We were lucky to catch up with Amber Bengson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Amber, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The first dollar you earn in a new endeavor is always special. We’d love to hear about how you got your first client that wasn’t a friend or family.

We all remember the onslaught of the Covid pandemic, unsure of what tribulations the new virus would bring, we found ourselves trapped inside our homes. I think I had blown through about 90 % of Netflix before I realized I was taking this time for granted. When else would I get the opportunity to have all of this uninterrupted time to fill my soul?

So I picked up an old canvas and my brushes. I figured creating something beautiful would be much more meaningful than inundating my brain with hours of reality TV. I thought others might enjoy watching the process, so I posted a timelapse on my social media. I started with a whimsical piece, a woman’s portrait decorated with pastels and abstract strokes. That first piece was followed by an influx of messages saying how beautiful my work was, and for the first time since the quarantine had started, I felt a sense of fulfillment. Thus, I carried on painting.

My next piece was a woman with a bee tattoo, posed in front of a sky background with metallic honeycomb adorning the back. I was still figuring out new techniques, learning as I went along. I had posted my timelapse to Facebook, which is where I received my first commission piece.

He had asked for a contemporary style painting of a longhorn cow to send as a gift for his brother in Texas. I told him I had never painted something in that style, and had never sold one of my paintings but he convinced me that I could do it. As I started painting, I thought…oh no, this was a mistake. But if I had learned anything from the Youtube artists I followed, it was that it was sometimes about trusting the process and trusting yourself. I finished the painting after umpteen hours of self-effacing judgement, and ended up with one of my favorite paintings to date.

I posted the finished product on my new Coffee & Whips art page, and ended up doing four commissions of that same painting!

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

Everyone always asks me why I chose the name Coffee & Whips for my art business. To be honest, I wanted it to be called Coffee & Whip, as in whipped cream or whipped Dalgona coffee. That username had already been claimed. I wanted a name that be edgy because when I think of some of the greatest artists, I think of pushing the envelope with the likes of Banksy, Salvador Dali, and Vincent Van Gogh. Thus, Coffee & Whips was born.

At first, my art page was just about sharing what my mind had created in the thralls of quarantine and giving people the opportunity to watch the process unfurl. Since then, it has evolved and grown into custom commissions and art shows and for that I am very grateful.

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I think the biggest struggle I have had with non-creatives interested in a commission is that sometimes pricing does not make sense. If they are asking for a smaller sized painting, they will often wonder why there is a base charge and a deposit involved.

Non-refundable deposits are due at the start of the deal. I charge this for supplies and time. I think non-creatives are not aware that some of these canvases can cost $100 and each paint tube can cost about $17. So if I put time and spend money upfront to bring their vision to life, it can be painful to see that deal fall through.

I usually charge by linear inch, but there is not a set multiplier that I use because it really depends on the style that they are asking for. My contemporary animals have been popularized, and I think non-creatives do not see how much time and paint has to be used to create that style. Each layer has to dry to build upon itself and give the look that they want.

Aside from supplies, art is very personal and emotional to create. There always comes a point where you are questioning yourself as you begin to layer the paint and that can deteriorate your confidence. It takes resilience to power through the gross phase to reveal the beauty ahead.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I started creating art to connect with people and help connect other people together. In my experience from walking along Roosevelt Row at First Fridays to viewing the graffiti adorning the underbelly of Parisian train tunnels, art has always inspired conversation.

I think we all have a story to tell and to show to the world and that’s why I love creating custom acrylic paintings for my clients. Not only do I get the opportunity to hear about and then showcase what matters to them in a creative way, but they get to tell their own story to the people who see these paintings hanging in their homes or offices and communicate what it means to them.
I find that so beautiful and inspiring, and I think that’s what art is all about. So what’s your story? And how can I help you share it with the world?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coffeeandwhips/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coffeeandwhips