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

Alright, Amanda thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us 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?

“Starving Artist” is a term of the past. Artists are here and we are determined to make a living wage off from doing what we love. The best advice I can give to any aspiring or beginning artist is to create multiple revenue streams. Make prints, create merchandise, vend at artisan markets, teach classes. Whatever feels right for you and your work, but do the research first. For some artists, only having originals makes sense so they teach classes. Maybe selling stickers or bookmarks with your work on it feels like a great next move! Do the research, find what fits, and introduce one new thing at a time.

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

Open space is a place where community meets creativity! While I was working on my BFA at Illinois State University and about to graduate, I began to worry about what I would do to continue my practices when school was over. I thought about creating a maker’s space, and developed a business plan. I looked at a few buildings, and nothing seemed right at the time. Then in 2018, I had a few career changes. I walked past a building that was for rent, and it was completely gutted. The landlord was willing to build to suit. I walked through and at first thought, the space was too small for my ideas but knew I had to start somewhere. I let them know I was interested, but there were others ahead of me, so I didn’t think anything would come of it. A few months later, I got the call that the building was mine if I wanted it. It was quite a thrill; I don’t think I was ready for it at the time, but when are you ever ready for something like that? I jumped in feet first and opened Open Space Art Gallery and Studios. A maker’s Space where we show work, host workshops, give artists a place to create, and offer our community a home for creativity. Growing with the gallery has been the best experience, and being able to give artists (and myself) the inclusion and community that I longed for is the most rewarding and amazing feeling. The gallery has really served the community in many ways through its almost 5 years of being open. We have started a Third Friday Downtown Market that has grown every year. We fill Madison Street with artists and music, and the local businesses stay open late too! It’s a fun event for the whole family! Everything I have worked to create at Open Space has always been guided by inclusion, acceptance, and growth. I want all the artists of any age or skill level in our area to have the opportunity to feel seen. To give our community a space to have fun and to express our ideas.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely! Our local SBDC (Small Business Development Center) was a huge help when I first opened and now I tell everyone I can about them. Most states have a SBA or SBDC and you can look up their offices online. They offer FREE help to anyone wanting to start a small business. How to apply for your LLC, taxes, insurance, marketing, a business plan, they help with it all. It was one of the most valuable resource I had when I first opened.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I love listening to podcasts, and when I was waiting to hear if I was able to rent the building Open Space is currently in,I was listening to a lot of business and art podcasts, but one that really stuck was “The Cathy Heller Podcast: A Podcast for Soulful Entrepreneurs” She had great information, and hyped you up in a way that made me believe I could do this!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.osartstudios.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openspaceartgallery/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/openspaceartgallery

Image Credits
Lex Poulako’s: Photographer