Victoria Meisinger developed her entrepreneurship skills, as she launched her own digital art small business, ArtPrintsbyVictoria.
Why did you choose this internship and what kind of work did you do?
I have always been interested in becoming an entrepreneur. I chose to open my own Etsy shop, ArtPrintsByVictoria, because it would help me gain the entrepreneurial experience of starting and maintaining my own business. This has given me invaluable skills in how to manage my own time and take charge of a project. It also felt like the perfect opportunity to expand my artistic skills and learn a new program that will help me make digital art.
Throughout this internship I created original art prints which I then sold in my Esty shop. I also researched trends, utilized my network, and sought advice from professionals in order to make products that people would enjoy. The main thing I accomplished was learning how to use the app Procreate. This made creating art easier to sell online, and I have since utilized this platform for many other projects.
The most satisfying part of my internship was setting up my shop with my own original pieces. I hadn’t made art in a while, so I was a little afraid at first of making them public. However, after sharing it with friends and family and receiving positive feedback, I gained confidence in my work. It was also very rewarding to know that I possessed the skills to learn a new program on my own. Moving forward, I can use this determination to conquer any new challenge I might come across in my career.
What new knowledge and skills did you develop in this internship?
This internship was a huge learning experience for me. It gave me more confidence in myself and my ability to start and manage a small business. It also taught me how important my network is, and how much you lean into their expertise to help you get the ball rolling when you start something new. People are also usually eager to help because they know what it was like to be at the beginning of their career.
How did your Applied Humanities major coursework help prepare you for the internship experience?
A major thing I utilized from my Applied Humanities major coursework was how to reach out to people I barely knew to seek advice. I remember learning about networking in the PAH 383 Pre-Internship: Building Career Readiness course and applying what I learned allowed me to gain a lot of knowledge on how to navigate the business world. Then during my internship, I got the opportunity to connect with an established artist to learn about how to break into the art industry. Overall, I would not have been as comfortable reaching out if I hadn’t already practiced it in another Applied Humanities course.
How has your internship experience influenced your plans for your future?
This internship experience has influenced my future plans by making me more open to entrepreneurial pursuits in the future. I also plan on continuing my Etsy shop and have considered expanding into different platforms that also allow artists to sell their work. Another thing this experience has opened my mind to would be a career in graphic design. Even though this may require more extensive design skills, my internship proved to me that I could develop those skills with practice just like I did over the last few months.
What advice do you have for other students as they begin their internship?
Trust your abilities and don’t be afraid of making mistakes. This is the best time to make mistakes because there are rarely drastic consequences. So take advantage of this time to take risks and learn from people who have more experience. In the end, you’ll find your internship to be much more fulfilling and worthwhile