Chasing Opportunity (and Trying Not to Chase Everything)

I sat down to write this week's blog and realized I had absolutely no idea what to write about.

Not because nothing has been happening. Quite the opposite. There has been so much happening that my brain feels like it has about 37 tabs open, and I'm not entirely sure which one is playing music.

Over the past couple of weeks, I've opened an Etsy shop, joined another local business to display and sell my artwork, painted what feels like a small mountain of holiday merchandise, prepared for another Second Saturday Art Walk, and started experimenting with a new camera to create more video content.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I've been thinking about teaching art classes. Oh, and there's still that full-time corporate career.

No wonder I'm tired.

Throwing a Few Things at the Wall

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it actually takes to build a successful art business. When I first started painting, the goal was simple. I wanted to learn, improve, and create paintings I was proud of. Eventually, I started participating in art shows, selling my work, and dreaming about what it might look like to become a full-time artist someday.

But lately, I've realized that creating the artwork is only one piece of the puzzle. There's finding the right audience, figuring out where to sell, learning how to market myself, developing products at different price points, and discovering what people actually want to buy. And I don't think there's one perfect formula.

So right now, I'm experimenting.

I recently opened my Etsy shop, something I've been considering for a while. So far, I've had 14 visits. Not exactly breaking the internet! But I also haven't officially promoted it yet, so I'm reminding myself that simply getting the shop open was a step forward.

I also joined the wonderful group at Sunshine City Paints in St. Petersburg's Edge District, where I now have a wall displaying some of my smaller original paintings. It's another opportunity to introduce my work to people who might never find my website or visit my studio.

And with the holidays approaching, I've been busy creating hand-painted journals, ornaments, and other affordable gifts. I love the idea that someone who might not be ready to purchase a large painting can still take home a little piece of original art.

Will all of these things work? Probably not. But some of them might.

And I won't know unless I try.

Not Every Saturday Is a Sales Saturday

Some of my new merchandise available in the studio

Last night was our October Second Saturday Art Walk. I had worked hard preparing new merchandise, rearranging my studio, and getting everything ready for visitors. People were complimentary, and I had some lovely conversations. But it was a slow evening, and I didn't make any sales.

A year ago, that might have really discouraged me. This time, surprisingly, it didn't. Of course, I would have loved to sell something. But I'm beginning to understand that building an art business isn't going to be measured by the success of one evening. Sometimes the value is in a conversation, a new connection, or someone remembering your work and coming back another day.

In fact, one visitor asked whether I offered art classes. And just like that, another tab opened in my brain.

Because teaching art? That's something I would absolutely love to explore.

Would I need a bigger studio? Could I offer small workshops somewhere else? What about online classes?

Suddenly, a quiet evening at the studio had me dreaming about an entirely new possibility.

The Opportunity Isn't Going to Find Me

One thought keeps coming back to me lately. I genuinely believe there is an opportunity out there for me to build the creative life I'm dreaming about. I just don't necessarily know what it looks like yet.

Maybe it will come through gallery representation. Maybe online sales will grow. Maybe my smaller pieces and handmade gifts will find their audience. Maybe I'll discover that I love teaching as much as painting. Or maybe it will be something I haven't even considered yet.

But here's what I do know.

My new space at Sunshine City Paint!

That opportunity probably isn't going to knock on my front door while I'm sitting on the couch waiting for it. I have to put myself out there. I have to introduce myself, try new things, risk rejection, and occasionally spend an entire evening at an art walk without selling a single thing.

And I have to be willing to learn along the way.

The Hard Part Is Wanting to Do It All

Of course, there's a downside to having so many ideas. There are only so many hours in a day. I want to paint more. I want to grow my online presence. I want to start making vlogs and sketchbook tours with my new camera. I want to write consistently, explore gallery opportunities, develop new products, and maybe even teach.

And I want to do all of those things well.

But I'm also learning that just because something is a good idea doesn't mean it has to happen this week. Or even this month. Some ideas deserve immediate attention. Others can sit quietly on the back burner until there's room for them.

I'm not particularly good at that part yet. When I get excited about something, I want to jump right in. Patience has never been my greatest strength when it comes to creative projects (or anything else for that matter).

But perhaps this is another part of the journey: learning to recognize opportunities without feeling obligated to chase every single one.

Building Something, One Experiment at a Time

I don't have a big revelation to wrap up this week's post. My Etsy shop is still brand new. My studio is still finding its rhythm. I'm still figuring out what merchandise resonates with customers and where my paintings belong. And my list of ideas is considerably longer than my available free time.

But when I look back at where I was even six months ago, I realize how much has changed. I'm not just thinking about building an art business anymore. I'm actually building one.

It might be a little messy. It might involve a few wrong turns and a lot of trial and error. And it definitely involves more coffee and longer to-do lists than I anticipated. But I'm moving forward. Maybe the goal right now isn't to figure everything out.

Maybe it's simply to keep showing up, stay curious, and give myself permission to discover what works.

Because sometimes you have to try a few different doors before you find the one that's meant to open.

And who knows? Maybe the next opportunity is already waiting around the corner.