We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsay Taylor. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsay below.
Hi Lindsay, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
My confidence as an artist especially in my early years was hard to find. I was always told at a young age making a living as an artist was not always plausible and you don’t make money as an artist. That I needed to be more practical. And that always made it hard to gain confidence as an artist or creative individual since I never felt like I would go anywhere. But the moment that really changed for me was when I signed up for my very first Art Show in Phoenix Arizona. I had been accepted into a venue and I was so nervous and unsure what to expect. I was not sure if I would sell anything or how it would go, or if anyone aside from me would like my artwork. Once those doors opened not even 5 minutes into the show I made my first sale. And by the end of the night I made around $300 and for a low confidence artist that was a big lifter.
Ever since then I have been working on building my confidence and trying different things I would have never thought Id try. Last year for instance I signed up for my first big show! It was a $200 entry fee and for me that is a lot of money on what always is a gamble at venues. You never know how much you’ll make. Needless to say IT WAS WORTH IT!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Hi, I’m Lindsay Taylor: mother, military spouse, animal enthusiast, artist, and graphic designer. Welcome to my studio! I create colorful, energetic, and fantastical images inspired by animals and constellations. With over ten years painting experience in the traditional mediums of watercolors and acrylics I’ve refined my style, using rich colors and magical themes throughout most of my pieces. I hope you enjoy all that I have to offer, and share the experience with others.
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?
The three qualities, skills, and knowledge I think are most important when having any type of creative business is passion, the ability to reflect, and not be afraid to take chances.
Having a business i hard work. There’s things you have to worry about like taxes, state tax vs federal tax and how to make right offs. And having a website you have to update with your shop, and newsletters, keeping up with social media- all that jazz. It is hard work. And for some its not worth it. But for others having that PASSION for your creative work makes all the difference. Passion keeps me going- I LOVE making art, and I love to see different reactions to my work. When someone commissions a special piece for a loved one and that initial spark of joy and over whelming happiness is such a hit of endorphins- its amazing. When you have a passion for what you do it makes you feel like you never have to work a day in your life.
Your ability to reflect on your work and see what you like to create vs what there is a market out there for will either help make or break your business. See what things you like to make and how people in your area respond. I have a lot of fantasy and animal themes in my work and people here eat that up. Even more so if you turn it into functional art ( cups, bags, stickers, etc.). One item I tried that did not sell well was coasters. That gamble did not pay off so to speak. But I had a thought about hand painted bookmarks and I’ve sold around 70 since I started making them. Lesson being reflect and see what works.
One of the biggest chances I felt like I took was making the decision to put my art out there. On a more professional basis. I was ready to do shows more regularly. Look into bigger shows, network with other creatives in my area that knew more then I did. Stop by local shops and see if they would be willing to show/ sell some of my work. You cannot truly grow as a person or creative if you do not take chances. That is what helps you grow.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
the feeling of being overwhelmed is a very hard one to overcome. I am the type of person who likes to stay busy. I am a mom, I work as a contract graphic designer for a company remotely, I have my small business for my art, go to venues, sometimes teach classes, all while my husband is on deployment. Perks of being a military spouse. I have learned that you have to take it one day at a time. If I try to look at the bigger picture that gets over whelming so I break it down into smaller pieces. What needs to be done today. When is my nest show, how much time to I have to prepare, do I feel like this week would be a good week to paint? What if I am to tired? Is pushing through always the best choice? No, I would say not. When you’re like someone like me that has a lot that depends on your and your mental well being- breaks are always a must. Decide what is a want and need. What needs to get done vs what can wait. Burnout is deadly and takes months to properly overcome. Take it slow, make a list of 5 things you want to get done for the day. If you don’t get the whole list done, its not going anywhere so do the rest the next day.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lunar-art-paintings.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lunarartpaintings/?igshid=NzZlODBkYWE4Ng%3D%3D
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LunarArt13
Image Credits
All images are taken by me!
