We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Courtney Pasterchick. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Courtney below.
Courtney, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
I have a poster in my room that says “you get what you work for not what you wish for”. Being a freelance artist is not an easy task. Some months I am flooded with mural projects and other months there will be nothing. Being your own boss in a competitive industry can be both rewarding and challenging. It’s important to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. I learned the hard way that you can fall behind on your bills and be surpassed by other artists if you start to get lazy. In the art community, those who work the hardest get rewarded in a long run. Personally, being a mural artist is the only path that I want for my life and I have learned that I can turn my passion into my job if I work hard enough.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
While I have always been passionate about art, my professional career as an artist started to take off in my last two years of college at the University of Tampa. I was working to refine my skills in traditional oil painting while also interning under an established mural artist, learning new techniques to take with me after graduating. I took a lot of time applying to shows in the Tampa area and asking business owners to trust me to paint their walls in order to build up my network. Being a freelance artist right out of college had its struggles to say the least, but working through those struggles made this job that much more rewarding overtime. As of right now, I have been traveling around the country painting murals and working on creating a brand for myself. My skills vary from crisp acrylic painted murals to more abstract style spray painted murals. I listen to my clients and their brand they are trying to portray in order to turn their vision into a reality. It is always so exciting to see my clients reaction to the finished product. The fact that my job has the ability to make other business owners’ visions come to life is the best part about being an artist. I am always doing new and exciting projects and have so much appreciation for the people who support me. If you would like to follow along with my journey you can follow me on Instagram at @Courtney_Makes_Art.
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?
Every artist has their own journey to follow and there is no “correct” path for success. Some artists that I know are self taught and naturally good at networking. However, I personally needed to refine my skills in college painting courses, work under professionals in the field, and get inspired by the community around me. I like to feel prepared and knowledgeable to do a job before jumping into it, where others learn by doing. My advice for aspiring artists would be to find what methods work best for you and let your journey unfold the way it wants to. I had to learn not to compare myself to other artists, because my path is different then theirs and I will reach my goal eventually if I stay consistent. As long as you are passionate and hard working, everything will fall into place.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
As a young woman in the art industry, I have had to prove myself to older business owners that underestimate my abilities. Gaining respect for what I do is one of the hardest things I have had to overcome with certain clients. A lot of times I will be working on a mural next to electricians, plumbers, and construction workers at the same time, yet I am the only worker that is asked if I can lower my pricing. As the only woman in the room at times, it’s tough to be looked at with less respect. In my opinion, the perfect client will understand that I have spent my whole life to get to where I am in the art industry and trust my pricing is valid. I have had to remind myself constantly that I am worthy of being where I am and deserve the same amount of respect as the next person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.courtneymakesart.com/
- Instagram: @courtney_makes_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Courtneymakesartofficial/
Image Credits
Redflaremedia
