Art + Audience: Ep. 27 - Carrie Cantwell on Building Confidence, Facing Rejection, and Finding Your Voice

Release Date: August 5, 2025

In Episode 27 of Art + Audience, host Stacie Bloomfield engages in a deeply insightful conversation with Carrie Cantwell, an accomplished artist transitioning from a demanding career in the film industry to thriving as an independent art entrepreneur. This episode delves into Carrie's journey of building confidence, handling rejection, and discovering her unique artistic voice.

1. Carrie Cantwell’s Journey: From Film to Freelance Artist

Timestamp: [01:42]

Carrie begins by sharing her early career trajectory. Starting in the late 90s as a web designer, she pivoted to graphic design despite holding an English degree. Her passion led her to the film industry, where she worked as a graphic designer from 2005 until her "retirement" in 2021.

"I was in demand on paper. Very glamorous job. I was designing graphics for movie props, but I was burning out." [00:19]

The high demands and long hours of the film industry contributed to her burnout. Recognizing the unsustainable nature of her career, Carrie decided to pursue her true passion—creating her own art. This bold move marked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.

2. Transitioning to Art Entrepreneurship

Timestamp: [03:00]

Carrie recounts her initial struggles in the art business, describing her experimentation with various styles and lack of a clear personal vision. Her turning point came when she discovered Stacie’s Leverage Your Art program, which helped her solidify her identity as an artist and embrace the business side of art.

"Leverage Your Art really helped me kind of solidify... to look at myself as a business artist, art entrepreneur. That was what really was the game changer for me." [04:14]

This shift allowed Carrie to pitch her work more effectively, leading to significant achievements such as becoming an award-winning licensed artist, a Skillshare top teacher, a podcast host, an Etsy star seller, and a coach for aspiring artists.

3. Building Confidence and Overcoming Self-Doubt

Timestamp: [05:05]

Carrie discusses the evolution of her confidence, emphasizing that her bravery developed with age and experience. She explains how her perspective shifted, allowing her to embrace risks without the paralyzing fear of judgment.

"My courage came with age... If it fails, I care a lot less now that I'm over 50 than I did when I was in my 20s." [05:22]

She highlights the importance of not dwelling on failures, noting that negative experiences often lead to personal growth and increased resilience.

4. Navigating Rejection and Embracing Resilience

Timestamp: [08:12]

Carrie shares a poignant story about being ghosted by a potential agency partner after deciding to leave a stable career. Instead of succumbing to disappointment, she chose to accept her feelings and move forward, which enhanced her resilience.

"I gave myself the grace to accept that it was understandable, reasonable, and normal for me to feel disappointed... It really built up my resilience." [08:59]

This approach has made her more resilient, enabling her to handle subsequent setbacks with greater ease.

5. The Impact of Social Media on Creativity and Self-Esteem

Timestamp: [06:15]

The conversation shifts to the influence of social media on artists, illustrated through Stacie's personal anecdotes about her daughters. Carrie empathizes with these experiences, acknowledging the challenges of maintaining self-worth in a highly connected digital age.

"Don't believe everything you think. Just because you think that these people on Instagram are shiny and perfect... your feelings are not necessarily reality." [08:07]

Carrie emphasizes the importance of self-comparison only with one's own progress, rather than with others, to maintain a healthy creative mindset.

6. Embracing Change and Taking Bold Risks

Timestamp: [13:23]

Both Stacie and Carrie agree on the necessity of embracing change and taking risks to grow both personally and professionally. Carrie reflects on her desire to pursue editorial illustration, aiming to create art that not only delights but also inspires and fosters positivity.

"I want to create art for news or for current events... making high concept art that reminds us to laugh and love each other." [19:51]

This ambition underscores her commitment to using art as a medium for positive societal impact.

7. Future Aspirations: Editorial Illustration and Beyond

Timestamp: [19:51]

Looking ahead, Carrie outlines her goal to transition into editorial illustration. She aspires to create meaningful, high-concept art that responds to current events and promotes happiness and unity.

"My goal is I want to create art for news or for current events... reminding us to laugh and be happy, but also to love each other and remember that we're all equals." [19:51]

She hopes to leverage her established licensing success to achieve this new creative direction, aiming to make a tangible difference through her work.

8. Conclusion: Embracing the Artistic Journey

Timestamp: [27:40]

In wrapping up, Carrie and Stacie reflect on the endless journey of growth and learning inherent in the creative process. Carrie expresses excitement for her new ventures and the continuous evolution of her artistry.

"You're always growing and learning and trying new things and the world is changing." [24:05]

Carrie encourages artists to embrace their unique paths, take risks, and use their art to make meaningful connections and positive impacts.

Supporting Carrie Cantwell

Carrie invites listeners to follow her journey and support her work through her website:

• Website: caricantwell.com
  • Etsy Shop
  • Graphics Gang
  • Podcast
  • Licensing Information

For editorial work, Carrie's portfolio is accessible through a separate site linked on her main website.

Notable Quotes:

• "Don't believe everything you think. Just because you think that these people on Instagram are shiny and perfect... your feelings are not necessarily reality." [08:07]

• "All the time, because we're never going to live up to, you know, any standard that we see someone else setting." [09:46]

• "Being brave and trying new things... you have to push yourself into it and be willing to be like, look, if it doesn't go well, I'm going to be okay." [10:22]

Final Thoughts:

This episode of Art + Audience offers a compelling look into Carrie Cantwell's transition from a high-pressure career in film to flourishing as an independent artist. Her insights on building confidence, handling rejection, and finding one's artistic voice provide valuable lessons for creatives at any stage of their journey. Carrie's story serves as an inspiration for artists seeking to align their passion with their profession, reminding listeners that resilience and authenticity are key to lasting success.