Today we’d like to introduce you to Linh Vo.
Hi Linh, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Art has always been a big part of me growing up. From an early age, I was doodling on every single scrap of paper I could find around the house. I remember taking advantage of every recession in 5th grade trying to get all my homework done so I could spend the whole night drawing at home. At the time, I was creating my very first comic zine series, it was a spin-off version of Sailor Moon. I released it every Tuesday evening, so my friends usually gathered around my desk for a teaser the Monday before.
As I grew older, I put my artistic and creative part aside and ventured into other fields to see what else I could do. It wasn’t until I took an elective drawing course in college and started drawing again for the first time in years that I quickly realized that nothing I did could compare to the joy I have when I finish an illustration or a painting. From that moment onward, I felt consistently pulled to create art that reflects myself and my daily life.
2020 came around and got me to open my business. I started small by selling just a few sticker designs and within half an hour of sharing my designs on Etsy, I had people buying them, like actual, real people buying my art and supporting me. That’s just so wild and quickly became my favorite thing in the world. Needless to say, being a full-time artist and a business owner is an absolute dream come true for me. I’m so glad I took the risk to open my business because it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most people dream of being their own boss and owning their own business, myself included, but I think people glamorize it. One of the most difficult challenges I have that I think not a lot of people talk about is how isolating working for yourself could be. Having never had an actual 9-5 job, I underestimated how connecting with others could affect my mental health and how easy it is not having anyone to bounce ideas off could send me down the rabbit hole of self-doubts.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I run a product-based online business called Fittonia Co. I’m known for creating plant and nature-inspired art that is fun, colorful, and relatable. My art is a reflection of myself and my daily life. When I see people chuckle when they read quotes I put in my stickers or when they jump up and down pointing at things they love, I realize that we all have much more in common than we think. Most of my art is illustrations I create digitally on my iPad and turn into stickers, art prints, magnets, keychains, etc. I create market, photograph, pack, and ship every item on my website. I also wholesale my products to many plant nurseries, retail shops, and boutiques across the U.S.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I spent years worrying about what other people think, what if this, and what if that. If it wasn’t for being locked inside for months during the pandemic, I don’t think I would’ve done what I’m doing right now. Thinking back, all the things I was worried about sound so silly now, and I wish I didn’t let all the what-ifs stop me.
For those who are just starting out or thinking of starting, don’t wait until it’s perfect to do it, it will never be perfect, it only gets better. You don’t have to go big or do something just because everyone is doing it, find something that works for you and make it your thing!
Pricing:
- Stickers $3.50-$4.50
- Art prints $12-$20
- Magnets $7-$9
- Suncatcher stickers $10.50
- Bookmarks $4
Contact Info:
- Website: http://fittonia.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fittonia.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fittonia.co
Image Credits
James Wolf
