What does it really take to become an artist in Paris, turn your passion into a business, and create a life doing something you love?
Paris has always been a city that attracts dreamers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs. But behind the romantic image of painting in Montmartre and finding inspiration along the Seine, there’s another story: the courage it takes to start over, believe in your creativity, and build something from nothing.
On this episode of La Vie Creative, I sit down with Franco, a Nicaraguan artist living in Paris and the founder of Petit Angels Art, a creative business specializing in beautiful, hand-drawn pet portraits.
His story is about much more than drawing animals. It’s about immigration, finding your identity, building a creative business, and discovering that sometimes the life you never planned becomes the life you were meant to create.
Whether you’re dreaming of moving to Paris, starting an art business, or simply finding the courage to pursue something creative, Franco’s journey offers inspiration.
From Nicaragua to Paris: Finding a New Creative Life
Franco didn’t always imagine himself working as an artist in Paris.
Growing up in Nicaragua, he was surrounded by a culture where financial stability often took priority over creative ambition. With limited opportunities in the arts, he initially studied management and finance.
But his love for art never disappeared.
After deciding to leave Nicaragua, Franco moved to France to pursue a master’s degree in arts and cultural management in Dijon.
When his studies ended, he faced a familiar question for many international students: What comes next?
His friends encouraged him to move to Paris, believing it was the perfect place for someone interested in the arts.
Interestingly, Franco wasn’t immediately in love with the French capital.
Coming from colorful Nicaragua, he found Paris surprisingly gray. He even considered living in Lyon instead.
But he followed his friends’ advice, and three years later, Paris has become an important part of his creative identity.
How a Cat Named Carlota Inspired Petit Angels Art
Sometimes our greatest creative inspiration comes from the smallest members of our families.
For Franco, that inspiration came from his beloved cat, Carlota.
When he moved to Paris, he brought Carlota with him. During those early months, when he lived in a tiny 12-square-meter apartment and knew very few people, she became an important source of companionship.
As someone who lives in Paris with my own beloved dog, Coco, I completely understand how animals can help us feel connected and at home.
Franco had always loved drawing, especially animals. He began creating portraits of Carlota, experimenting with different techniques and developing his artistic style.
Eventually, he realized something important: perhaps his love of animals and his passion for drawing could become a business.
And that’s how Petit Angels Art was born.
Today, Franco creates personalized pet portraits that celebrate the personalities of dogs, cats, and other beloved animals.
His work captures something every pet owner understands: our animals are never just pets. They’re family.
Finding Artistic Inspiration in Paris
One of the most beautiful things about living in Paris is the opportunity to discover artists who came before us.
For Franco, learning about French animal painter Rosa Bonheur was particularly inspiring.
Bonheur built an extraordinary career painting animals during the 19th century, at a time when opportunities for female artists were extremely limited.
Franco even visited her château, finding inspiration in the way she dedicated her life to creating art.
He also admires David Hockney, particularly his portraits of dogs.
These artists helped Franco realize that animals could be worthy subjects of serious, meaningful artwork.
And more importantly, they showed him that it was possible to build a creative life around the subjects you genuinely love.
Creating Pet Portraits in Paris: Franco’s Artistic Process
Unlike traditional pencil sketches, Franco creates many of his portraits using ballpoint pens.
It’s an interesting choice because ballpoint pens leave very little room for mistakes.
Once a line is drawn, it cannot simply be erased.
Franco begins with photographs of the animals, since getting a dog or cat to sit perfectly still for a portrait isn’t always realistic.
He pays particular attention to their eyes, noses, and expressions, trying to capture each animal’s unique personality.
What makes his creative process especially interesting is how he developed his technique.
He actually challenged himself to work with colors he didn’t particularly like, including pink and purple.
Instead of avoiding unfamiliar materials, he experimented with them.
And through that experimentation, he discovered a distinctive artistic approach.
It’s a wonderful reminder that creativity often develops when we’re willing to try something uncomfortable or unfamiliar.
Building a Creative Business in Paris Without a Traditional Career Path
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing how Franco began making money from his artwork.
Like many creative entrepreneurs, he didn’t start with a huge following, a sophisticated website, or an elaborate business plan.
He started by getting out into his community.
He visited Square Nadar in Montmartre, near Sacré-Cœur, where he observed dogs, filmed them, and practiced drawing.
Eventually, he began sharing his artwork with the people around him.
He connected with pet sitters, animal lovers, and local businesses.
These relationships led to opportunities to participate in events, create portraits in cafés, and draw dogs at community gatherings.
One opportunity led to another.
And slowly, his creative business began to grow.
Why Networking Matters for Artists
Franco’s experience is a great example of why networking doesn’t have to mean attending formal business events or aggressively selling yourself.
Sometimes it simply means showing up, sharing what you love, and having conversations.
Through personal connections, Franco became involved in an animal-related fundraising event and was invited to participate in other gatherings, including a celebration of International Dog Day in Montmartre.
People saw his artwork, enjoyed what he created, and recommended him to others.
Within just a few months of launching Petit Angels Art, Franco had already earned enough from his portraits to cover almost an entire month’s rent.
He isn’t yet supporting himself entirely through art, but he’s building a foundation for something bigger.
And that’s an encouraging lesson for anyone wondering how to start a creative business in Paris.
You don’t necessarily need everything figured out before you begin.
Sometimes you simply need to start.
Can You Really Make Money as an Artist in Paris?
It’s a question so many creative people ask.
Can you turn something you love into a sustainable business?
Franco’s journey shows that it’s possible to begin earning income from your creativity while continuing to work another job.
He has worked in hospitality and at Columbia University’s Paris-based Institute for Ideas and Imagination, where he’s had opportunities to meet artists and scholars from around the world.
Rather than viewing his other work as a failure to become an artist, he’s used it as a way to support himself while developing his creative practice.
I think that’s such an important distinction.
We often imagine that successful artists must immediately quit their jobs, devote themselves entirely to their craft, and somehow make everything work.
But real creative careers are often built gradually.
Franco’s next goal is to expand Petit Angels Art by offering prints and other products alongside his commissioned portraits.
This could allow him to reach more customers without needing to create every single piece from scratch.
It’s a smart next step for a growing creative business.
How Paris Helps Artists Find Their Identity
One of the most meaningful moments in our conversation came when Franco talked about how living in Paris changed the way he saw himself.
Before starting Petit Angels Art, drawing was something he loved doing.
Now, he proudly introduces himself as an artist.
That shift in identity is powerful.
Sometimes we wait for permission to call ourselves creative.
We think we need a degree, a gallery exhibition, a certain number of customers, or a particular level of income before we’re allowed to use the word artist.
But perhaps becoming an artist begins the moment we decide to take our creativity seriously.
For Franco, Paris helped make that transformation possible.
Living in a city filled with artistic history, meeting other creative people, and sharing his work with the public all contributed to his confidence.
His story is a reminder that the environment we choose can have a profound impact on who we become.
Five Lessons for Anyone Dreaming of a Creative Life
Franco’s story offers several valuable lessons for aspiring artists and creative entrepreneurs.
1. Start before you feel ready.
You don’t need a perfect business plan, website, or studio to begin sharing your creativity with the world.
2. Find inspiration in what you already love.
For Franco, it was his cat Carlota and his lifelong love of animals. Your creative business might begin with something equally personal.
3. Build real relationships.
Getting involved in your community can open doors that social media alone may never provide.
4. Experiment until you discover your own style.
Trying new materials, techniques, and even colors you dislike can lead to unexpected creative breakthroughs.
5. Believe that your background doesn’t define your limits.
Coming from a small country or a nontraditional artistic background doesn’t mean you can’t build something meaningful.
Your creativity belongs to you, wherever you come from.
Where to Find Petit Angels Art in Paris
If you’re looking for a unique gift for an animal lover, or you’d like a personalized portrait of your own pet, you can discover Franco’s work online.
Instagram: @petit_angels.art
Artwork and support: Petit Angels Art on Ko-fi
Franco currently accepts portrait commissions through Instagram and has shipped artwork internationally, including to the United States and Japan.
You might even spot him sketching animals around Montmartre or Parc Monceau!
