Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Cat Tesla, Founder & Mixed Media Artist of Cat Tesla Fine Art, located in Sarasota, FL, USA.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I'm a professional artist who creates abstract paintings and teaches artists how to paint nature-based abstract art as well as how to run an art business. My collectors from around the world who love art are my customers, as well as artists who are interested in becoming better painters and growing their businesses.
Tell us about yourself
International artist Cat Tesla is a contemporary nature-based abstract painter. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Cat grew up with a love for both art and science and obtained degrees in Biology and Graphic Design, along with a Master's Degree in Human Genetics. She worked as a genetic counselor on faculty at Emory University in Atlanta for 20 years, then eventually traded the genetics clinic for the art studio. After 26 years as a professional artist, Tesla's paintings are in more than 300 corporate collections and nearly 1000 hospitals and medical centers in the U.S., and in thousands of private collections worldwide.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Helping other artists start and grow their art businesses and helping other artists become better painters.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
As a business owner, you never sleep! You've got to wear all of the hats - creating the product, marketing the product, shipping the product, accounting, taxes, etc. You have to be flexible and able to juggle many different tasks.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Be sure you absolutely LOVE what you do because you'll be doing it over and over and over!
- Educate yourself. Before I took the leap as a full-time artist, I took courses on how to run a business, read books on marketing, and got advice from peers. I view life as a classroom, always learning new things.
- Help someone else who was in your shoes. I decided to teach artists how to start and run an art business because there was no one to help me when I did it. I've learned so much in the past 26 years; I want EVERY artist to succeed.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.artbycat.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatTeslaFineArt/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cattesla/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatTesla
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cat-tesla/
If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.
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