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

Brit, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Looking back, it has definitely been a slow-build process, but I’m proud to be making my living as a fine arts painter and graphic designer – and loving the freedom to be doing it on my own terms. Realizing my dream of entrepreneurship began with a little streak of bad luck, actually. Enter – the pandemic of 2020, which saw me get laid off from my corporate design job, grieve the loss of one of my most special loved ones, and stuck in lockdown with an inbox full of rejection letters. Those days were ground zero, and the immediate need to put food on the table was motivating! With my newfound free time, I returned to painting and decided to take the leap and formally establish my art business, Moon Sign Studio, LLC. I met with a CPA about taxes, set up a website, and even took a couple business workshops so I could feel confident selling my artwork in a larger capacity and pursuing freelance opportunities.

Small successes have become more frequent and grown into a steady, dependable flow. Quick one-off projects like logo designs have turned into long standing contracts and clients. Selling a few small paintings to friends or family have blossomed into creating large statement-piece commissions for other local business owners. Social media has been a great place to build new relationships – putting my work in front of fellow artists and art lovers in my local community and beyond. The magical power of word-of-mouth brings new sales, commissions, and gallery shows my way right when I need them the most. The more good energy and work I continue to put into the world, more abundance continues to manifest. I think following your heart, your truth, your values and an authentic vision is the key to that kind of organic growth and success. The riches extend far beyond just a paycheck. I’m grateful and amazed by the way people have embraced me and lifted me up for sharing my artwork.

Brit, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

A poetic concept that has been impacting me lately is a quote by Rumi: “If you’re not living in awe, you’re not paying attention.” I’m deeply fascinated by things that I find beautiful in the natural world. I gather a lot of inspiration from my daily life, noticing simple things that others might dismiss. For instance, on our nightly walks around the neighborhood, my husband is usually far ahead, hollering for me to hurry up. Because I’m stopped, standing in a bush of flowers taking pictures so I can paint it later! There was hardly a time in my life that I didn’t feel the urge to recreate those romanticized moments or put a vision down on paper. In college, I explored many fine arts practices and especially fell in love with the hands-on process of painting. Mixing colors and sweeping gestural marks across the canvas became a cathartic way of retelling my own stories and experiences. Expressing emotions, celebrating nature, and creating permanence in a world of fleeting beauty.

These days, I’ve been fortunate to establish my art studio space right at home. The local farmer’s market is just around the corner where I can always find a fresh bouquet of flowers to inspire my work. In the studio, I split my time between oil painting and graphic design – and balancing the workload ebbs and flows. I’m currently contracted as a designer for a local arts non-profit and coincidentally, being plugged into that community has facilitated a lot of opportunities that feed directly into the fine art side of my business. For the past two summers I’ve displayed my floral paintings in the annual Stems Plein Air Juried Exhibition at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. My favorite painting this year, a textural summer scene of the bird feeder in my backyard, won a 2nd Place Award in the exhibition. A big goal of mine has been to offer my paintings, fine art prints, and commission services through other local shops and small businesses in my area. I’m excited to say the goal is accomplished and underway! My work is now available for purchase at The Old Mango, a home goods and garden stow shop in the heart of Downtown Overland Park, Kansas. In the coming years, I hope to continue sharing my work with more local vendors and expand my offerings.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m intrigued by the power that art holds in influencing people’s emotions and wellbeing. Early on when returning to my painting practice and kicking off my business, I was struggling with a bout of seasonal depression. That longing for nature to come back to life occupied my thoughts and I began painting flowers and textures obsessively. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by a garden of artwork right in the middle of winter. By painting this new reality into existence, I was transforming my surroundings. Art has the power to evoke a sense of hope and peace and I am passionate about being able to share that with others and add something special to their most beloved spaces.

A work of art that resonates with you can serve as a shelter or reprieve from the outside world. Through design and painting, I love collaborating with my clients and creating quality, heartfelt artwork that tells their unique and colorful story.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

There have been many wonderful community partners & resources, online workshops, and books that have been instrumental to my learning and growth as a creative entrepreneur. I highly recommend the following to fellow creatives:

Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists Program (www.artworkskc.org/Work-of-art) – In person and/or online workshops offered by InterUrban Arthouse and KCAC. In a group setting, you’ll meet weekly to explore topics of running business as an artist. From time management, to marketing, pricing, record-keeping and more! Special guest speakers, legal experts and professionals offer guidance and answer questions.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, by Elizabeth Gilbert

Art/Work: Everything You Need to Know (and Do) As You Pursue Your Art Career by Heather Darcy Bhandari & Jonathan Melber

Paper and Spark by Janet LeBlanc (www.paperandspark.com) – Checklists, resource guides, excel spreadsheets, and virtual workshops for taxes, bookkeeping, admin tasks and more.

Emily Jeffords – The Collective – A Community for Artists & Creatives (www.emilyjeffordslearn.com/collective)

Contact Info:

• Website: www.moonsignstudio.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/moonsignstudio
• Other: Pinterest – www.pinterest.com/moonsignstudio/