Q1. What is behind the company's brand logo? 

I wanted a brand name that embodies my adventurous and free spirit, as well as one that speaks about my journey of pursuing a life that’s unapologetically me.

This is what The Wild Artscapade means:

Wild - be untamed, to embrace one's true self and pursue a life that is unapologetically genuine, to live freely, boldly, and authentically; to unleash one's inner adventurer and spontaneity to explore uncharted territories in life

Artscapade (art + escapade) - a creative journey or adventure

Q2.How did you change path from being an educator to an entrepreneur?

Never have I thought I would be running a creative business because both my degree and post-graduate diploma are not art- or business-related. However, I have the privilege of learning piano when I was young, and I have always enjoyed drawing and art lessons in school. I guess my love for both music and art has somewhat unknowingly paved the way for me.

In 2016, I picked up modern calligraphy and I have fallen in love with it ever since. Since then, calligraphy has always been a way for me to express myself, my thoughts and feelings. Life hasn't always been smooth-sailing, but calligraphy has brought me an immense amount of calm and peace. I would say, it changed my life.

I started an Etsy shop in 2017 to sell my calligraphy pieces as digital products. It was a mini side-hustle, alongside my full-time job as an educator. 

I was an educator for eight years. Although I did find fulfilment in teaching, I was burnt out and there were many other factors that caused me to feel discouraged. So I decided to take a leap of faith to leave the teaching profession and create The Wild Artscapade in 2021.

Q3. What inspired you to each piece of your designs?

As an ex-educator who was burnt out and eventually left teaching to pursue a different path in life, I wish to create products that inspire self-love, self-care, positivity, courage and living with authenticity. Also, I love to collect pins, so I decided to design my own collection of pins. Every pin design is an affirmation or a reminder we all need to hear in this era of hustle culture, that we should love and take care of ourselves more, acknowledging that doing our best is always good enough, knowing that we are worthy of love no matter what, and learning to embrace our unique individuality and allowing ourselves to bloom in our own meaningful ways.

As someone who loves nature, mountains, cats and modern calligraphy, I infuse these elements into my pin designs. 

Q4. Which is your favourite piece of product and why?

My favourite product that I have designed has got to be the “Trust the Process, Enjoy the Journey” enamel pin. The design of the pin is everything that I have envisioned since the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey, and the message behind it (on the backing card) is what I wish to share with people who are embarking on a journey to pursue their dreams. 

Sometimes, when we place too much focus on achieving the goal, we forget that it’s in the journey where true treasures lie - building resilience, learning more about ourselves, forging meaningful connections with others, learning new skills etc. When we fail to achieve our goals, we beat ourselves up, blame ourselves and lose faith in ourselves; we fail to acknowledge our own efforts and forget that we owe it to ourselves for coming this far.

It is important to bear in mind that the joy of working on our dreams lies in the journey itself, and not the destination.

Q5.What is the most challenging part when running a business and how did you overcome it?

The most challenging part is being a solopreneur. Being a solopreneur means having to do everything on my own - designing products, sourcing for and liaising with manufacturers, quality checking products, photographing products and post-processing of photos, designing and updating the website, packing and shipping of orders, customer service, marketing, planning table layout for markets etc. Doing everything on my own means having to figure things out on my own and learning on the job 100% of the time. 

It is extremely uncomfortable (and at times frustrating) to be learning everything from scratch. For example, I’ve dedicated hours to learning how to illustrate better, learning how to use creative softwares like adobe photoshop and illustrator, sourcing for the right manufacturers, taking better product photos etc.

The only way to overcome these challenges is to learn to sit with the uncomfortable feeling of learning from scratch and not shy away from it. Growth happens when you decide that the only way to get better at doing something is to dedicate time and effort to learn.

Q6. Any memorable moments during your years of running your business?

I have been running TWA for more than 2 years and there are many memorable moments. One of such moments was my first ever pop-up in April 2023 at Public Garden. Many of my friends came to support me. To my utmost surprise, my products were well-received, especially the enamel pins. Many people who stopped by my booth gave me kind comments, saying that my creations are meaningful and they find resonance in them.

The next few pop-ups after the first were memorable too as there were many returning customers, and some even took time to look for me at my event after learning about it through my Instagram stories.

It always touches my heart deeply whenever my customers took time to leave a sweet note on the cart-out page or send me a personal message on Instagram or Etsy, thanking me for my meaningful creations that bring comfort and encouragement to them.

Q7. What advice would you give to those who are just starting?

Be patient with yourself, simply because great things take time. Building a business requires time, effort and perseverance.The progress that you make matters, no matter how slow or small. Stay committed to your vision, even when you face setbacks and challenges.

Pursue ideas that genuinely excite you. Passion fuels perseverance, and being deeply passionate about your work will help you stay motivated through the inevitable ups and downs of entrepreneurship. 

Comparison steals joy, so avoid comparing yourself to other entrepreneurs because everyone’s journey is different. Instead, be inspired and learn from them.

Entrepreneurship can sometimes feel lonely. Make friends with like-minded individuals and fellow entrepreneurs who can provide guidance, support, and valuable insights. 

Embrace setbacks and see them as learning opportunities. Learning from mistakes helps you grow personally and professionally, and you will be able to make more informed decisions in the future.

Prioritise your well-being as an entrepreneur. Balancing work and personal life can be demanding, so make time for self-care.

Q8. Share with us one tagline which you have lived up to today (Example: Life is short, you only live once, etc)

“You hold the power to create change in your life.”

Recognising your agency and knowing you have the capacity to influence your own thoughts and behaviour will empower you to take action. Rather than feeling like a victim of circumstances, you become proactive in seeking change, solutions and opportunities for growth.

You can follow Ivy's page for her upcoming Pop-ups! She inspires us to have courage to do the things you want to do. Thank you so much Ivy!