2 answers
Mariam
Student
Lithonia, Georgia
1
Question
Updated
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How can I hone my crafts in both pastry and baking, alongside art during trade school, while balancing my business, entrepreneurship, and personal life?
I'm currently 17 years of age and tend to worry about not being able to balance the hobbies that bring me joy in life. For context, I plan to attend trade school to master my skills in pastry and baking for a certificate degree. Moreover, I want to be a home baker for a living. Specifically selling baked goods. With this knowledge, I ponder not having the time for art, which I want to avoid as much as possible. Hence, I want to sell my art in the future. However, I fear baking would overtake my artistic abilities as I'm currently sharpening my art skills. Thank you and have a blessed day! #Fall25
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2 answers
Hannah Nicholson
Artist
5
Answers
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Updated
Hannah’s Answer
Hi, Mariam!
The best advice I can give is twofold: one is to work on time management—especially if you’re going to go to school. Devote time to baking something: I’ll use myself as an example. I begin making bread dough in the morning—depending on the temperature of your kitchen, dough takes anywhere from one hour to two hours to rise, or “proof” (if it’s sourdough or a heavy flour like rye, it’s several hours). But in that time, I go and do other things, namely work on a piece of art. Once the hour is up, I knock the air out of the dough and let proof again for another hour and resume the process on my art in the meantime. I keep going with it as the bread is baking because I have my timer.
It’s all about finding those little pockets of time, those opportunities where you might be inclined to stand around and wait when you can sharpen your skills on something.
And the other part of this is try not to see one as having a parasitic effect on the other. If anything, I’ve found that I have become a better artist since I taught myself how to bake two years ago, and I see baking as both an art and a science in and of itself. Learning business skills will act as something of a glue for the two, as well.
Best of luck and have fun at culinary school!
The best advice I can give is twofold: one is to work on time management—especially if you’re going to go to school. Devote time to baking something: I’ll use myself as an example. I begin making bread dough in the morning—depending on the temperature of your kitchen, dough takes anywhere from one hour to two hours to rise, or “proof” (if it’s sourdough or a heavy flour like rye, it’s several hours). But in that time, I go and do other things, namely work on a piece of art. Once the hour is up, I knock the air out of the dough and let proof again for another hour and resume the process on my art in the meantime. I keep going with it as the bread is baking because I have my timer.
It’s all about finding those little pockets of time, those opportunities where you might be inclined to stand around and wait when you can sharpen your skills on something.
And the other part of this is try not to see one as having a parasitic effect on the other. If anything, I’ve found that I have become a better artist since I taught myself how to bake two years ago, and I see baking as both an art and a science in and of itself. Learning business skills will act as something of a glue for the two, as well.
Best of luck and have fun at culinary school!
Hannah, thank you!
Mariam
Jamie C
4
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
In addition to better time management as posted above, another suggestion would be to see how to combine the two. If you have a specific style of art you enjoy, can you find ways to apply it to your baking? For example, let's say you love creating dark, intricate, gothic art. Maybe you can specialize in gothic-inspired cakes or hone dark coloring skills for your pastries. Or maybe you love ethereal, fairy like styles, you can add this to your baking and market to customers who may want to have a fantastical themed party (e.g. baby showers, birthdays, etc.).
Additionally, if you want to be a home baker, you should look up your state's cottage food laws.
Additionally, if you want to be a home baker, you should look up your state's cottage food laws.