We recently connected with Daryl Childs and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Daryl, thanks for joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

The desire to become a full-time working artist was always a dream – graduating with a BFA and setting out into the wide world to begin my art career proved a much more daunting task. While in school I worked on learning and improving techniques but realized very quickly that in order to make a living in this endeavor I would likely need to seek advice and business models outside of academia. Artists/art students are generally taught little, if anything, regarding the business of art so I decided very quickly to educate myself through working with actual art businesses. Working closely, over the next 8-10 years, with various art and art-related businesses taught me a great deal of how to make a very good life for myself in the arts not only as a creative artist but as a businessman, eventually owning several art, consulting and framing companies.
I feel strongly that in order to survive in the arts you need to formulate a working plan. My plan featured many variables as I quickly realized that, as a working artist selling my work through galleries, sales are definitely going to lag. In order to maintain my living and working environments I needed to add additional income producing opportunities to fill the gap between sales – and these opportunities all needed to support my creative endeavors. Thus I added art consulting and framing as venues that not only produced income but presented a multitude of opportunities that I had never anticipated.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am originally from upstate New York. I entered the military after high school, not only to see a bit of the world but to also benefit from the GI Bill of Rights that would help me pay for my university education. As previously mentioned, after I finished at The University of Arizona I immediately set out to put into action my plan of becoming a full-time working artist. I should add that the next 30+ years have proven to be not only an exciting, amazing time but also an extremely busy time as I basically burned the candle at both ends. I kept regular studio hours, at first going to my studio after a full day of work and generally staying late into the night When I started my own business(es) I continued to maintain regular studio hours but then added additional businesses to help support me and my family (I was married with 2 children) between art sales. Perhaps the single most successful business plan I came up with was to become an art consultant to the trades – architects, designers as well as other art consultants. These connections then provided me with a multitude of opportunities to place artwork, mine as well as a growing collection of represented artists, within both residential and commercial projects. As a result of the success of this endeavor I then opened a framing studio in order to provide myself framing and art-related services such a installation, packing, shipping and delivery. Eventually I found myself in possession of a warehouse facility, housing not only my studio but the framing venue and a storage facility for all of the artwork by various artists that I worked with. The next logical step (or so it seemed at the time) was to properly utilize all of the artwork that was otherwise simply being stored until needed, by opening a gallery.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I am now 70 years old. I am a very active and fit 70 year old and hope to continue to be so! At present I divide my time between my Arizona residence/studio and my residence/studio in Queensland, Australia where my wife and I have property. There is but one aspect of my business career that, if I had to do over again, I would seriously reconsider – Gallery ownership. I went down that path primarily as a result of being a successful art consultant and thus warehousing significant amounts of artwork from a multitude of artists from around the country. At the time it seemed the next logical step, as I had by then amassed a sizeable collection of artwork with ready access to additional work as needed. I thus became a gallery owner for 20+ years, working primarily out of two locations in Arizona, eventually spreading myself over an additional 3-4 locations through affiliations in other states. It very soon became apparent that as I was now sitting on the owners side of the desk from the artist my studio time was going to become significantly decreased, at one point even stopping for a period as I dealt with the growing responsibilities of artist representation as well as expanding business. It very quickly became an insanely busy time and, as a result, I eventually brought in a partner – and within a brief period of time realized that I was becoming further removed from the creative side of the art world and that significant changes were required in order to realign with my original desires in art. Without going in to great detail, my life at this time took a very big hit – physically, emotionally and financially. It took me a few years – and a few friends – but I finally realized that I was greatly overextended and had far exceeded my original plan to be a working artist. Glossing over the details, I eventually sold my interest in the gallery (still a successful enterprise) and returned to being a full-time working artist. I occasionally am called to consult on projects but am in an ideal position to pick and choose and have closed out all other business venues in favor of pure studio time!

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The single most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being in the studio. Giving yourself time to not only work but to quiet the noise of the world and listen to yourself. Studio time is not only working time but thinking time as well – plus I read a great deal and love music (a trained percussionist) and find the greatest satisfaction when, at the end of a day of working on a piece, can then lodge the image of that piece in my head and take it home with me to think and dream on!
At this point in my life I am happiest to simply work and to have a venue from which to exhibit work. I am far removed from desiring solo exhibits but simply prefer to work and give my work to the gallery, for which I am grateful!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Darylchildsart.com
• Instagram: Darylchildsart
• Facebook: Daryl Childs
• Linkedin: Daryl Childs