Meet Karen Mayer

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Karen Mayer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Karen, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

I found my purpose by responding to my inner longing that was calling me back to focus on my innate creativity. There was a time when I wasn’t listening to my inner desires. I had a full-time job with a daily commute and managed two active daughters while my husband travelled for work.

The Universe gave me a gift one day at work, a rude awakening. Right outside my office door, the finance manager and company owner staged a chat about reducing my compensation so I would quit. The notion of working hard and balancing home life for less money was inconceivable. Revolted by the idea, I pushed away from my desk and declared, “I’m done!” (That’s the nice version.)

I quit my job in 2010 and created SavvyArt Market, a boutique art gallery. The relief for my whole family was palpable. But I had to get healthy again. I had become a shell of myself, lost connection to my vitality and artistic gift.

This beginning launched me into a self-care and entrepreneurial journey, which I am still on today. It was through sourcing art and educating clients about art that I discovered how much people were missing out on their own inner life force. I help people embrace the power of their innate creativity so they too can experience the benefits, finding purpose and fulfillment.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My job is special because I deliver the joy of creativity to people. My company Savvy Art Inc. has two sides that make the whole brand.

The founding business is a boutique art gallery, SavvyArt Market (www.savvyartmarket.com) that sells artwork from 30+ Canadian artists, including mine. In addition to sourcing, styling, curating and custom framing services, the art products include photography, originals, prints, reproductions on all mediums, commissions, special requests, and everything in between. Our boutique gallery is unique and special because our focus is solely on the customer. We have a solution for anything they desire, because if we can’t find it (even from the other galleries and sources we work with), we will make it. The boutique experience gives our clients the high level of attention and creativity they desire.

The gallery side is complemented by ArtSpa, our offering of art-based workshops and art kits, specifically designed to connect people to their innate creativity (www.artspa.ca). ArtSpa programs are so exciting because students discover the power of their innate creativity in building a richer life. Our three-step process helps people discover their superpower in sometimes unexpected and beautiful ways. Some students discover their desire to collect art to have that level of creativity closer to them. They often begin their art buying journey at SavvyArt Market.

To complement the gallery and workshops, I became a published author, collaborating with 22 other authors worldwide, on a #1 International Best Selling book, titled The Ripple Effect of Impact, launched on August 20, 2024. My chapter describes the power of your innate creativity and how it positively impacted my life. I am excited to spread the message that the world needs more creative ideas from more people to solve the challenges of today and the future. The ideas buried inside you could be a catalyst for positive change in your community, city, country or globally.

In the next few weeks we are launching a new series of deep dive intensive ArtSpa workshops, teaching students how to connect to their innate creativity to build a richer life, feel energized, self-fulfilled, lighter and resilient. We are excited to find larger workshop and gallery space to accommodate our growing programs and client interest.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three skills that were most impactful in my journey are curiosity, creative confidence, and a trial and pivot mindset. Curiosity is key for discovering your next steps and learning what your customers want. Trusting myself and leaning into my creative confidence caused the quickest and most positive outcomes in my journey. The trial and pivot methodology helped me build resilience and view failure as feedback, not something negative. I also appreciated coaching when I needed it most to get me to the next level.

My advice for those early in their journey is to look inward for the answers to the most pressing questions and concerns about what steps to take next. You always know what’s the right next step. It’s more about trusting yourself. Of course, surveying the environment for feedback is key for confirmation of decisions, however blocking out the noise from around you is important to find your way. Everything you experience is for a reason, a lesson you must learn on your path. I recommend a mentor or coach once you are solid in what you want to do.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

For our boutique gallery, our ideal client completed a renovation and is living among empty walls. Sometimes they have moved to a new home (upsizing or downsizing). We love helping these clients style their homes with art and photographs they already have and new pieces that make their soul sing, building art collections that best reflect their style and what matters to them.

For our ArtSpa workshops, our ideal client is a professional woman, who longs for something more. She may not know what that something is, draining her energy, or she may want to develop personally to get to a new level of living well. Often these women find themselves in transition (retirement, divorce, work promotion to C-suite, or are entrepreneurs).

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Profile photo by Nicole Smith, 2024.
IMG_6335 photo by Jasmine Virginia, 2024
Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 11.25.26 AM photo by Jasmine Virginia, 2024 [artist and Karen in studio by desk]
Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 11.31.10 AM photo by Jasmine Virginia, 2024 [shorter woman art and Karen]
Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 11.30.06 AM photo by Dan Moll, 2024 [two seated ppl holding up white paper art]

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