Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Audrey Martin. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Audrey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?
I’ve always loved painting and creating. I decided that I wanted to teach kids in small groups on how to paint beautiful works of art. I reached out to local businesses and asked if I could post a sign of classes for kids. I started to get a few kids here in there and when the parents showed up they loved what I was creating with them. These moms would ask if they could come over with their friend and paint. After a few request of this a lightbulb went off in my head. What if I approached restaurants and asked if I could use their any space on their slower nights to have paint parties. I was able to get one restaurant to participate. I remember my first class being very nerve-racking as I have never really taught adults in a setting were the painting needed to be completed within three hours. After that first class everyone loved their painting and they turned out great.
I then researched Materials needed in bulk such as folding easels, supplies needed for the class as far as aprons, brushes, paint, ect.
At first the classes were on the smaller side. I would create a new painting for each class for my students to paint. I taught these classes with a step-by-step method and the class finished their paintings within A three hour window.
I advertised my classes through Facebook and I would create flyers to put up in the restaurant for registration.
In the beginning my classes started out with 5 to 8 People per class. Within six months I was hosting 20 to 25 people in each class. This continued and has remained for the last 12 years. I feel blessed to be able to do what I love!!
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Growing up I’ve always been creative and work with my hands. I am a self-taught Artist. My medium is acrylic painting. I started out at a very young age dabbling with paint, and creating beautiful works of art with birchbark. Early on in my career high was making birch bark baskets, and covering furniture with Birchpark that had inscribed scenes within the bark. Are use a chisel to create these beautiful mountain, animal scenes. I did this for quite a few years and decided I wanted to pick up the brush again so I started painting for myself initially then thought it would be fun to start teaching others the art of painting. It has been so rewarding showing people how to create and seeing their faces light up when they are excited to realize that they can do this too.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
In 2020 when Covid hit I had to pick up my business as I taught in person classes 6 to 8 times a week. With no one being able to be around one another I had to figure out how to continue teaching my classes without doing them in person.
I decided by making a YouTube video tutorial that comes with a kit and then have the option of mailing them out or people doing porch pick up. This was a big hit. I was producing 60 to 100 kits per pick up which were every other week.
Since 2022 I have created over 100 video paint tutorials. These tutorials come with a painting kit that has everything provided.
It brings me joy to know that people were getting their paint therapy during a time that they could not be around others.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
When I first started my painting business and I put out flyers and advertise them through grocery stores, and restaurants. I also advertised through Facebook.
Contact Info:
- Website: Audreyscanvasparties.Com
- Instagram: AudreyMartinArt
- Facebook: Audreyscanvasparties