Table Talk: From Physical Therapist to Artist, a Timeline.
An honest breakdown of a gradual career pivot - or career 180.
I’m hosting an Open Studio Show in Traverse on August 21st from 4-7 pm! More details dropping in your inboxes this Thursday. Save the date and keep your eyes peeled!
P.S. Today’s post is lengthy! To read this entire email, head to your browser or the Substack app.
Welcome to Table Talk, a casual convo held the first Sunday of each month where I share BTS of my experience as a working artist + mom of 3 under 5.
If you prefer only studio updates, modify your subscription in your account settings by toggling notifications to OFF next to Table Talk.
When shifting careers from working as a PT to working for myself, all I wanted was to hear it was possible - and how to make it happen. I sought education via courses, mentors, books, podcasts, you name it. I still subscribe to Hillary Kerr’s ‘Second Life Podcast’ - I find second (and third and fourth!) acts so inspiring. These kinds of stories fueled my motivation to keep burning the candle at both ends - a real privilege your 20s grant you!
Like everything on the internet, the stories attracting the most attention are high stakes, sexy and bold. Though from what I can tell, the spectacle of an “overnight success” is more often the result of working overtime overnight, just not broadcasted.
The people I found most encouraging were the relatable ones. The slow burn career pivots that weren’t clean cut. Today I hope to contribute to that archive of stories. Not a millennial millionaire story, but an honest look at how I slowly transitioned out of healthcare and into art full-time while achieving my own version of success (pin that for a future post).
And to be clear - I didn’t set out to leave the physical therapy profession from the get go - I think it’s a great career! My husband is a PT, and so are many of my friends. I couldn’t be a bigger advocate for the value they offer. I’m so grateful to have that knowledge of the human body and how to care for myself and others. It also turned out to have many unforeseen benefits (further explained below) that facilitated the smooth transition. But given the opportunity to work as an artist or PT, my heart chooses art every time.
So without further ado, here is a timeline starting in 2016, sharing some events that moved my career forward and exactly how I leveraged my work schedule.
2016:
Spring:
Graduate PT school in Chicago. I’d been offered a job at my last clinical rotation, but had to wait to pass the boards before I could start.
Summer:
Live at parent’s house while studying/waiting for test results. I used my mom’s old brushes to paint for fun in my free time.
Start an instagram to share my work. Started receiving commission requests.
Buy a Squarespace domain in July to start an online portfolio.
Show/sell work for the first time at Betsie Bay Furniture in Frankfort, Mi.
Fall:
Move back to Chicago to start work.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to The Art Table with Katherine Corden to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.