Joelle Poulos
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I personally identify myself as an “artist”.”
I love the fact that this is a loose umbrella term, mainly because of all the different creative endeavors I do: I’m an artist (silver smith, ceramicist, graphic designer and illustrator as well as a few other tidbits), photographer, musician and a tattoo artist. If it’s creative, I probably do it (and I probably love it!). I also sew, skate and scuba dive and travel perpetually.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
I got seriously into art and photography very young, around the age of 12 or so. I could spend hours shooting and even more playing around in Photoshop airbrushing images. I started my first business at the age of 15 selling kitsch jewelry I made, which was pretty successful. After I finished school, I got accepted into a very prestigious art foundation at Falmouth University. I knew I probably wouldn’t follow up with a degree but I wanted to try every artistic medium I could get my hands on. Mid course, the head called me into her office and threatened to kick me off the course if I didn’t start meeting the “assessment objectives”. I thought this is madness! I was producing so much great work, and having the best time experimenting in printmaking, photography, collage etc. I thought f*ck this, I am never doing an art degree. It should be about pushing boundaries, working outside the box and creating great work, not meeting a criteria. I think I just about managed a pass. This however, gave me enough fuel to my fire to establish myself as a freelancer at the age of 18 and set up several online businesses around my art/photography. For several years I successfully forged a living off my art. I’ve continued in this fashion ever since. I feel I arrived at where I am now pretty naturally, I consider my art to be my soul calling. Something I truly can’t live without it.
How do you stand out in your field?
Generally I think I stand out because of how multidisciplinary my work is, I think you will find few artists who work in as many mediums as I do. I think this gives me a very developed and unique eye. I often describe myself as being “too visal”, I have a very high standard of what I find beautiful. Photographically I think my work stands out because I shoot on film using various toy (plastic) cameras, which is different (and a little frowned upon by other photographers these days) but I think it’s glorious.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Lots of tattooing! I also just purchased my first underwater camera (I’m an incredibly passionate scuba diver / marine conservationist) and so I’ve been super busy photographing the underwater world! Photographing underwater is much harder than it looks, especially when you are a die hard fan of natural light (strobes are often required). When I have working internet I’m trying to expand my online shop(s), generally rebrand and refresh my website (much needed).
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
Artistically my style is often black and white, very detailed and somewhere in the middle between old world and modern. Photographically my images are raw, documentary style and very human.
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
Graphic design, as this is one of my lesser focuses most of the time, but it’s such a great skill. Plus you can always keep learning more (new techniques), and developing your eye. My music is also something I wish to develop further, I’ve always wanted to create electronic music with my bluesy voice but money has always been an issue here (for kit).
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
I’ve been needing to re-work my website for some time now, but I’m stranded in Madagascar (scuba diving, so it is okay!) with virtually no internet. It’s the perfect opportunity to join some new freelance websites, network, create a new online shop, etc. But I can’t do any of it! It’s pretty killer.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Anything to do with social media, self promotion or finding new work... I hate it and it’s super draining! In an ideal world I would just do the creative stuff and not have to touch the whole business side of things. I just want to make art!
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
That at times it would be really, really tough and sometimes it will come easy.
That it’s okay to find another job (that isn’t creative) when the going is really tough.
To never undervalue your work, even when you are really broke.
That it shouldn’t be for the money, that you do it because you love it and find transcendence when you work.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to gain more work/leads passively (sounds like a pipe dream, I know). How to find higher paying clients that actually value your eye/skill and share your ethos.
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I’m super open to anything, I adore working on projects that push myself creatively and are challenging. I’ve been really enjoying doing apparel / t-shirt design for my own shop and a few others. I would love to do some freelance photography work that isn’t weddings / events as that is my usual forte. Any environmentally friendly companies I would love to get involved with as that right up my alley. Any collaborations I’m always open too so hit me up!
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
One of the first weddings I shot was still to this day one of my favourite clients, beforehand we spoke on the phone and she was like “You’ve got a great eye, you’re a super creative girl, I just want you to do as you please and I will be happy”. She didn’t have any requirements and was completely chill about how I photographed one of the most important days of her life. She had a similar ethos with all her other suppliers and the day was beautiful (a photographers dream) and the pictures showed it too. A client that trusts you and allows you to have creative free rein is the artists dream. However, if this was an artistic endeavour I do often like a bit of visual imagery to give an indication of the kind of thing you are after. It’s sometimes difficult to take words and translate that to something visual.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
This varies widly depending on the type of gig, client and scope but here are some examples:
My photography work generally starts at around £100 per hour, can be reduced if there is no travel, etc. I shoot weddings for £975 which is around 8-10 hours work on the day.
My graphic design work generally starts at £40 per hour. Most apparel designs end up costing £60-80.
My art/illustration work generally starts at £40 per hour.
My tattoos generally start at £30 per hour (these are super slow and almost always are done on a per design basis).
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
Email me at: hello@joellepoulos.com
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Pinterest is an amazing resource for me, I spend 20 minutes or so on there and I always leave creatively inspired.
This member profile was originally published in May 2020.