Conversations with Makenzie Hryhorysak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Makenzie Hryhorysak.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in a small town in Illinois where people who have lived there for 50 years don’t know the street names and our claim to fame was Jon Stewart lovingly referring to our town as “Dogshit Bluffs” on the late show.

I always wanted to be an artist, but since I was told over and over again that there was no money in art, I went to my local community college to start a photography degree, hoping that I could find some money in photography advocacy work. Unfortunately, after nearly 2 years in the program with only a few credits left, life got in the way and I had to step away from school to help provide for myself.

During this weird period, I lost my love of making. I convinced myself I could never make art again and that was just a phase of my life that I couldn’t go back to (later on my therapist made me realize that I associated art with trauma, which makes sense now). I went back to school, transferred to the University of Denver, and got my Bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in anthropology, then immediately went to graduate school to pursue a Master’s in Couples and Family Counseling. If nothing else, I was convinced I was going to be a professional student.

As I got further and further into the program, my anxiety grew worse and worse. I started therapy. The classes took a heavy emotional toll on my already dwindling mental health. A lot that goes into a counseling career is also facing your trauma and fears. I started thinking becoming a counselor wasn’t for me. I needed what I call the “hang it on the fridge moment.” Where I can complete a project and hold it up and say “Look how cool this is! I made this! I am proud and I want others to enjoy this as much as I do.” I knew becoming a therapist wouldn’t ever give me that moment, and once again, I left school.

And that still didn’t lead me to pursue art. I got a certificate in UXUI design. Finally, I was done with school. I had lost my job. I had nothing else to do.

That’s when I started doodling. As I continued to talk with my therapist and unlocked and began healing my inner child, I picked up my apple pencil and taught myself how to use Procreate (professional student). My hand started to remember the movements. I started to get the hang-it-on-the-fridge-moment again. I was excited creative and confident, not just in my work, but others could see it within me.

I’ve grown better with time and my shop has been open for over a year now. I sell things that make me happy and make me laugh and seeing others laugh with me is so heartwarming. I’ve started doing markets around the area and sharing my work in art shows. It’s been such a wonderful time meeting other vendors and people in the area who share my sense of humor and interests. I’m so happy where I am now, but I’m excited to continue to grow and take care of that weird little art kid the way she deserved to be taken care of years ago.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My road is a highway and I’m on a push scooter. Push scooters do not belong on the highway. All the cars are going so much faster than me. I’m screaming and crying. Oh god, this is so scary. Why have I done this to myself?

Zoey & Co Studio was founded in June of 2022 and the actual business side of starting my own business has been fairly smooth sailing. I’m accomplishing all the things I want to accomplish and it’s been such an amazing experience. The problem with starting your own business and working from home is that there is no barrier between work and the rest of your life.

In early October of 2022, just a few months after starting Zoey & Co, our namesake, Zoey was rushed to our local vet and diagnosed with primary glaucoma. Growing up, I knew I could never go long without owning a dog. I used to bring home informational breed encyclopedia books in elementary school and make my parents read them or I’d sit on the floor drawing all of my favorite dogs.

Zoey is the first dog that was purely mine, not my parents, so when I found out she was going to be losing both of her eyes, I was devastated. The vets gave us a time estimate of three months before she would lose her first eye, but next month (October 2023) we will celebrate Zoey overcoming the odds and having successful treatment for a whole year. She will still eventually lose both eyes, but we are happy she’s kept her vision for so long.

Zoey’s diagnosis set off a snowball of other situational issues that kept me from making art. I had no contact with my mother, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a bulging disk in my lower back. Despite these things, I know I’m taking care of myself and within that, my business. It’s been quite the adventure, but I’m so thankful.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Make yourself laugh, treat your inner child with kindness, and say “fuck” more often.

I think a lot of people take art too seriously. I grew up learning traditional, fine art techniques and although I appreciate the beauty in that, it didn’t feel like my style. I focus a lot on graphic design and cartoonish, animated design, which wasn’t always appreciated in school, but it’s something I always loved. I started my Etsy making digital assets for Twitch and Discord, which very quickly turned into making stickers, then keychains, then tote bags, and now I’m working with online manufacturers. I’m starting to specialize in accessories, stickers, and art prints.

I want to make things that make me laugh. I love seeing people walk past my booth, maybe they don’t stay or buy anything, but they at least get a giggle from me. I’ve done so much growing and learning who I am and what I love. Something that had been lost for a long time. My identity surrounded being a student, so when I wasn’t a student anymore, I had to do some searching. I began by remembering what little Makenzie would have wanted.

She wanted Pokemon. She never took anything too seriously. She was just a goofy little kid who wanted to make others laugh with her, so that’s what I made.

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
My partner and I joke about our take on risk-taking. Moving 1000 miles away from home? No big deal. Let’s go. Right now. I’m already packing. Sneaking candy into a movie theater? I’m sweating and tripping over my words. That being said, becoming a full-time artist didn’t feel like a risk to me. I started school wanting to be an artist, I went through all of these huge, life-changing milestones.

I strayed away from art and convinced myself I would never have anything to do with it again. Although it was hard I know I grew, I healed, I learned, and it feels very poetic that I ended up being an artist. I love what I’m doing. I feel like I’ve come out of chaos and being an artist has created this calmness in my life. Although my business is small, I’m excited to work to let it grow.

Pricing:

• $5-$30
• Contact for Commission pricing

Contact Info:

• Website: www.zoeyandcostudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeyandcostudio/