We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diana Toma. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diana below.

Diana, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’m currently earning a living exclusively out of painting related activities for me and my two daughters as a single-mother. It’s been so rewarding to create a career in the arts. I decided to go full-time with my art about a decade ago in the midst of a breakdown – getting divorced for the second time. I was in so much emotional pain that I couldn’t do one more thing that I don’t love – that is when I took the leap and decided to give it a real go to making a living as an artist. The first couple of years were scary as I didn’t know exactly how to do it. I started saying yes with enthusiasm to every opportunity that involved me creating art. I applied to call to artists shows, competitions, I donated my work, I volunteered for art organizations and such. I was a resounding yes to every opportunity, even if it didn’t seem it may lead to making money. For example, my family thought I am crazy to donate my work to a charity that was fundraising for an artist that got sick. They said “how can you donate work when you need to sell?” Well that artist thanked me by sending my way all her private lesson students, since she couldn’t teach anymore. Out of my first lessons I was able to pay my $900 monthly rent – I had rented a small condo and was teaching from my dining room table. One call for art ad on craigslist offered me and another young artist a due show at a fancy bar & gallery that just opened. At that show I sold 3 original paintings, one of them went to my divorce layer! Unexpected opportunities were popping up everywhere, and the more I said yes, the more I felt as a real artist. A decade later, and I have won many awards for my work, I have taught hundreds of painting workshops meeting about 800 participants, had 3 solo shows, sold hundreds of paintings, had my work on a billboard, in magazines, I have become and judge and jury for art shows, traveled internationally with my work, got commissioned to do public art, I am invited to speak on behalf of the working artist on discussion panels and much more! I have been experiencing the snowball effect – my career started from an initial state of small significance and has been building upon itself, becoming larger and larger every year. These days projects come to me based on the reputation that I have created through these years, and I couldn’t be happier!

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?

I loved art since I was a little kid so after graduating high school I trained for a year with a local art professor to attain the skills needed to get into a prestigious art program at a college in Europe, Romania, my country of origin. I have a masters degree in fine arts but in my first years after graduating I had bought into the myth of the starving artist, even thou I had always sold a painting here and there in every show I participated in. My problem was that I didn’t personally know any full time artist that was making a living from their art. Today I have discovered hundreds of ways to make a sale, or get a commission. Art is a business like any other business – it requires same strategies: Get organized. Analyze your competition. Be creative. Provide great service. Stay the course.

My business is divided into two main branches: teaching painting classes – this is where I get to meet many people that consume art, and selling my original work – here is where I take part in competitions, create art for shows, for collectors and for businesses. Both branches feed into each other. Teaching makes me a better painter through practicing and testing my skills constantly by teaching it to others. Many of my students become my collectors or help spread the word about my abilities, or bring resources to my attention. I create original art on canvas or paper, as well as commissioned art – which is art created for a client (individual or business) in a wide variety of scopes – from a custom portrait of a family member to large scale murals in public places.

The community I have created around art is vital to my business. It makes me a valuable contributor to something larger than myself.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the joy I get to bring to the many people I interact with, either through teaching a class helping someone grow confident in their work, or though the sentiments my work brings when someone collects my it. It gives me purpose and I feel like I’m really contributing to others. My desire to serve and make an impact is being fulfilled, even if it’s not in a grand way. What matters is that the contributions are meaningful.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I want to bring more beauty to this world. I want to sooth, I want to uplift, I want to inspire. This mission never fails to pour back and feed my own creative process. It is a virtuous circle.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ArtByDianaToma.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ArtByDianaToma
• Facebook: www.instagram.com/DianaTomaArtist
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/ArtByDianaToma/videos
• Other: Recent Work: www.artbydianatoma.tumblr.com