Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Yang.
Hi Diane, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was never really an Artist myself growing up. I was actually very much into music. I believe that came from my Dad because he actually introduced my siblings and I to the piano, My oldest brother was the only one who completed all the piano lessons and he’s the best one out of all of us. I enjoyed drawing and coloring just like all little children do as a little girl. I eventually grew out of it and became more interested in sports, clubs, choir, and dancing. It wasn’t until my religious mission that I found Art again. It came very subtly throughout my mission by leaving a sticky note with doodles and kind words to my companion or just journaling with words and drawing. It wasn’t until my companion and I started meeting this investigator who was living in New Zealand but had moved back home to Thailand because her husband recently passed away. She invited the missionaries over to her studio one time and when I got there, I felt like a child again stepping into a mini Art museum. I was very inspired by her work and she actually challenged me to pick up Art again. As a missionary, I didn’t have time to actually just sit down and draw. We were always busy making phone calls, teaching, training, or in meetings, so there wasn’t really a chance for me to warm up and practice again. Not until my companion got really sick and we were in and out of the hospital a lot. She got a doctor’s note to rest for at least three days until we can go back out and teach.
During those three days, I had some time to myself to just draw whatever came to mind, and the more I did it, the more I didn’t want to stop. It felt like I just unfolded a version of myself that I had forgotten for a long time. I find myself in music, playing the piano, singing, in journaling, and now, in Art. I felt whole again and I wanted to make something out of it once I return back home from my mission. However, when I got back home, a lot of people didn’t really support that part of me because, in my culture, they don’t see Art as a true and successful profession. The more I talked to my parents and to some of my siblings about it, they didn’t really agree with me in pursuing Art. And the me back then cared a lot about how people felt about me, their approval and their validation really mattered to me. I didn’t want to disappoint anyone. I thought I’d be more brave and bold in living my life after my religious mission, but I failed to do that for myself at that time and I really regretted treating myself like that back then.
Fast forward to the pandemic, I felt that this was my chance! That summer of 2020, we had a family campout to celebrate my Dad’s 65th birthday and I actually got food poisoning so I wasn’t feeling great. I decided to drive back down to the nearest city to grab some medicine and my Dad didn’t want me to go alone so he came with me. We talked a lot on our drive and I told him how I was going to start my own little side business soon. To my surprise, he said that it sounds like a good idea because he knows that whatever I do, I’ll be happy. I noticed that he didn’t say successful, or become rich and famous, but he mentioned the word happy! Two months after that, he passed away. Soon after his funeral, I launched Nongdao, which I regretted doing because I was still grieving and I was very inconsistent. Not until recently actually, I feel that I could take on bigger projects now. There are really no big reasons why I started Nongdao, but to simply say I have found that part of me again and wanted to take care of it.
The name Nongdao was given to me by the Thai people when I was serving my mission. “Nong” means “little” and “Dao” means “Star.” They expressed how much happiness I spread through my smile, but little do they know that they are the reason for my smile. Nongdao hopes to create a happy and healing stationery gift shop for all those who seek and desire to help one another to shine through all life challenges, adversities, celebrations, and successes.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
One of the biggest struggles that I faced along the way, and still do, is balancing school and work while also trying to do this side business. I have school during the weekdays, so I’d work the graveyard shift on the weekends. On the weekdays when I don’t have much homework or studying to do, I’d make some time to draw and create for my next launch. The good thing about stationery designs and cards is that I have time to plan and create them because the Holidays throughout the year are pretty spread out. So that lessens my stress and work level a bit! I try not to make this side business a stressful thing for me, rather than make it a place where I can turn to protect my sanity. At school, we’re always studying the human body and then at work I deal with patients and families. As we know, working and studying in healthcare can be heavy and lead to burnout. So another challenge for me is to make sure that I set myself in a good mood to create. I don’t want to feel tired, sleepy, overwhelmed, or burnout when I’m drawing. The outcome is not going to be pretty so it’s important for me to feel calm and at peace. And then just taking it back to how my Father passed away and me grieving and working on my side business at the same time was also something pretty challenging for me from the start. I was inconsistent and didn’t really follow through with my plan, However, I think that was something important that needed to happen because I did a lot of self-discovery again. I believe that another part of making art meaningful and beautiful is through their grieving, their emotions, their healing journey, and their vulnerability. I needed to learn how to feel all of that in order to know how to pour it out into my work.
I also had some financial challenges like all small and big businesses do. I mentioned before that I was going to school and working at the same time so I had to make sure I had enough for rent, bills, tuition, and in my business. There were some times when I felt like I wasn’t able to make it and that really stressed me out. But whatever I had at the moment, I just did what I can whether that be just a few new cards.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I feel that something that I specialize in is exactly what my logo is. Nongdao! It means “little star” and that’s exactly what I want to do. I want to keep spreading joy through my work and help people shine through all life’s challenges, adversities, celebrations, and successes. I often think back to when I found art again on my mission and how it brought that playfulness and childlike feeling inside of me. I feel that a lot of my work has this touch of free, childlike, and youthfulness in it. I feel that that is something that sets me apart from the others because I really want people to feel those beautiful feelings again when they see or purchase my work. I create greeting cards for the most part and I hope that whoever they’re giving it to will feel a sense of childlike freedom and youthfulness.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I feel that the time and place where I’m at right now is my luck! If I were back home in California or elsewhere, I don’t think I’ll be able to start this business. Ever since I came here to Utah, I didn’t think of starting my own small business at all. I wanted to just start and finish school. It wasn’t until I met my coworkers and other local artists here in Utah county that kept supporting the idea of starting! My coworkers and I have such a huge age gap. They’re all in their mid 30’s and 40’s, married, and have families while I’m in my 20’s and still going to school and work. They reassured me that this is the right time to start a business, to live, to take chances, and to just have fun. So here I am trying to fulfill all of that! I love it so far and I am having so much fun doing it. I am so thankful to have met these wonderful coworkers of mine and they are such great friends to me. I also feel that another luck for me in starting my business was meeting that investigator in Thailand. When I stepped into her studio, I felt like a child all over again in a mini art museum. I was very inspired by her work and we talked a lot about her journey and why she does what she does. She encouraged me to also pick up art again because it’s something that has healed her throughout her difficult times. Her artwork was very different from mine, which is something really important to know because from that I wanted to truly be authentic in my own work as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NongdaoShop?ref=search_shop_redirect
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/love_nongdao/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083176539955
Image Credits
Diane Yang
