Asking Artists: Shop Owners Reflect on Their Artist Growth Journey
Your first design doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, most aren’t—and that’s a good thing. Your Artist Shop is a reflection of your growth, and each design you add to it helps shape your artistic identity. To celebrate how far our community has come, we asked a handful of shop owners to share their very first design on Threadless alongside their most recent creation. We also asked them to share their journey of growth as an artist—their biggest lessons learned, what fuels their creative evolution, and how being part of the Threadless community has helped shape their approach to art.
If you’ve ever doubted your progress, we hope these stories serve as a reminder: artistic growth isn’t always linear, but it’s always worth it.
MusingTree
(Greenville, South Carolina)
Looking back on her early artwork, MusingTree sees her journey as a transformation from hesitant experimentation to confident self-expression:
“When I look back at my early work, I see a lot of raw energy and experimentation, but also a lot of hesitation. I was trying to figure out who I was as a person and an artist, often mimicking styles I admired without fully trusting my own voice. Over time, through both personal healing and consistent creative practice, my art has evolved into something much more authentic, vibrant, and unapologetically me.”
For MusingTree, joining the Threadless community marked a turning point in her artistic journey:
“Being part of the Threadless community has been a game-changer for me as an artist. Getting featured by Threadless and later having my designs picked up by BoxLunch for Pride Month was a huge confidence boost…”
Advice to her past self:
“I wish someone had told me that perfection is the enemy of progress, and that your art doesn’t have to be ‘important’ to be important. You don’t need to wait until you’ve found your ‘style’ or reached some imaginary level of skill before you’re allowed to take up space. Make weird stuff. Make vulnerable stuff. Make joyful, messy, deeply personal stuff. You grow by doing, not by waiting to be ‘ready.’”
Maren’s growth as an artist transitioned from self-comparison to embracing her own unique artistic vision:
“In the beginning, I was focused on learning tools like Photoshop and Illustrator, and I often compared myself to other artists. I was very focused on reaching their level. Nowadays, I feel much more confident in what I want to do.”
She credits Threadless for helping her find her footing:
“Threadless played a huge role. Other platforms felt like applying for a job that required four years of experience, but no one actually gave you the chance to start from zero and gain that experience. Most platforms are just that—platforms. Threadless is a community. A place to grow. And I’ve always appreciated that.”
Advice to her past self:
“Don’t try to be as good as Artist X. Just be yourself.”
Juliana’s artist growth journey is marked by perseverance and transformation—from a hopeful beginner to a full-time illustrator:
“I started on Threadless many years ago, when becoming an illustrator was just a beautiful dream. Some years passed, I kept studying and practicing, and I learned more about digital drawing before I changed my career in education to become a full-time illustrator. A few years after this, I decided to go back to Threadless, encouraged by Threadless team, and now I’m super proud to be part of this wonderful community. My recent design, “Capybara Astronaut,” became my bestseller in all of the stores I work with. I am very happy and excited for what’s coming next!!”
The Threadless community showed her what was possible:
“…Threadless was like a light for me, showing me that it was possible to see my artwork on t-shirts that everyone could wear…Now it’s definitely a community that I do enjoy being part of, and I can keep working hard to keep growing as a Threadless artist…”
Advice to her past self:
“Practicing is key, as much as believing in your art style too. Don’t be afraid of difficult times; they will always exist in any career. The most important thing is working on something you really love and believe. It makes a difference in your daily life.”
For Jana, the core of her journey has always been about prioritizing ideas and concept-driven work:
“My artistic journey from the start was primarily focused on the idea, then forming the artwork style around that idea. The thing that changed is that I try to have a more consistent style now, but the idea is always first…”
Being part of the Threadless community motivated her growth:
“It gave me a platform to show my artworks and share experiences with fellow artists on…it motivated me to always go forward with ideas and designs on many subjects, challenges. It was my companion in my artistic growth.”
Advice to her past self:
“Don’t overthink it. You learn by doing the work.”
Jela’s artistic evolution was dramatically reshaped by personal loss and resilience, moving from traditional to digital art:
”…I started as a traditional artist who lost all of her tangible work and supplies in the Camp Fire in Paradise, CA in 2018. I thought that moving to digital would be easy, but it wasn’t. However, I kept practicing and honing my skills, and I believe my work has improved ten-fold since then…”
She values the inclusive support she found at Threadless:
“I have tried several different platforms and still have some art posted there, but Threadless has, by far, been the most inclusive, budget-friendly, and supportive of all the sites. I appreciate the social media presence and the informative articles.”
Robb’s artist growth journey began as an exploration that evolved into a unique psychedelic style:
“What started as a desire for knowledge slowly became a desire to create. Experimenting with psychedelics over the last 15 years gave my approach a unique ‘one trick pony’ style, and I’ve aimed to create creatures since my first experience.”
The Threadless community helped Robb reach a broader audience:
“Through Threadless, I’ve reached numerous individuals and communities that I’d have never otherwise been able to.”
Advice to his past self:
“If you’re a parent, embrace your child and their creative side. Feed that creativity, nourish it, and learn with your child along the way. We all grew up too fast; don’t lose your inner child and don’t stifle the creative endeavors of your brood. Also, anyone who genuinely wants to make art and get ‘good’ at it can. The secret is that word ‘genuinely.’”
These artists prove that your first upload is just the beginning. If you’ve ever wondered if your style is evolving or if your voice is clear enough—keep going. Every design you make is a step forward. Don’t miss Part 2 of this post, where we feature six more inspiring shop owners!
