I wanted to make this post for a while now.
To write down what happend during the last two years, since this new chapter of my life began. Mostly for myself, but maybe this could inspire others as well, like I got inspired by the people I met on my journey.
For those of you who don't know: At the beginning of last year (2020) I quit my job back home and moved into a van, together with my man, to lower my costs of living and be able to dedicate my life fully to what I love doing: Art! :-)
When I was a child and someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, my immediate answer was: Artist!
I always had the urge to create things, build and imagine. I started writing little stories before I even knew the alphabet, built a remote-controlled airplane out of paper, glue and wire (my friends were fairly impressed), and learned to play music on different instruments since I was about eight. I took drawing lessons, and painting was also something that accompanied me ever since.
But of course, like many others I guess, I lost track of that plan. I was told, being an artist is not a real job, no one can really make a living on art (unless one is unbelievably lucky), it's only supposed to be a hobby.
I didn't know any "real" artists back then, so I believed it.
And I tried some "real" jobs. Many of them ^^
During the years I worked in an upholsterer's workshop, in a library, at different shops and supermarkets and as a waitress in various restaurants.
I even applied for the most boring office jobs, thinking if I had a job which doesn't drain all my energy, I could still do my art in my freetime. Fortunately I didn't get accepted in any of them, I take it as a sign ^^
At last I worked in children's care, like Kindergartens and Primary Schools, for about four years, which was quite nice. Being around children is fun and I was able to give art and pottery classes :-)
But that was maybe the most draining job I'd ever had ^^
I was so exhausted every day! Not able at all to do a lot of art or music. And somehow I felt that this was not the right path for me either.
But what was my path? I still wanted to make art, but I didn't know how!
Every day I felt the strong urge to create, but I rarely allowed myself to act on it, because I needed all my energy to do my job.
I felt a bit lost. I really didn't know what to do. I wanted to be happy, but couldn't see, how this all could work.
So I figured, that I must leave for a while. I needed to get away from everything in order to find out what I want, where I want to go in my life and how it works to be happy!
(Ai, this all seems so easy when I write it, but actually it was not at all an easy decision to leave my safe comfort zone. I had quite a few nights where I couldn't sleep because I was so afraid ^^)
So I prepared everything for a three months backpacking trip.
I got rid of most of my stuff and saved up a bit of money, and eventually quit my job and apartment. I was ready to leave for my first big journey! All on my own, with nothing planned except my first stop in Portugal.
And in Portugal, so much earlier than I had expected, it happened that I found the answer to my questions ^^
I met someone who lived in a van!
I immediately got attracted by that lifestyle.
And during the next three months of travelling I met a bunch of other people living like that. Mostly artists and musicians, who play their music in the streets of all the countries they're travelling! And it seemed to work!
It suddenly felt so obvious! I could lower my costs of living immensely by living in a car! I wouldn't need that much money, which meant I wouldn't have to work all the time, and I could travel and play music for tourists, maybe even try to sell my paintings!
I could finally do what I love doing, could finally work seriously on becoming an artist!
So the plan was set and I couldn't be happier! It felt so right!
And suddenly, as soon as I had made that decision, the most magical things happened to me. Maybe it sounds weird but it felt like the universe had just waited for me to set foot on this path ^^ Things went really smoothly after I returned from my backpacking journey.
I immediately found a job as a waitress on the campsite, where I was living. Almost every weekend I played gigs as a singer or had a job as a stilt walker or fire spinner (things that I had learned for fun during the last few years).
I also still had some savings left, so I could affort my lovely Penny when she miracously showed up! (Penny is my van ^^) It was one of those situations, where a friend has a friend who knows someone who wants to sell his car ^^
At about the same time I also met my man, who had kind of the same plan as me and after a few months of getting to know each other we decided to move on together <3
(and we still do, if a relationship survives van-life, it can survive anything ^^)
It was a lot of work and I had a lot of help (mostly from my Dad) with converting my Penny into a living space. But at the beginning of last year all was done and we were ready to go.
Then on the 1st of February 2020 we waved family and friends goodbye and drove Penny southwards.
Unfortunately because of last years world trouble we weren't able to pursue our busking plan (no tourists anywhere ^^). But this way I could focus more on digital art, photography and blogging.
A funny thing is that shortly before we left, a friend gifted me his old laptop, and another one his old wacom graphic tablet ^^
You can imagine how grateful I am now for these gifts for they are my most important tools right now! I cherish them every day (and sometimes I even speak to them), because I wouldn't be able to paint and create NFT's or blog posts without them! <3
I think the most important thing for me was to see and experience other ways of living. That is why my backpacking journey was so important. I got so inspired by the people I met and I understood that I don't have to live like everybody else, that there are different ways and I can choose the one that suits me best in my situation.
Of course the van-life is not the easiest way of living. It may even sound a bit crazy to move into a van and start a journey to become an artist with only about 1000€ in my pocket ^^
We are living on a low (very low) budget, but somehow everytime we are about to run out of money, a new opportunity shows up.
Like I said, as soon as I made the decision of seriously pursuing my dream, magical things started happening. I feel somehow protected on this path! It's not an easy one, but I know for sure it's the right one. And I'm a thousand times happier now than I was before :-)
And I slowly get the feeling that I'm getting closer and closer to where I want to be!
Last week (March 2021) I was able to pay for our monthly supplies with money I had earned from my art! That was such a big thing for me, a huge step forward and I'm so happy and proud!
I try to take every step in the direction I want to go, make every decision with my focus on what I want to achieve.
May this path be a unusual, weird or difficult one, it's still the right one for me, and I'm gonna pursue it as far as I can!
:-)
Find all my art on my website: www.anafae.art
all images by me