My journey is an actual adventure. I am a professional painter and my paintings are currently sold all over the world. Recording of your life’s work is important. No one begins as a professional artist. Therefore record your work even if you think you’re just creating art for fun. In the past few years I've sold over 250 paintings and I've reached or touched every part in the world. I have developed a wider following, with my clients across several continents. What is life without dreams? not just dreams but dreams that have the possibility of coming true. This was my motivating factor, but that requires hardwork. Ever, since I was a kid I have always been amazed by nature and colors. But never didn't I know that I was going to be a painter once grown up. Being a kid you dream about being a princess or an astronaut, but never a painter because society tells you that you cannot live off your art. However deep inside, I had the conviction that it was what I meant to do. Even though I had no clue what it was called... "painter" ,"colors wizard", "emotions master"? My entire life, my teachers reminded me of my inabilities and also told me that I had no future as a painter. They recommended I choose another path, they seemed to have some sort of pleasure by telling me that. So ended I quitting art school. However, I decided to learn the craft on my own. Not all advice is created equal. You can’t make your best work if you aren’t investing in your body and mind as well. Meanwhile, I had all of my own uncertainties, my fears, my demons. But I couldn't think about any other future for me if not the painting career. Fast forward, approximately at the age 25 I decided that this was going to be my future and my profession. So I took the leap, because every successful artist knows that their success is a marathon and not a sprint, so you need to maintain your health to stay in the game.
What made you take the leap into entrepreneurship?
Not being called or known for my work as a professional painter kind of bothered and unbearable me sometimes. But I realized you are always going to be better at some things than other people, and worse at other things. Dwelling on either isn’t going to get you anywhere.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to building your business and how did you overcome them? Fear and not giving myself time. I was absolutely terrified of sharing my work to the world initially, and I had no patience and I wanted all and everything to happen in one day. Well how did I overcome them - by smashing my head against them, but twisting my brain, by losing my sleep for years. Until I realized that people were actually pleased by my art, that they were collecting and not just to make me happy. Understanding also that I needed to give myself time and not being too harsh on myself was also a turning point for me.
Did you ever deal with contention from your family and friends concerning your entrepreneurial pursuits?
How did you handle it? What would you do differently in hindsight?
Well to be honest I've been very lucky and I had a lot of support from my family so nothing to say about them.
What would you say was the single most influential factor in your business success?
As an entrepreneur, I was motivated to be successful - crushing barriers like a tanker. As an artist I think that people were and are able to understand all of the love I put on every piece, my constant willingness to communicate positive emotions and to make people happy when they look at my art. What do you know today that you wish you would have known when you first got started as an entrepreneur?
That there was nothing wrong with me, or my creativity, and that I just needed to keep going. Practice loving myself, my creativity and being compassionate.
What advice would you give to an upcoming young and old entrepreneur locally and internationally?
Well I guess that knowing that is not going to be easy and that it will require a lot of time and effort, is a reality that better be understood and accepted. Once you have understood this and you are willing to work hard and give yourself time, well at that point nothing can go wrong.
