We were lucky to catch up with Dan Schultz recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

After graduating from Pensacola Christian College in Florida with a commercial art degree, I worked for two different companies in Colorado for about six years as a graphic designer. I learned pretty early in that career that graphic design wasn’t very fulfilling work for me. During that time I was first introduced to some artists who were painting for galleries, which I found super exciting. I knew that I wanted to turn and go that direction.

I began painting as much as I could and began showing my work in galleries across the U.S. I got married in 2004, and my wife (also a graphic designer) and I had discussed a plan for me to start painting full-time. I did that in 2005 while she continued her graphic design work. That carried us along for the next six years or so.

At that point, I still wasn’t making consistent enough sales for us both to live on, despite having six galleries carrying my work. We soon had our first child on the way, and I wanted to find a way to support us so that my wife would be able to stay home with him. With that in mind, I decided to open my own storefront gallery where I would display and sell my work. In 2011, after some extensive searching, we all moved to Ojai, California, where we opened a gallery in the downtown business district. The gallery has allowed me to sell paintings more consistently, supporting my family for the past 13 years.

I’m not really sure how I might have sped up the process of getting to this point. And I’m aware that there is no guarantee that my success will continue. But so far, my own gallery has made it possible for me to make a full-time living with my art.

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 am mainly an oil painter, focusing on traditional landscape and figurative subjects. I find inspiration outside in nature, often completing paintings entirely outdoors on site. I have also spent considerable time painting portraits and figures from life as well as from photographs. Viewers often comment on the quality of light and atmosphere in my paintings, and enjoy seeing subtle details up close that aren’t as visible from a distance.

As I mentioned, my storefront gallery in Ojai, California is the most accessible place to see my work. The gallery is also my working studio where visitors can see works in progress. I am also represented by Oh Be Joyful Gallery in Crested Butte, Colorado; and American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena, California.

I have also worked my way up in a few national art organizations, holding signature membership in the California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, and American Impressionist Society.

Southwest Art Magazine and Artist’s Magazine have published feature articles about my work.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One thing I have enjoyed about my storefront gallery is the chance to talk to people who may not have a connection to art. Sometimes visitors come in thinking artists can just magically create art without much effort. They think artists have some ability that they themselves don’t have. I love taking those opportunities to explain my process and background so I can give them a glimpse into the time and energy it has taken me to make a living as an artist. Often, once someone sees how much work goes into creating art (or anything, really), they start to have more appreciation for it. I like to encourage them, letting them know that everyone has creativity, and it’s never too late for them to explore their own.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I think a myth that artists can believe is that at some point we can “make it” to a place of success, fame, and happiness. We are convinced that if we could get that award, that invitation, be accepted by certain people, sell an artwork to so-and-so, then we will reach our “big break”. After that it’s smooth sailing.

I’ve been a professional artist for 24 years now, and during that time have spent a lot of energy trying to reach that elusive place. But I’m beginning to learn that it may not exist, at least not in the way I expected. What if success as an artist might just mean that we are able to keep going? What if I did sell that painting to so-and-so? Then what? What happens after I finally land that museum show? What would I have left to work on after winning that national art competition?

Receiving validation from others isn’t a bad thing, but I don’t think it’s healthy for us to expect that those external sources are the keys to improving our lives. It’s healthier to find satisfaction in the work we are doing right now—continuing to exercise our creativity day by day. When we commit ourselves to improving our work and staying true to the path we feel we are supposed to be on, perhaps we will find that we are already living our success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danschultzfineart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danschultzart/
• Other: Storefront gallery:
  Dan Schultz Fine Art Gallery & Studio
  106 N. Signal St.
  Ojai, California 93023

Image Credits

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