We recently connected with Adele Sypesteyn and have shared our conversation below.

Adele, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

After 20 years of selling my paintings through galleries, which was what I depended on for my living, I saw that the galleries were becoming less dependable financially. They were adding so many new artists that I was only getting a show every couple of years instead of each year, so I had to find an alternative.

I looked for a way to sell directly to interior designers as they were my best repeat clients. I found out about the twice-a-year Round Top Antique Show in Round Top, Texas, a venue that attracted thousands of shoppers, including interior designers. I had an idea to showcase my contemporary paintings and pair them with antiques. I rented a booth at one of the venues to sell my paintings and bought antiques from my antique dealer friends at the large venue. That way they could see how the two complimented each other.

It worked.

After five years of successful Round Top shows I could see another challenge on the horizon. The Round Top shows were becoming too crowded with vendors. With a lot more vendors and little growth in the crowds of buyers would mean slowing sales, so again I looked for an alternative. This would be the second time I needed to pivot my art business and take a risk. A huge risk.

I decided to go and try teaching online. As I had spent the past 40+ years selling my work I knew there were a lot of artists out there I could teach all the tips and tricks I’d learned that would help them advance their painting skills quickly. I signed up for a course in creating online courses: Product Launch Formula.

Soon I developed a course, “Cultivating Your Creativity.” I also started a YouTube channel in which I offered 10-15 minute painting tutorials. Mind you I was 65 years old so there was a huge learning curve, but I was determined to make this work. The videos were very popular and I soon had over 30,000 subscribers. (Today, my channel has 90,000 subscribers.)

The success of my YouTube tutorials inspired me to launch an online monthly membership subscription, which now offers more than 250 video tutorials to over 1,200 paying subscribers.

Twice I had to find a way to pivot my business to earn a living and each time came with tremendous risk, both financially and mentally.

In addition, I do one-on-one mentoring sessions over Zoom.

Over the past 40 years, I’ve found that every challenge is actually an opportunity!

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

Growing up, my family was all about art. My mother was a painter, my sisters worked in various media, as did my brother, who worked with ceramics and photography, and who now designs furniture and lighting.

When I divorced about 30 years ago, I turned to painting full-time to earn my living.

Around the same time, I went back to school to get a master’s degree in social work and I began to focus on the healing powers of art. I cofounded the Wisdom Wellness Center, where I worked with cancer patients using art as a healing therapy.

And five years ago, I began teaching painting online, at first through my YouTube channel.

In addition to my focus on the healing powers of art, what makes me different from others teaching art is:

1. I offer a new video every week to my online membership.
2. I break down the so-called “rules” of art into understandable, simple concepts.
3. Rather than teaching artists to follow rules, I show them how to let their art emerge from themselves intuitively.
4. At the same time, I have learned about many ways to sell art. I have been in galleries, I have sold on my own at art fairs, I have sold online. And, of course, I have learned the ins and outs of teaching online.

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

My mission is to help as many people as possible learn to use art to nurture themselves and to expand their artistic vision. Nothing brings me more pleasure than reports I get from students about how painting has changed their lives.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had to pivot many times, both in my career and in my life.

1. Thirty-six years ago, I learned that my 8-year-old son had Type 1 diabetes. That changed his life and my life in so many ways. For me, it was about learning how to care for him, making life-and-death decisions. It was a burden that I still feel.

2. When I divorced in 1997, I suddenly had to turn my art endeavors into a business that would support me and my children. At first, I did that through showing in galleries around the country.

3. When galleries began to bring on additional artists and I had fewer shows, I left the galleries and learned various ways to sell directly to clients and interior decorators.

4. When my primary source of sales — direct sales at the Round Top Antique Show in Texas — began to be saturated, I turned to online sales and teaching.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://artwithadele.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adelesypesteyn/
• Facebook: adelesyptesynstudio
• Youtube: @adelesypesteynstudio.com