A co-founder of the local visual artist group known as Creative Collaborative, Melanie Burk started her own graphic arts business that continues to thrive in Utah County.
A BYU graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design and a minor in Business, Burk has been her own boss for years, running Fifth & Hazel. What started as a small business mostly designing websites has become a well-oiled machine branching out into personal stationary, wedding announcements (this is Utah County), textiles and wallpaper.
“We have a great arts community here in Utah County, people just don’t know it,” Burk said. “That’s why we started Creative Collaborative.” She strives to educate local artists and help the local art scene expand here in the Valley.
Burk’s advice for local artists, art students and those thinking of starting their own business is to learn from other’s mistakes while making your own. She believes it’s not about luck; it’s about hard work and learning from failure. Everyone fails, but you can learn from those failures about what works and what doesn’t.
As part of Creative Collaborative, she and other established artists provide a forum for that learning.“It’s possible to be successful anywhere.” Burk said, stressing that she believes the arts scene locally can become, in a way, just as big and successful as those in major metropolitan areas.
Working in the mornings, with the afternoons and evenings free, gives Burk time to be at home with her daughter and the kind of freedom many young entrepreneurs crave. As a business owner and her own boss Burk is living the life she always wanted.“It’s about learning from each other and helping each other,” Burk said.
It can be done, even here in the Valley.
For more info on Burk, Fifth & Hazel or Creative Collaborative, visit fifthandhazel.com
