LAUNCH DAY NOTE FROM THE FOUNDER

Creative Background - My Own Drum

Since I picked up my first pair of drum sticks, I rebelled against playing along with existing songs. Quite literally, I wanted to march to the beat of my own drum.

It’s why I asked for a 4-track recorder soon after that. What was the point in learning someone else’s song if I could create something of my own? Of course there are a lot of points: learning techniques, rhythms, melodies, and improving skills by practicing over and over. I realized that even though I prefer to create something from my imagination, there was so much to be gained by learning from others.

Following years of practicing, performing, and studying music in school (music business specifically), my skills grew, as did my inspiration. I was hungrier than ever to create. It was what I hoped was the beginning of a fulfilling creative career, as I started giving myself the freedom to play and create music of my own. 

But a secret of mine is that it’s been a few years since I’ve last written or recorded anything like I did when I was younger. It’s partly because other creative outlets have been scratching my creative itch. Additionally some of my life experiences began making me question my creativity (and question myself). What was the point in creating art that no one would care about? Was I even good enough? I stopped wanting to share my work with others because I felt like they would reject it. It was as if that hunger to create had morphed into pressure, anxiety, and fear.

I channeled much of my creativity early on in my teaching career. I found joy in sharing my musical knowledge and passion with others, inspiring them to create. My students weren’t perfect but there were so many moments they had that were. It was incredible to be part of their journey. Coaching them in songwriting, recording, and performing when I had anxieties doing those very same things was both challenging and rewarding.

There was a shift in my creativity that began when I found myself building websites for several businesses in the community. At this time I was also starting to notice the physical toll on my health from my long teaching hours and overloaded schedule. Realizing I was drawn to teaching because I enjoyed creative spaces and helping others be seen, a career in software satisfied that interest in new and exciting ways. 

A Little History - With Trying… & Failing

A few years into my engineering career I joined a creative startup looking to support students pursuing the college of their dreams. The idea was to provide a more equitable way of getting into those colleges where it wasn’t backed by who you knew, but by how you prepared. My role was small but impactful: drawing up plans and implementing the architecture to make it all happen in the digital world. While I gained valuable insight and experience throughout the process, the platform’s conclusion before its launch wasn’t the outcome we had hoped for.

In alignment with my people-pleasing mindset at the time, I felt I had personally let the team down when we didn’t launch. Again, questioning, am I even good enough? And on the flip side, I felt a sense of frustration. I had poured all of these hours in when I could have been spending that time elsewhere. 

It would take me a little while longer to realize that when things don’t go according to plan, that doesn’t necessarily mean failure or that it was a waste of time. And if and when we do fail, it is not a personal reflection of who we are.

Going All In - A Transition On My Perspective With Life

After building and improving various software applications, and enhancing my skills in both tech and leadership over several years, I got a text from my (then) boss in January 2026 that was about to change everything. The outreach caught me by surprise, as I was on medical leave at the time supporting my wife recovering from brain surgery. My wife saw the message first. I was driving her to one of her post-op appointments, and she read the text aloud requesting an urgent meeting. My intuition told me what was about to happen. It didn’t feel real. 

At that time, I was a Director of Software engineering. My career had progressed well over those years and I had been recognized for my creativity within software and with people. I share this only to say that life happens and it’s not always clear or easy how to make sense of it. It was yet another moment where I questioned, am I even good enough? I didn’t feel like what I had been doing mattered. I also remember being a zombie at my wife’s post-op appointment, zoning out more than in, staying aware just enough to hear that she was luckily recovering as expected. (My wife was proof that we can get through really hard things.)

At this point, Artistry Fair had been a passion project of mine during some late nights and weekends. I know that I would have continued building it had I not been laid off but what I don’t know is when I might have launched. I also don’t know if it would have had the profound impact that it’s had on me and what I hope it’s now having on others.

For the past several months, I’ve created a better balance, feeling happier and more like myself than I have in a long time. I’m grateful for the basically non-existent meetings I have, though I still make sure to catch up with some supportive former co-workers, friends, and beta users of the Artistry Fair platform.

Something clicked within me a month or two after I transitioned to working for myself full-time. There will be a lot of people who will tell you that you are great, that what you are doing matters, and to keep pushing forward because it will pay off. You will then realize that those same people aren’t saying anything anymore. You are no longer connected.

What really matters is that you stay connected with you. You are great, what you do does matter, and you don’t need me or anyone else to tell you. And by staying connected to yourself, the right people will come along. I built (am continuously building) this platform because I want others to be able to share their work in a supportive community and to make money that supports their craft (and beyond). Creating what we love is a huge part of creating a life that we love.

Simplicity & Thoughtfulness - By Design

It’s important to me that the platform is simple, accessible, and easy to use. I’ve drawn inspiration from music students (from the 3-year-olds to the 70-year-olds), as well as colleagues, friends, and other founders that I’ve admired for their empathy, attention-to-detail, and leadership. 

Co-workers from previous jobs, many of whom are writers and artists themselves, helped me understand that not everything comes as easy to others with respect to putting content online. I began to realize the impact I can make by fixing that one pesky bug they had multiple work arounds for, in a system that was far from intuitive, or by improving that one little feature that saved them five minutes a few times a day.

The young drum student who was non-verbal taught me that we can communicate in many ways outside of spoken word, ways that enable him to thrive in a world that had more challenges than I would know. 

I want Artistry Fair to feel like you are being guided in your journey to selling your handmade goods regardless of how you got here and where you want to go. I want to share my experiences, knowledge, and business skills to support your growth because even I get tired and frustrated with state taxes. Some things won’t be easy (and it won’t be perfect) but I will do what I can within the platform to provide a supportive service for you and your art. 

Be Heard - Not Only Seen

In addition to you being seen, I want you to feel heard. I want to be the type of founder that not only hears their users, but listens to them. As the sole supporter of the tech right now, and while my responses might not be immediate, I want to engage with you when you have feedback. It’s important to me that the artists, patrons and explorers of the platform enjoy the experience and feel like they can share where there are limitations, points of frustration, or ideas for improvement. More often than not, you aren’t alone when it comes to those findings. I want to show up for you so that you keep showing up at Artistry Fair.

Outro - Let's Grow

Creating something can be scary. I’ve talked myself out of creating numerous times and I know I’m not alone. I’ve made things and experienced the waves of doubt, of feeling like I could have been doing something else. Yet that something else probably wouldn’t have made me as happy as creating something from my imagination.

This is a moment (one of many) where I am putting myself out there and encouraging others to do the same. When we share our creations, when we feel seen and heard and connected to ourselves and to others, we collectively grow. 

This is the launch of Artistry Fair. I hope this artful creation becomes a meaningful landing space for yours.