflex as a yoga brand. So I was there three days a week while I grew my clients, and I want to say it took to to, I don't know, maybe over two years to quit that job. Wow.

4:37  
Amazing. So in the meantime, while you had that job three times a week, you were able to kind of like go and find clients, right?

4:45  
Yeah. And then it got to the point where I was getting so much work that I was like, Okay, I can't handle both jobs. So this is like, and I have enough savings so I can kind of afford to. It's a good one. I didn't tell them My whole family so my mom would call me at random times of the day. And I would always answer, like, Danny are like, always available like, are you on the job? I'm like, didn't tell them. I think I told my dad because he is more open my he used to have his own business. He's also a teacher. My mom's a teacher. So he is more, you know, like that entrepreneurship? Kind of.

5:24  
That's amazing. But I guess the question is, so for some of you who have recently moved into the city, and I don't know your HBCU wonderful, so I assume you're very young, then how did you find clients? Just from the get go?

5:41  
Good question. So I created an Instagram. My very first gig was a book cover with Martha Michelle, and my very first job ever, so she actually was pretty well connected. She knew a lot of people, like celebrities and things like that. So for her book launch, that was a great first opportunity right off the bat. And from there just Instagram I would draw people like see if they would repost I would email people say, Hey, could I draw this sketch of you if you share on Instagram so that slowly built up my following and now it's really great because my in store and I do weddings and all these in person events? I'm meeting so many people, and then everyone's really sharing their sketches. So it really is, like a great way to effect prom. Yeah, yeah, like really has helped

6:30  
Did you have some kind of strategy to grow your Instagram following

6:34  
not only didn't have that, not really jet I just kept reaching out and like drawing people that I admired and like hoping that they would repost or like messaging them to see if they would share. I even honestly sounds crazy. Even Craigslist, the beginning, I was posting my website, like any kind of site, I could find where people were looking on the internet, I would just say, Hey, here's my work. And artists, and I actually got like great gigs off Craigslist. I'm not gonna lie. So I'm sure yeah, like a cool book cover off that. And so

7:05  
some great work. I feel like it's very unique. I feel like we are at the end of events, but I've never seen anybody who does something that you do, or maybe at least not in the same style. So for any listeners, if they want to check out your work on Instagram or web page, what's the best way for them to do it?

7:22  
Sure. So my Instagram is Deanna D, A N A underscore, I RS T. And first is actually my last name. And then my website's my name. Deanna first calm. So that's usually my two main sources.

7:37  
That's changed all the last names.

7:41  
I know. I know. Even when I when I get married, eventually I'm going to be like, I need to keep for branding purposes.

7:51  
Yeah, your spouse should be second. Yeah, for sure. Well, it's certainly when you describe your story, it seems that it was kind of like easy, you make it very easy, which in reality, I don't think it was, and I'm sure you had some times when you will, probably doubted whether this is the right direction. I wonder if there were times when you started doing what you're doing, and you already quit your previous job. But you had second thoughts? If it was the right decision to do? Did you have those moments? Or no,

8:25  
it definitely was very hard. There was so many times like even the first few years. It really took a while to get going and actually make a living doing it. I never doubted that I should be doing it. Like I always like knew, even from preschool like when people would ask me I was little they had everyone draw a picture in class, when you want to be when you grew up, I drew a little girl with like an art easel. And I said, I want to be an artist. So I always knew it was the right path. But it was definitely extremely difficult. Like I feel like most people give up after the first year or two. And I feel like once you make it past the first few years, in some cases, most cases, not most, but in my case, it gets better. And then it slowly gets better. And then I'm at the point now where it's just like I'm living in a dream worlds like I never thought I would be have the clients that I do or the opportunity. So yeah, I definitely doubted myself.

9:25  
I can't imagine. And as you mentioned, I forgot the exact percentage but a big portion. I think that the biggest actually part of new businesses, they actually fail within the first two years and people either and then going back to what they were doing, or they start something else. So I'm very happy that you were the smaller part of those business owners who you guys do? Yeah, yeah.

9:51  
I feel like it's so similar like regardless of what you do, but it is very similar like, first couple years are difficult, then it gets better than Some things happen. without really, I feel like without putting too much of hard work, you know, just some clients come back that were happy with you. And that's, that's very, that's an amazing thing. I think that's an amazing feeling when somebody appreciates what you've done for them. Yeah.

10:17  
But during those times when you those first couple of years, when you do have those dark moments, let's call them that, when you're doubting what you're doing, and when you're really not sure what the future will bring. What did you tell yourself to stay strong? And to keep pursuing what you're doing?

10:37  
Good question. So I would like go on YouTube, and like Google motivational speakers and stuff. So hello. And that really helped that really, like pumped me up when I was like, feeling low. But it was hard. Like, I never thought I would even be like, you know, make enough money to do it full time at times. And then I never thought I would be able to live by myself in the city. And it's just like, that's an expensive city. Oh, it's so expensive, especially coming from my Ohio. It's just double the price of everything. But yeah, honestly, yeah, the YouTube videos I would.

11:15  
This is thanks beyond the No, this is good advertising for YouTube. We will not discuss their motivational speakers that you have the record, you can share them with us. Yes, thank you. That's a really good advice for a lot of people just to say I think it's all in your head, as long as you stay positive and you believe in what you do. And sometimes you need an outside voice to tell you to not lose hope and to stay strong, then you should.

11:45  
Yeah, exactly.

11:47  
I'm also very interested in regards to how the whole COVID thing worked out for you because I feel like you do a lot of events and a lot of events did not happen last year was like video work slowed down or did you pivot to something a little bit where things still stayed very busy for you?

12:04  
Yeah, so a lot of people ask me about this and they just assumed you know, I was just drawing all day like I have so much free time to do what I want. And that's one way of looking at it but my brain went into Okay, how do I reinvent myself because I really realized I put all my eggs in one basket because it was about 70 75% of my work I want to say it was mostly events and my income was like down over 50% I want to say so during that time I was also trying to be sensitive because everything's going in the world what can you post What can you not post what's respectful so I started up I did a series of New York City Art and then I raised money for city harvest so that was like something that kept me really busy. And then I also took on more custom commissions and I do a custom illustrated matchbook so people send me their favorite restaurants in the city and I kind of create like artwork featuring all that matches and that today like has really picked up so that came from COVID I would have never launched that you know if COVID didn't hit but it was super tough because and also sing I'm sure you guys can relate sing all your contracts being like I had so many so much good stuff yeah yeah and it was just devastating

13:30  
you know for for like a couple of months when we just went to the shutdown we're not allowed to like even enter buildings like we're just looking at it from it and then you're just like watching some of the things crumble and you're like oh my god like I'm on the phone the whole day but they're still like falling apart so that was crazy and I'm sure for a lot of business owners it was I'm sure some It was great but I think for most It was a difficult part

13:53  
what did you guys because at least I can still work on my custom commissions and stuff but what did you guys do?

13:59  
We try to make sure were there for some of the clients and some for the previous clients just to make sure that they're okay and for anything that we had in contract we're trying to make sure it gets to the finish line it hasn't always gone that way but in many instances where we're representing the sellers we were still able to represent their best interest and in some cases unfortunately for the buyers but fortunately for our sellers they kept the deposits of the buyers who walked away so I mean for us we choose decide depending on who we work for and we want to make sure that we stick to our guns and protect our clients best interest

14:36  
yeah can't even imagine

14:38  
Yeah, yeah, but just like you we can probably I'm probably glad will agree with me We can also say that the lockdown and the pandemic helped us pivot in so many areas of our in our industry and for our company

14:52  
changed it changed the industry forever.

14:55  
Changed the industry in general choose it for us and for our team and for ours. Like a small company, the way we look at things, the way we do things, the way we plan things, so everything kind of changed. And in a way, I'm happy that we, unfortunately had to go through a pandemic to do it. But I'm happy that we changed a lot of our systems to make them more efficient and I guess automate a lot of parts of our business.

15:23  
Yep. That's good. That makes sense. I feel like you can only go through those kinds of things when it actually hits like, without experience. I mean, who would have thought? Yeah, absolutely.

15:35  
And I'm also very curious. I feel like all intrapreneurs at least on social media seem to love their job. Is there something that you don't like about your job? Yeah.

15:44  
Well, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.

15:49  
I do project that though. I just would love to focus on drawing all day. Like To tell you the truth. I don't remember the last time I drew for fun, like, Oh, it was has probably been a year, which sounds crazy. I have so many deadlines, so many commissions, so many events, which is a blessing because I got to the point in my career where it's, I have to start telling people No. And I never had to do that before. And now it's just like, No, I can't take on any more. But then I have to try and reflect. It's like, do I cut down my commissions even more so I can draw for fun like, and I really I try to only see like a friend like once a week, because I'm so busy. If that like some weekends, I don't even see any friends. I'm just that's my time where no one's emailing me. Knock on wood. I mean that. But I can finally have some peace and quiet and catch up. Okay, I started rambling. Did I answer the question? I even forgot,

16:47  
yeah, you just want to do it more for fun.

16:51  
And I don't like doing contracts and all that I do on my own contract. You know how it is? Yeah.

16:56  
Well, hopefully soon, you'll be in a position to have somebody with you who can do all of the parts that you don't want to do? coordinating scheduling and everything else.

17:06  
Yeah, I mean, I've had interns, but that would be really helpful.

17:10  
I'm very curious. Do you manage everything yourself? Do people in your industry hire like a manager to take care of some of this stuff? Or is it just best to kind of be doing everything yourself?

17:21  
I think it's best to do everything yourself. But I've had an agency before. And I was not a good experience. I didn't make any money. I didn't make any money. And even if I found that they still take a percentage, even if I land the client, and then yeah, it didn't work out. And it was my one of my dream. Like I had so many artists I look up to were part of this agency, but I didn't feel like they cared about me. I didn't feel like I got very I felt like I was overlooked. And when you go on an agency website, you see like, tons of other artists so you could say hey, I'm going for Deanna here's the website, I get distracted by this piece or this piece, and they might not end up booking you even though they went in for you. So right now I would only do an agency if it was like, they were my agent, maybe someone else's or a few other people's

18:15  
agents, no conflict of interest. Yeah. And

18:17  
like if they manage different artists, like if I was the only specialty that did fashion beauty, then I would be cool with it makes

18:24  
sense. Well, on the contrary from what's your least favorite part about what's the most favorite part?

18:30  
Okay, so many as well. Hopefully more? Yeah, definitely. Definitely more. It's just, I mean, I said this before, it feels like a dream. Like when I go to my events, I love meeting everyone because I work for my self. I live alone. I mean, I have my cat suits, which everyone knows from Instagram, because Molly's posting like stories about her. But just the people it's like everyone gets so happy when they get their sketch for. And I mean, I get to dress in these beautiful gowns and these beautiful outfits when I meet with these brands. So yeah, definitely the interaction.

19:04  
How big is your clothes? Oh, my. Yeah, it's growing in July, you wouldn't be jealous. I have a feeling that would be.

19:13  
So that's definitely like a huge perk. And then plus I'm like doing what I wanted to do since I was really young. So it's like, I feel satisfied. And not everyone can say they feel satisfied and what they do for a living.

19:25  
Yeah, absolutely. And I think for a lot of people, it changes what they want to be compared to what they thought they were going to be when they were young. So I think it's amazing that you're stayed the same, you're doing it and you're enjoying it. Is there anything that you have planned for the future in terms of further growth or are you more happy with where you are right now and you're okay, just continue on this way.

19:51  
Honestly, I'm just taking it day by day just trying to be present. I mean, I know a lot of people have like the five year plan the 10 year Plan. I'm just taking it day by day and seeing what happens. I mean, I know that's probably not the most popular answer, but it's worked so far. And, you know, I visualize I do a lot of meditations, I visualize where I want to be. But I just tried to stay present.

20:15  
I think that's important as well, because sometimes people just chase chase chase something. And when they get to the next point, they're like, Alright, well, we created another goal, and like, you just never really get a chance for you and enjoy where you are right now. Versus success. And I feel like our nature often enough is that it's not enough. So I think it's

20:36  
Yes, but I've done that, too.

20:40  
I feel like it's the curse of our generation. Yeah, we always want to born of always wanting more and having to be more. A lot of it is, in a way because of social media, probably.

20:52  
Oh, yeah. I think social media is amazing. Because if it wasn't for social media, and same with you guys, like who knows where our careers would be, and everything like that, but I try not to go on it a lot. Like I try and stay in my little bubble. I do my post, and then I'm like, off. That's the best way to do. Yeah,

21:12  
sure. So you didn't see on Instagram for three hours just watching.

21:18  
Well, okay, sometimes I do get sucked into that. And then I'm like, Oh, my God, I wasted so much time. And at the end of the day, I forget half the stuff I've used anyway, so

21:27  
much useless information we get unfortunately, yeah, social media is certainly a blessing and a curse of our time.

21:36  
Since the podcast is called success and setbacks in New York City, New York City, you think be your permanent place, or you don't really have plans in regards to moving in any near future.

21:49  
So for now, I love New York City for my career, and then I still travel for events, so it works out. I don't think I would move unless I met someone and then I would move with them. Because for now I'm content. But I really love nature so much that that's the one thing that's missing from New York for me, yes, there's parks, but like, I want to walk on my door and like step and grass and see a bunch of trees. So maybe somewhere close to New York where I could still commute in, but for now, it's good, but not forever. I don't think forever.

22:28  
Yeah, well, there is nothing more permanent than temporary. existential.

22:36  
So you said that you also travel for events is that? How does your calendar look, let's say for the next six months, is it? Most of it is in New York? What's the portion of your projects that are not in New York? How about your travel I see

22:49  
in Hamptons, also quite often right? and other locations?

22:54  
Yeah, so in the summer, I do a lot of Hamptons events. But as far as like before the pandemic, I was doing like a lot of Cali events. I did Texas I did like a lot of where there is like, big malls and things like that with fashion brands. I worked with Ralph Lauren, and I did like three out of state events with them. And then I also Lafayette 148. I worked with a lot, so So you've just traveled to there. Yeah, but so far, I mean, unless it's a wedding, I'm not really traveling out of state.

23:30  
yet. Make sense? What portion of your business are come comes from weddings, would you say is it the bigger portion was in half?

23:38  
It's definitely less than half. It's still a smaller portion. I would say my, my major brands still hire me more than weddings. But I feel like people are slowly discovering like, hey, if we could use this for an insert event, we could use this that, you know, birthdays and holidays, things and weddings. So

23:58  
yeah, um, so Okay. Yeah, good to know. Well, the idea behind this podcast, and it being a passion project is for people to draw some inspiration. And we haven't had somebody who's an artist before, and I'm sure this will be helpful for the listeners, what would be your suggestion to somebody who is just starting out, they don't really know which direction they're gonna go with this. But what's your one suggestion to them?

24:24  
Like that's trying to figure out what they want to do for them

24:28  
to do and how to keep going.

24:31  
Okay, so for what you want to do? That's a hard question because I always, I always knew what I wanted to do. So I never had to deal with that directly. But as far as the keep going part, I just feel like you have to be your own everything your own best friend, your own motivator like, so many times. It's like I couldn't even call anyone because no one could relate to what I'm doing. I didn't have any other friends at the time that did their own thing. Everyone was incorporated. Even when I needed to talk, everyone was at their meet, you know, their nine to five jobs. So I really was by myself, I did a lot of meditation, took a lot of it when I lived in Upper West Side and lived right by the water, took a lot of walks, and they spent so much time alone. I feel like sometimes people are asking everyone else, what should I do? What should I do? What should I do? But they're not like sitting in silence, not talking to anyone figuring it out themselves? Because really, you have all the answers. So well, I guess. Well, podcasts are great, too. But you know,

25:33  
I think that's a great suggestion. I think for somebody who's listening to actually take some time, and just be by themselves and take some time to figure it out.

25:43  
Yeah, cuz really, you know, the answers, you might not think so but then you think about us so many people, what should I do in this situation? You know, that could really change the whole path of your life, if you don't listen to what's true.

25:57  
Yeah, absolutely. I could not agree with this more. And again, I think we come it comes down to internet, social media, and all this junk that's being thrown at us. In such great amounts that we just, at some point, stop listening to ourselves and to our own thoughts. So it's really important to clear your mind and spend time on your own meditate, which works for a lot of people, and just see what you want to do what Julia or Deanna or Nikolai wants to do, and what makes you happy and how you can get there. Because I agree with you, you do we do know the answers.

26:32  
Yeah, everybody should have their own path, in my opinion, instead of just looking around. But talking about social media, I think there is some bad with it. But there's some great stuff. I think you your career really picked up with social media. And that's a beautiful way to use it. And I think I haven't seen you in a couple of years. But I do see on social media. And I think there is a lot of just truly sincere positive emotions that I see people are happy and they're happy to receive their illustrations of themselves. And that's exciting. And I wish that more people use social media in the same way as you're doing.

27:08  
Well, thank you. Yeah, it really is a blessing like you can you have no excuses, because you can reach everyone now. So it's really, it's really been life changing.

27:19  
So it's very inspiring to hear your story it's very inspiring that you're doing a lot of stuff by yourself. Instead of just going with like a management company. It's very inspiring that social media has helped you a lot and that you are not necessarily chasing next milestone that you are just more present more in the moment and I don't know if it will translate so well in the podcast, but sitting here on the table just between three of us I feel like you're very present with us. So it's very nice, because I know sometimes you speak to a person their mind isn't like completely different place.

27:52  
Well, I I can be like that. Don't get me wrong, but like, I try my best to be in the moment especially when I'm catching up with people. I mean, everyone had always has my full attention. That's great. I think more people could learn a thing or two about that. Yeah,

28:10  
absolutely. That's amazing. So for all of our listeners, listeners who are interested I mean, we have some people who are in fashion industry people who are in marketing and other industries. also people who are getting married and planning weddings and events. So can How can they reach you? How can they get in touch with you? Do you accept new clients? Can we tell them to get in touch with you

28:35  
yeah, no I'm you can always get in touch with me. I mean, I can let you know what's reasonable. What might not be reasonable. But yeah, always email. It's Deanna at Deanna first comm da and I feel like I spelled it before but I

28:49  
will put it into your web page, your Instagram and your email as well.

28:54  
Okay, you guys got me? Yeah. So emails that server dm my DMS I get so many. So it keeps me organized. Having it all in one.

29:03  
Yeah. So it's Deanna at the on the first background and the spelling will be in when you scroll down under our podcast. Yep. Yeah, perfect. So Deanna, thank you so much for your time, we know that you have to run to a fashion event to work. So we don't want to hold you up. I really, really enjoyed talking with you. And I think I mentioned just seeing you being so present. And so enjoying what you're doing is just so inspirational, and I envy how you feel. And I think a lot of our listeners will feel that way. And hopefully they'll get inspired to pursue that passion. And maybe some already are, or maybe some are stuck a jobs they don't want to do, but they do have a passion that they're doing as a hobby right now. And they're thinking about making that their main occupation. So thank you for giving inspiration to those people. And you may have changed someone's life or someone's thinking today and for that, thank you.

29:59  
Oh, I hope so. I I love seeing people do what they love to do. I mean, it just makes me happy. So I hope so.

30:05  
Oh, super exciting. Thank you so much for having us. Thanks for making time because we know you're busy and they were fine, but this was great. No thanks.

30:11  
Thanks for coming my way. I appreciate it. Our pleasure.

30:15  
Bye, everyone.

30:16  
Bye. Have a good day.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai