How I Became an Artist
“The Black Ocean” produced 6 months after starting my art career. My first completed Piece.
Two years ago, in February of 2020 (because I like to start goals a solid month late when it comes to resolutions), I took a plunge into my art career.
I’d actually say it was more of a deep dive. It was intentional and calculated, meaning, I didn’t just roll off a beach towel and throw myself into a giant sea. Rather, I put on all the gear, you know? Brought a tank of oxygen and everything. It wasn’t a whim kind of thing.
The first collection coming together…. a slow build of art.
For the eight years prior, I had been a wedding & family photographer as well as mother. I had one baby and then three before I knew it and it was one of those things that was like, “If you could do one thing, just one, what would it be?’ And I thought, “Well, it’d be selling art and shipping it all over the world.” But there was a problem: You can’t just DO that. Like, who does that? And these artists have probably been doing it their entire lives!! I can’t just DECIDE to be an artist, even though it was my greatest and most unused gifting.
And then something happened.
Instagram happened. As much as social media is a cloud of conflicting emotion for a lot of us, I ran across an artist doing EXACTLY what I wanted to do and I was like, “How is she doing that?!” Her name is Allie Dattilio and choosing to “follow” her was a no-brainer for me. I wanted to be like her and paint beautiful art for peoples homes & spaces. Soon, I learned that Allie actually teaches an online course with Lindsay Emery in how to become a business owner, a professional artist, if you will. I sat on the idea of enrolling for a few months.
I’m not saying that every person who wants to do what I do follow this exact path. I am also not an ambassador for their coaching course, The Studio Source, and make zero benefits from sharing this information. I am simply sharing how I began. The time & financial investment, effort, research, willingness to learn, and flat out HARD WORK is what got me to where I am. Anyone can enroll in an education program, we have to take the knowledge gained and actually apply it.
I’m proud to say that after just two short years, I am an (almost) full-time artist. I’m a mom mostly, but put in roughly 20 hours a week painting original art and selling it all over the world. Like, for real. I don’t know the total number of pieces sold because its closing in at 100+ and the designers I’m getting to work with are out of this world dreamy, such as Jenny Marrs from HGTV and Lisa Furtado (HGTV designer of the year). I’m watching my dreams unfold, wrapped up in a package of mistakes & human imperfection. I can’t believe that despite all the hard parts, that I still love it this much. That my goals continue to grow (LOTS of goals on the horizon!) and that I stay so busy.
If you want to become an artist (or any other type of creative, insert here: __________.) You can. If I can, you can. I don’t have a ton of followers on any social media outlet & I don’t have a ton of time (I’ve still got one in diapers if that helps with perspective…he was just a newbie when I started!). Lastly, I don’t have years of experience nor much of a reputation to boot. But I have so much work that my hands never rest. And that makes my heart so happy!
If you have any questions at all, please ask in the comments! I’m here to be transparent and hopefully helpful as we all learn to fill the world with our greatest gifts! And, if YOU answered the question of “doing that one thing”…what would you say?
Best:
Amy Marcy