With over 35,000 undergraduates, the University is a happening place, full of diverse interests and talent. Among these thousands of students is a driven network of local creatives, working to transform their artistic passions into a way to serve their community. Whatever craft or creation one could look for, there’s a strong chance it’s being designed and sold by a fellow Illini somewhere on campus.
One such creative is Megan Kasper, senior in ACES, owner of See No Evil. Often vending at a corner at The Treehouse, a house show venue in Urbana, Kasper handcrafts and sells uniquely designed sock monkeys. What started as a simple gift for a loved one has transformed into a bustling small business that paves the way for connection.
“(Creating and vending) has given me the opportunity to, just like, break through that barrier within myself and just talk to so many different people and try and spread joy,” Kasper said.
Kasper enjoys interacting with people who approach her table wherever she vends, and credits these interactions as a motivator to continue creating art to provide to her community. Going forward, she aims to embrace the momentum See No Evil is gaining and make her creative process more sustainable by sourcing her socks from local businesses.
However, as a small business, it’s not always easy. Making an intrinsic passion accessible to the world can feel daunting, but Kasper emphasizes that creatives must silence their inner critic and take the leap.
Get The Daily Illini in your inbox!
“I would say to just try to kill that voice inside your head that’s telling you that you’re an imposter and that your art isn’t good,” Kasper said. “Because I know a lot of creatives struggle with that … that’s just completely untrue. People just love to see each other’s art — just put yourself out there, take that step of just trying.”
Mehndi artist Laura Doguim, a freshman in Engineering, took this leap very recently. Growing up surrounded by Indian culture and mehndi art, Doguim taught herself the basics and was encouraged to open up her services to others. Now, she works out of her own dorm room to provide University students with custom mehndi designs.
Knowing that there weren’t that many mehendi artists in the area, Doguim decided to help make the art form more accessible in Champaign-Urbana.
“I realized I could be a resource for people,” Doguim said. “So I will try to do this for as long as I can in college, and I want to continue being a resource to people who want to get their henna done or need a skilled artist to do their mehndi.”
Doguim greatly appreciates being able to work freelance. Setting her own appointments, scheduling her own bookings, she can balance the workload of having clientele and being a full-time student at the University.
For those hesitant to commit to their creative endeavor due to time constraints, she encourages at least trying it out.
“You can always just put it down and pick it back up later, so don’t be afraid to start and dip your toe in the water,” Doguim said.
For Doguim, the most satisfying part of the process is expressing and experimenting with her creativity through the mehndi art.
“The moment where you’re done zooming in on specific details and focusing extra hard on spacing and mapping (the design) out, you put the last stroke on there, you take a step back, and then you look at the whole thing — it’s done, and it’s beautiful, it’s intricate,” Doguim said.
Caitlyn LeTran, a junior in LAS, harnesses her creativity in her nail technician business, Nailed by Caitlyn. Growing up working with her mother at a nail salon, LeTran developed a deep interest in nail art. She began her business by having a couple of clients at her dorm, starting with just friends at first. Now, her business is often booked and busy, with hours of effort poured into building a brand that best represents her creative identity.
The reward of her business isn’t just getting to do what she loves, but also the opportunity to truly connect with someone as she works on their nails.
“(Each booking is) two hours, and you’re just able to talk for two hours about anything,” LeTran said. “Like, everyone’s off their phones, we’re really present, and we’re able to talk about very meaningful things, or just things that I feel like you can’t really talk about when you’re passing by someone.”
LeTran provides a wide range of nail services, and over the years, has built the skills to work on increasingly complex designs. She appreciates the opportunity to freestyle designs for clients, enjoying the creative freedom that comes with it. Still, she’s done countless designs replicating or inspired by pre-existing references.
Being a creative business owner has taught LeTran skills far beyond just the expertise of nail art.
“(I’ve learned to) deal with different kinds of people and different challenging situations,” LeTran said. “In that sense, I think it’s taught me a lot, which is being able to think quickly on my feet and just be more aware of how I’m managing my time.”
For many students at the University, creative pursuits extend far beyond simple hobbies. By sharing their talents with others, students grow personally and professionally — while also contributing to a more vibrant and connected campus community.
