We were lucky to catch up with Sandra Charlap recently and have shared our conversation below.

Sandra, appreciate you joining us today. It’s easy to look at a business or industry as an outsider and assume it’s super profitable – but we’ve seen over and over again in our conversation with folks that most industries have factors that make profitability a challenge. What’s biggest challenge to profitability in your industry?

Finding ways to help my audience recognize that art is a career choice much the same as law or finance and the myriad of professional choices people make. I am certainly fortunate and maintain tremendous gratitude for the trajectory my art career has taken the past few years.
I do notice however that outside the gallery setting it is often hard for my collectors to reconcile the pricing. The consideration for pricing needs to account not only for the time and materials put into each piece but the years of experience that is brought to each piece.
Profitability differs when being sold within a gallery setting and outside in other venues and with commissioned work.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have been painting, drawing and creating art for well over 35 years. The main inspiration for me are materials. I love color and find as many ways to work with and manipulate it in my work. If there is a material out there that has a wide range of color I will usually find a way to make art with it. My main processes have been paint- watercolor, acrylic, and oil; however if a piece needs something else or more I will often bring other materials in such as gouache, pastel, ink, gold leaf as a way to further the direction I have taken with the work.
I usually have a theme and narrative that I like to explore, for instance, books have always held an important place in my life and were then made paramount in raising my children. I looked back to reflect on iconic books, memories and images that evoked childhood for me. I used acrylic paint and micro mosaic beads as the vehicle to translate this idea.
My latest work is all about aerial mapping as a way of exploring the concept of home and identity. I have utilized paint, mixed media and glass mosaic in the work over the past two years.
My audience seems to really connect with these maps and it’s been incredibly interesting to see this story unfold and take me to places I’ve only ever dreamed about.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

During the pandemic I was at a loss as to how I would be able to pull in any income, as so many of us were struggling with, but on the flip side I now had completely uninterrupted time in my studio to allow my ideas to evolve and unfold in a way I have not been afforded that time since college. Through many hours, days and ultimately, months I began painting botanicals, animals and more. I painted what I loved but also what my viewers could easily understand and connect with. It seemed that every piece I posted on social media was met with messages of people wanting to purchase. I sold nearly everything I painted and was commissioned for many more. This not only boosted my confidence but provided much needed income.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I owned a business with a friend and neighbor that I just loved. It was a small, local children’s consignment store. I went into it because it was around the corner from my home and being newly divorced with two small children I knew it was important that they see me working and thriving. Though I lived the store it wasn’t able to generate enough money to sustain us and I was offered a job as the art teacher for a small private school. Realizing this was the more prudent direction, I left the store in the capable hands of my partner and took the job, simultaneously going back to university to finish my BFA degree.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sandracharlap.com
• Instagram: Sandra_Charlap
• Facebook: Sandra levine-Charlap
• Linkedin: Sandra Charlap
• Other: www.theillustratedpet.com

Image Credits
Sandra Charlap