Depending on who you are and where you are in life, the story of designer/artist Ally Dryer (I?m making an assumption about the spelling here), as told by Mary Rose Madden, will encourage or frighten you?it?s either the best thing or the worst thing for your parents to hear if they?re worried about what you?re going to do when you grow up.

The piece profiles one of the strata of artists in Baltimore who have made a profound commitment to their art that might look like a nightmare to the hyper-success tracked among us?or it may represent a beacon of encouragement to those considering the leap of supporting their art with just enough work to pay the rent.

Unfortunately for Ms. Dryer, she has to put as much energy into defending her choices as she does living her life. People tend to be threatened by anyone who makes their own path. I think it?s a mixture of fear and envy. Fear, that they?d fail if they tried it. Envy, that they?ve never had the nerve to take the risk.

Smart and seamlessly produced, this would fit in with discussions of work and creativity.

The most important lesson in the well-produced, non-judgmental piece is the subtle yet powerful argument that in a world of mass production, not one size of success fits all.