We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Eleanor Blair a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Eleanor thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

After getting a BFA from Cooper Union in NYC in 1969, I found myself living in a small southern town, looking for a way to support myself. I had a job, briefly, as a bartender. I had a job, briefly, delivering newspapers. I had a job, briefly, as a draftsman at an engineering firm. I believed I was a skilled painter, but had absolutely no idea how to find work using my specific skills. In desperation, I came up with a plan which I hoped would inspire a few people to commission me to make a painting of their beautiful home. I created one nice painting, of a particularly fabulous house, in a well-known historic area. Then I printed twenty-four photographs of my painting, and included one photo of my finished painting in a hand-delivered letter to twenty-four homes in the same neighborhood, offering to create an oil painting of their home for $25. I received one response. I did the painting, received the money, and formed a patron/artist relationship that exists to this day.

Eleanor, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m an artist. I have always been an artist, from my earliest memories. I remember my grandfather sharpening a pencil with his penknife, so I could amuse myself with drawing. I remember several elementary school teachers letting me stay after school, using special art supplies that I’m sure they bought for me with their own money. In high school, I tried to get into an Industrial Arts class, but back then Shop was for boys, and Home Economics was for girls. The chairman of the Industrial Arts Department took pity on me, and allowed me to learn how to work with power tools, alone, in his office. He also awarded me with a scholarship to attend an art class at Pratt on Saturdays during my senior year. Planning for college, my parents offered to support me if I’d major in History, or English, but when I was accepted at Cooper Union I opted to move to Manhattan on my own, and put myself through art school. The ‘work’ involved with being an artist has almost nothing to do with creating the actual art. That has always been an organic part of who I am. The real ‘work’ has more to do with creating a life where the art can happen. Now, at the ripe old age of 78, I estimate I have created more than 15,000 oil paintings, and sold most of them (except the ones my kids want me to keep!) I have traveled all over the world, always inspired to find new ways to see familiar things, and to capture the beauty that surrounds us.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

At some point in the early 1970’s, I’d made some progress as an artist. I shared studio space with two other women. We painted, taught classes, and hosted art shows. One of my studio-mates was an art student at the University of Florida. Someone from the athletic department had approached the art department, hoping to find someone willing to make a five foot painting of a golf ball. Everyone in the art department refused, considering the work beneath them. But my studio-mate said, I know someone who would do that. Me, of course. Back then, I was willing to give anything art-related, a try. So, a truck arrived, with a 5′ diameter piece of plywood, and an actual golf ball. (In case you are wondering, there are 72 dents visible on one side of a golf ball.) I was paid $50. Then, because they liked my work (and also my positive attitude) they proceeded to commission a 56′ mural, which I painted in the athletic dormitory dining hall. The connections and the friendships that came from my willingness to paint a giant golf ball, continue to reverberate in my life today.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My work, from the very beginning, has always functioned as a bridge to the outer world. An awkward child, being good at drawing specifically, and art in general, gave me a way to connect with the other kids. I still bring my sketchbook along to almost every social occasion. It gives me something to do, something to talk about, something to share.

When I was in art school, I never expected to make a living as an artist. I simply loved learning everything I could about art. Once I was able to participate in art shows, I paid attention to things like which subjects, which color combinations, which frames, etc. attracted the most attention. I thought if I could figure out how to sell my paintings, I wouldn’t have to get a ‘real’ job. I was successful enough, and invested wisely enough, so that now I don’t need to think about marketability anymore. Now, I paint for the fun of it. I sift through all the photographs from my decades of world travel. I find images that I never got around to painting, either because there wasn’t enough time, or because my skills weren’t quite up to it yet. I notice the way sunlight hits simple objects in my home. I find new challenges and new inspiration, every day.

I moved to Austin, Texas a few years ago, and once again, my art has been a wonderful way to make connections; with students, art groups, fellow painters, collectors, and this new, mostly unexplored, place.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.EleanorBlairStudio.com
• Instagram: @eleanor.blair.studio
• Facebook: eleanor.blair.9
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/eleanorblair6691

Image Credits

The photo of me was taken by fellow Austin artist Lauren Revels. Otherwise, all the photos are my own.