Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arleana Holtzmann. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Arleana, thanks for joining us today. What’s been one of the most interesting investments you’ve made – and did you win or lose? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)
As an Artist and Small Business Owner, I have found that the best Investment I can make is in Connections, or Investing in People around you. This was one of the first lessons I learned at my first Art Gallery Exhibition. During my first show, a friendly and outgoing event coordinator invested their time in me, talked with me and quickly became my mentor. They helped me with applications to Art Shows, with my Artist Bio when applying to Galleries, and had so many tips and tricks to being an Artist that they had learned from doing it themselves. I quickly learned that one thing an Artist needs is to connect with Artists around them. Finding Artists that you relate to, can talk to, and are comfortable hanging out with. That connection provides emotional support, which is so important for those moments when you get multiple rejection letters at once. Joining other Artists and being a part of local Art Organizations is another form of connection that creates even more connections. For example, My mentor and I ended up creating a local Artist Network where we connected with local Artists and shared opportunities and over time, local Art Organizations in the area also joined. Now the group has over 6,000 local Artists, and the Art Organizations directly share opportunities with the Artists. It’s become a wonderful source of connecting the local Arts Community, but even beyond that with Companies and Organizations that are not Art based, but looking to support or include Artists. I personally have been able to paint live at the St. Louis Zoo, the National Children’s Cancer Society, The Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House, and at Stray Rescue’s Annual Event “Urban Wanderers”. Participated at events with the Endangered Wolf Center, at the St. Louis Science Center, multiple St. Louis County Community Events and Art Shows, and had a two year residency at the World Bird Sanctuary. I owe all of those to connecting with other Artists, connecting with Organizations, or Opportunities. Besides having a community of Artists, having a community of direct Supporters is essential. Connecting to people that want to see you succeed is an important part of being successful. Collectors that go to your events, show up on your website when there is new art, and financially support you provide you with the income needed to support your business. Connecting though Social Media to a community of people helping to support you business with social post likes, comments, and shares. Those connections lift you up through the mass of social posts to promote your business. And a VIP community, or people you’ve connected with that go above and beyond. These are the people you can’t run your business without. Maybe this is a person that helps you at shows, or a photographer that records your journey, or maybe this is a person who helps you find words when you have to make 365 posts a year.
It’s by investing in these communities and connections that I have been able to improve my business beyond what I could have done on my own. I’ve found that connecting with people is by far the best investment you can make for your business.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a St. Louis based artist who mixes my love of art with causes I am passionate about. As a professional Artist, I participate in local Art Events, work with charities, and Exhibit at Art Galleries.
My art is a continuous pursuit of creative ideas, evolving perspectives, and pushing beyond my comfort zone. I test new creative techniques, mediums, and styles to better understand art as a form of communication. I seek to foster a connection between the creator, viewer, and essence of the artwork. I use watercolors, acrylics and oil paints to depict the world around me including animals, still life paintings, and landscapes. Many of my works include large brush strokes, drips, splatters and abstract paint techniques while still allowing the subject to shine through.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
As a shy child, art became my language, offering a connection when words failed me. I used art to speak, a way to express my thoughts and feelings to the world. I immersed myself in classical techniques, meticulously recreating tangible subjects until it became a part of who I was. Through practice and schooling I focused on representational work and getting my artwork to look as realistic as possible. It was when a piece looked like a photograph, I began to realize I needed to unlearn perfectionism and embrace the creative aspect of my artwork. Only then did I transition from depicting exactly what I saw to expressing emotions through the properties of the paint itself. I then understood Pablo Picasso’s quote, “It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.” Now I use both deliberate brush strokes and uncontrollable paint splashes to balance my academic discipline with my abstract creative expression.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
Artists are small business owners. We are always looking for ways to improve, expand, and create the next opportunity to share our work. I think it’s important for everyone to realize you can create opportunities and support Artists by simply having an open mind. Being open to working with Artists can benefit anyone. We can provide unique perspectives, creative ideas, and solutions that otherwise may not have been thought of. Present an Artist with an opportunity and they may participate, lead, or transform that opportunity into something new and unique. Simply asking what can I provide you with that will benefit us both? I believe there will be no lack of ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.arleanaholtzmann.com
- Instagram: @arleanaholtzmann
- Facebook: Arleana Holtzmann Visual Artist