Any creative will tell you that making the work comes naturally, commercialising it is the hard part. It takes a special kind of bravery and determination to build a following and carve out a career as an artist - but Carla McRae has it figured out.
It's been a long and "winding journey", from UniSC graduate in 2011 to full-time creator. With both an engaged social media audience and loyal brand clients, Carla says she splits her practice between personal and commercial which allows her to "be nimble and work across branding projects, public art installations, editorial and publishing jobs".
Turning a lifelong passion into a career
"Growing up on the coast, I was always into art and drawing. It's been the way I've expressed myself and processed my experiences. But the fact that I'm doing this for a job now is as much of a surprise to me as it is to other people."
After completing her Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Design and Communication, Carla applied for "hundreds of jobs" and got lots of interviews, but her portfolio was mainly illustrative work. So when she kept missing out on the corporate design jobs, she took another tact.
Carla moved to Melbourne, started flipping burgers and doing some commissioned illustration work on the side. An internship came up at the local illustration agency, Jacky Winter and that changed everything.
"Spending a little time in the office as an intern gave me a close-up view of the commercial artwork side of illustration, which can often feel mysterious and intimidating from the outside.
"A couple of years later when I had a solo show in the gallery and was invited to join their roster, I felt like I was ready and curious to step up to the challenge. That partnership has ended up being a really important, life-changing part of my journey as an artist.
"Having representation adds another layer of access to a broader, global realm of commercial work that can sometimes be harder to break into without the network and support that an agent can offer."
After that, Carla never went back to flipping burgers.
A serendipitous opportunity, a mural at UniSC
Fast-forward to 2026 and UniSC has just unveiled a Carla McRae original in our new eatery, Eat. SC.
According to Carla, the creative collaboration with her partner was "serendipitous".
Planning and Design Officer for UniSC Facilities Management, Jessica Hassiotis reached out requesting expression of interest from known illustrators, Carla being one, but wasn't aware she was a UniSC graduate at the time.
Jess also contacted Carla's partner, David Booth - also known as "Ghostpatrol" and the two collaborated on this mural.
Design senior lecturer Dr Leah Barclay said the path to becoming an independent creative could be difficult.
"But putting in the work and following your passions early in your career can be incredibly rewarding when you build the skills, reputation, industry connections and work ethic - as Carla has," Dr Barclay said.
"It's been a real full-circle moment to have Carla back at UniSC creating this artwork that will be displayed so prominently on our Sunshine Coast campus. It's fantastic to see the direction her practice has taken and inspiring for our students to see the career opportunities in art and design"
The mural is inspired by the Sunshine Coast, informed by Carla's childhood and the sticker technique was a way to merge David's style with hers, while also including David's own reflections of his time visiting the Coast with Carla.
"We were thinking about how in an urban environment, posters, stickers and elements like that contributed by people over time, layer up and build this narrative about a place," she said.
Carla and her partner created a piece, featuring these symbolic stickers and posters that reflect the Coast and its history.
In the mural you can see tributes to the Glasshouse Mountains, Mudjimba Island, surfing dogs and a treasure trove of little symbols, representing life on the Sunshine Coast.
She describes the style of the mural as having "a retro-kitsch feeling to it".
Be brave, share your work - advice to future artists
Carla's advice to future creatives is to pursue your passion, even if you don't know exactly what that looks like professionally.
"I wasn't sure what my job would be. I just couldn't stop drawing, even while learning to use software to design logos, I always incorporated sketches, I was obsessed with it. By my third year, looking at my portfolio, it was clear that drawing was my passion," she said.
Identifying that, along with some very encouraging tutors at UniSC, helped Carla focus her energy and hone her craft - during uni and beyond.
Knowing what you want to do is just the first step though, sharing it with the world is what turns a hobby into a career.
"If you're making creative work don't be afraid to share it. A lot of people make work and it's so personal. Making it is one thing; sharing is another challenge.
"Be brave. Make it and share it with the world," she says.
