Early in my art career, I was very naive, and assumed all I had to do was create art and I would be discovered. I would say, “I don’t want to handle anything that has to do with business; after all, I’m an artist!” With this mindset I was unable to support myself from the sale of my paintings and I refused to accept business advice. I had no plan in mind for success. Eventually, however, I learned how to change from immaturity to self-sufficiency and financial success. What caused my wake up call to reality was an experience I had one hot summer many years ago.
My Painful Wake Up Call
Thankfully, with the help of an unpleasant part-time summer job I gained an improved sense of reality and maturity. My boss at the time was an established fashion designer in The Hamptons, NY, whose clients were celebrities and socialites. She offered me a job to paint fabric. She rolled out long bolts of silks and cottons on a table, and I would paint colorful flowers and butterflies on them. I also painted entire party and wedding ensembles — from hats to gowns to shoes.
She Signed Her Name on My Art!
My work area was a hot, tiny, crowded room in the back of this posh boutique. After I painted the fabric, the designer sewed them into the garments and signed her name on them. I overheard her speaking to her clients in the front of the showroom, as she accepted the compliments. She deceptively took credit for doing the painting when I had done the work. She shamelessly admitted to me that many of her customers bought her apparel because of my art work.
At first my ego was sorely bruised, I was angry, and I was tempted to quit. You may wonder, why didn’t I? The truth is, the money I earned for one day’s work paid for an entire month’s rent in my studio, where I had the freedom to create the paintings I desired for the rest of the week. And, I knew intuitively I had more to gain than monetary compensation.
I Chose to View Her As My Mentor
I don’t regret that I kept this job because it taught me valuable lessons that changed my perception as an artist. I suddenly realized I had to stop feeling like a victim. Although I didn’t appreciate my boss’s dishonesty, instead of seeing her as an adversary, I chose to view her as my mentor. This was an opportunity to learn from her. Every week I went to work with a hunger for knowledge. While I painted on the fabric and she watched, I asked her questions about how she started her career and became a successful business owner.
From Immaturity to Self-Sufficiency and Financial Success
In this boutique I took my first steps from immaturity to self-sufficiency. This experience taught me how to become the CEO of my own business. I learned the importance of setting creative, career and financial goals with short-term and long-term objectives. I designed my first art business plan.
A few months later I had my own successful line of hand-painted “Renée’s Originals” which I sold in several boutiques. One local boutique gave me dozens of blouses to take home and paint. And, I signed my name. The apparel drove traffic to my studio where I sold my paintings. As my reputation and business knowledge grew I became a proud self-supporting artist.
My Career Change ~ From Artist to Mentor ~ Sharing Lessons I Learned
Soon I began teaching fellow artists how to succeed in business and began organizing exhibitions. It eventually led to publishing a magazine and establishing Manhattan Arts International.
I no longer felt the desire to be an artist. Instead, I pursued my love for teaching and became a mentor to artists so I could help them envision and accomplish their goals. There is enormous satisfaction in helping artists combine their love for creating art with pragmatic wisdom. In addition to curating many exhibitions I also follow my passion for writing promotional materials for artists such as Art Reviews and Artist’s Biographies to help them advance their art careers.
It’s gratifying to see when artists take care of business they gain confidence and creative independence. The key to success is that simple.
Choose Your Path to Success ~ Reject the Myths
My message with this story is, an artist needs to choose to become a victor, not a victim. We must reject the myth “Artists cannot be business people”. It’s not true. There are many art business books and ebooks and webinars available for artists who want to learn more about the business of being an artist. There are mentors and role models out there who have something valuable to teach you in any area you desire. You can also read the biographies of successful artists.
Give yourself time and patience to grow as your own agent and CEO of your business. Art business habits require baby steps at first, but when you reap the benefits you will want to take on greater challenges.
And, if a stubborn and naive artist like me could learn, any artist can! I’m still amazed at the transformation in my life!
You may also want to read “Are You Facing Reality As An Artist?”
Dear Renee, you are amazing. And fearlessly professional as you are not intimidated to share those early and frustrating times. I admire how you remind us to to take lemons and make lemonade. Yet more importantly to be self confident enough to recognize your God given talent and worth.
Thank you so very much for such honest sharing.
Most Sincerely,
Vicki ,
Dear Vicki, You are so kind. Thank you. I believe it is important to share our challenges as well as our triumphs with others so we may help each other. Throughout the day, every day, I express gratitude for the many blessings I have been given. And, knowing you is a major blessing! Much love, Renee
Renee, you are amazing. Thank you for sharing your personal experience in this article and everything you do to help artists. I will share a link to this article with fellow artists and my students. I wish you were available for being a mentor and coach but I can certainly understand how busy you are and probably have a long waiting list of artists eager for you to take them under your wing.
Greetings Michael, I appreciate your kind words and interest in my coaching. It’s true, I have a full schedule now; however, I set up a NEWS page that I’ve been told is the next best thing to having a mentor/coach. Every Wednesday I post a new topic with links to several related articles and they often contain exercises rather than being passive. Please check it out: NEWS PAGE Thank you also for sharing this article with your students and fellow artists. Wishing you creative bliss!
Thank you, Renee, for this inspiring story. I feel very blessed and privileged to be able to work with you. I am deeply grateful for the help you have already given me and I’m excited about the coming months.
Dear Sandi, your kind words mean so much to me. Wishing you tremendous joy.
Thanks alot for this inspiring story . I’m new to the field of art and I was passionate about it years ago.. I really need now to stop wasting more time and make career shift and start art career… I need amentor in my journey how can I contact you for this purpose
Regards,Thanks
Donia
Post Update 2023: Sorry, at this time I have a full schedule and unable to add any more coaching clients. If that should change, I will definitely announce it on this website.
Dear Ms.Phillips,
I am pursuing my art career after 44 years of being fearful about the “negative conversations on the future or need for the arts” in our society. Why in your opinion is this discipline the “black sheep” it seems of all the more “practical and respectable occupational endeavors for financial security in this modern age?
I don’t know you and came across your website But what you are telling us here on your website is So refreshingly honest and authentic and sorely needed. and I am so grateful for this website and believe this will help us all navigate this professional artists world with the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Thank you Ms.Phillips for teaching all of us that its never too late to step out on faith and be your best artist self, whether friends or family support you or not. live your best life whatever your season of life.
Sincerely,
Mature Student
Senior Georgia State University
Dear Kwana, Thank you for your wonderful comment. I’m so glad you found The Artrepreneur Coach blog! Your question is one that frustrates creative individuals. The best answer I can think of is to show by example the importance of art on individuals, society and the planet and communicate the benefits of art in any way we can. You seem to be setting an amazing example as a mature student. Bravo to you! I think you’ll enjoy reading this article “A Positive Future For Maturing Artists”. Please also watch the accompanying video with upbeat music! I think that you would love to visit The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS blog, another one of my heartfelt initiatives. There, you will find like-mined creatives who share your belief. You’ll find many positive articles with such series as “artists’ stories” and “world changers”. Continue to live your best life and please subscribe! Renee
I love your tenacity and having had the ability to see into your future. Truthfully, it would have driven me crazy! I am very honest and would never take credit which belongs to someone else. It is difficult to accept people like this Renee, but you took a negative situation and used it to benefit your career and now those of your artists. I am curious if her career eventually suffered from her dishonesty or did she sail by untouched? life is not fair and we need to make the best of each situation. I say push forward with a clear vision of success and allow karma to rear its ugly head!
Lisa, thank you for your comment. I actually grew to feel sorry for her because she envied my artistic talent and my independent life. So, in that way she was already suffering. And, she wasn’t 100% a totally bad person. Indirectly, she taught me a valuable lesson of humility and to not be ego-centered. I truly believe that what you desire with your heart and soul and your willingness to persevere you can achieve. I also believe we learn from every experience, if we choose to see it that way. Lisa, I love your philosophy, keep pushing forward!
Thank you Jane, Mazola, Linda and Chantal, Your comments mean the world to me. The mutual respect, advocacy and camaraderie we share remind me every day how grateful I am to do what I do for artists. The empowerment we have as a community is invaluable. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story. You showed up to the opportunity and you made it a learning experience and an integral part of your growth as an artist. It taught you also the importance of giving credit to the artists and that experience made you a precious advocate for artists, an enviable brand in this often otherwise narcissistic market place.
What a great story! Thank you for sharing. I have never forgotten that day you took the time to talk to me on the phone. You believed in me like no one ever had before and all the success I enjoy today is a direct result of your advice, your suggestions and your enthusiasm for my work. I am grateful to have you in my life. Aloha!
Thank you for sharing the light.
This is an inspirational story and also provides a clear image of you as a newbie with shiny eyes and a quick hand but an overdose of naïveté. I want to sock your boss in the nose! There are so many of these takers out there easily grabbing our youthful enthusiasm by the armload but smartly you saw a way to make your work your own by absorbing the biz skills of this particular shark. By reading your story hundreds of talented yet biz innocent artists will gain the impetus they need to make those bucks.