Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shelly Cluff. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Shelly, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

My first time painting was as a new mom for a girls night out at an acrylic “paint nite”. I enjoyed it but did not create any impressive art. I went to a few more over the next few years and eventually decided to get some paints and try to figure it out on my own at home. I started watching YouTube videos and painting things as favors for friends. I started painting several times a week and was able to sell very cheap paintings to friends through social media.

Looking back, I often learned by copying art I liked from other artists. This was fine while I was learning but I didn’t learn until later that it is a faux pas to copy someone else’s art and share it on social media or try to sell it as my own. I didn’t realize how hard earned finding your own artistic style is.

My best advice would be to paint as much as you can. I never liked hearing that when I wanted to be better but it was by far the best tool for me to develop as an artist. I started to pay attention to the way that my hand wanted to move and what colors I was naturally drawn to, and trying to connect with myself helped me discover my own style.

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 an artist working in both watercolor and acrylics. I paint mostly florals, as well as landscapes and the occasional fruit. I have been told by collectors that my art is full of joy. I started painting as a fun hobby that I could do after putting my kids to bed and little by little started selling my art. After encouragement from followers, I started creating cards of my art and that has been a great product for me.

I now sell art, cards, as well as prints and a few other products. I think my art stands out for its cheerful feel and loose, whimsical style.

Aside from making art, I also regularly teach watercolor workshops which is a delight to me. I have loved helping others discover the joy of painting.

Because joy is such a central piece of everything I do, I find a lot of meaning in this work. I feel like I have found a space to create joy and to help others find and share joy.

Have you ever had to pivot?

When I had only been painting for about a year, I really wanted to sell more of my work and tried every kind of market that I could get my hands on. I failed over and over (in hindsight, this was mostly because my art was not very good yet). At the end of the year I felt rejected and had spent more than I earned on all of those failed efforts. I decided to stop markets for a while and a short time later found out I was expecting my fourth child.

The pregnancy was a difficult one and I had no energy for painting. I would walk by my art supplies and feel a wave of guilt at the expense now sitting unused.

After my daughter was born, I eventually started to dabble again, but committed to only painting for my own soul and not to try and sell. This space of only painting for me was a powerful time and I saw a lot of growth as an artist.

Little by little, sharing what I was working on prompted followers to ask about greeting cards of my work. I fought the idea for a long time because I felt so traumatized by my failure a couple years before. Eventually I decided to be brave and make what felt like a big investment in my first test order of some cards. They sold out in a matter of days.

Since then I have stayed profitable and found joy both in making art and also growing a business. Healing was the turning point for both successes.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Before I started my journey as an artist, I was a stay at home mom and was not bringing in an income. This has given me the flexibility to always be deciding what I want to do with my time, without the pressures of needing to do anything to support my family. I guide my decisions by asking myself if the given opportunity is flexible and fulfilling. Things like teaching a recurring weekly class is not flexible enough for me at this stage of life, but teaching a couple night a month is. Certain markets don’t fit that mold, but e-commerce growth has been great for me. I have found that some opportunities drain me instead of filling me and I avoid repeating those.

Those two words have made it much easier for me to decide what to pursue and what doesn’t fit with my desires.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shellycluff.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/shellycluff_art
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/shellycluff.art