Meet Gaye M Adams

We were lucky to catch up with Gaye M Adams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Gaye with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I’ve always believed that work ethic is necessary for success in any field. I learned this from my family of origin. Doing your part was always a given, and expecting everything to be dropped on your lap in terms of wealth or success or happiness was just not a reasonable expectation.

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

I am grateful every day for being able to make a living doing what I love….creating art. I also have a passion for teaching what I know to others, an activity that I find both rewarding and stimulating.

I work with several commercial galleries, and I am also working at building my business online so I have more control over my level of exposure to collectors. In addition, I love to teach painting workshops in interesting locations – I have taken students to Spain, Italy, Croatia, Mexico and Southern California to teach them to paint the landscape on location. As an artist I find it’s important to create more than one stream of revenue – besides, it keeps things interesting!

Currently, new paintings and new workshops can be found on my site: www.gayeadams.com

This winter I will be putting together an online course that will be offered on my site once it is completed. I’ve always thought about putting together a course that summarizes what I have learned as a painter. I feel that it’s important to pay forward the learning I have received.

My online presence is of course on my website, but also on FB at gayeadamsartwork

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think working hard at cultivating excellence at whatever skill set you are trying to develop is job one. As a painter, working at developing my painting skills by working from life, keeping my drawing chops in shape, and pushing myself to keep learning about moving paint around through sheer easel hours has made all the difference. Good paintings will always be easier to sell than mediocre ones.

After that, paying attention to marketing – getting smart about what approaches will work for your business and getting business coaching if you need help is a solid plan. Don’t compare yourself to other artists that may be making more sales, etc., just notice your own progress, and keep moving forward. Networking with other painters can be a big help here – I do it all the time with my close circle of painting friends.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

I just stop and take a beat, and pay attention to any negative thinking that might be swirling around in my head and then I challenge those negative thoughts. Mindset is SO important. Recognize that frustration is a part of growing and learning and is unavoidable if you want to progress. I do a mental reset and choose to spend some time in self care.

Don’t get bogged down in minor setbacks – keep your eye on the prize and apply regular concentrated effort on achieving your goals. Always be engaged in creative problem solving and finding a way through roadblocks.

Take time to “Sharpen the Saw” (Stephen Covey’s “The 7 habits of Highly Effective People” has greatly influenced me) Sharpening the Saw refers to taking time to meditate, exercise, and do whatever else it takes to be my best – it speaks to investing in yourself and doing the things that are most important to your personal health and well being. Those things that are less urgent, but more important. This practice will give you the energy and mindset needed to move forward, as well as keeping your work/life balance in a happy place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gayeadams.com
• Instagram: gayeadamsart
• Facebook: gayeadamsartwork

Image Credits

All images are mine