We were lucky to catch up with Hopeellen Turner recently and have shared our conversation below.
HopeEllen, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you wish you had started sooner?
Ironically I decided to invest more time and effort into my art business after having my first child. After having my son I decided that maternity leave would be my best shot at trying to prove to myself that art was something I could actually pursue as a career. I envisioned my child peacefully rocking in a swing while I painted, but that never happened. Prior to having my son I was a full time nurse and I remember feeling like I never had any free time to paint. The joke was on me because after having my son, I TRULY have no free time to paint. In hindsight I wish I would have made art a priority prior to having my son. The biggest thing I’ve learned during this process is that creating an art business is truly a daily grind. You have to build your following organically. If you think you can achieve a platform overnight, you will fail miserably. You won’t think you have what it takes when you’re constantly comparing yourself to other artist on instagram. But the truth of the matter is, they all started out where you are. It takes time. I like to view my art career as a garden that I’m “watering” daily. I have to find peace in that to avoid giving up or creating unrealistic goals for myself. If I had started my art business sooner I would have been sowing seeds over a longer period of time. My advice would be it’s never too early to start a business of any kind. When I was in college I painted coolers and art for my apartment. I wish I would have created an art page then and used instagram as a portfolio.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
As a Charleston-based part-time registered nurse, part-time creative, and full-time mama, I find inspiration in the picturesque low country to fuel my passion for creating vibrant art. What started as a therapeutic outlet away from the hospital during the pandemic has now become one of my biggest passions. I currently offer both original acrylic art on wood canvas as well as prints of my original art through my website. I also offer commission based pieces on various mediums, including champagne bottles. I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from other artist on instagram is my style. I love bright vibrant colors and my style could be classified as abstract with a realistic flare. I am most proud of my art journey. I’ve had to learn to humble myself and not take things too personally. Sharing your art is a very vulnerable thing and I’ve had to overcome my natural tendency of people pleasing and self criticism. Art is very personal. Each person has a different take on what they think art is. What I might love, someone else might hate. I worry that what I’m creating might not resonate with people, but that harsh truth is that’s how art is suppose to be. It might meet someone right where they’re at, while simultaneously messing the mark for someone else, and thats okay. It doesn’t make it any less artistic.
I look forward to growing my business and creating pieces that will bring joy to peoples home. My ultimate goal is to make both you and your home smile.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
The biggest misconception about being a creator is that all you do is create. Sadly, that is only a small portion of what it takes to actually become an established artist. I definitely have imposter syndrome sharing this perspective, considering I’m far from a fully established artist, but I truly didn’t realize all the behind the scenes work that goes into establishing an art career. Creating art is just scratching the surface. You brainstorm, you create and then the real work begins. Marketing yourself and advertising your art is very time consuming. I think most artist would tell you that there is a pressure to market yourself and showcase your personal life in order to attract followers. Unfortunately the idea of recording myself talking to my phone actually repulses me. I love to create but I have no desire to be an influencer. With that being said, I’ve had to find ways of giving my followers a glimpse into my daily life without fulling exposing everything about myself. I typically do this through taking small videos throughout my day, then creating a reel to tell a story. It’s hard not to compare yourself to others, but my biggest piece of advice is to stay true to yourself and find ways to attract followers in a way that feels organic to you.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is how it can change your daily perspective. When I started giving more time to my art career I began to see artistic potential all around me. For instance this morning my son and I were outside. He was playing with his water table while I pulled weeds and cut back plants. I looked down at the large elephant ear I had just cut and thought how much fun my one year old would have playing with it. The leaf was something I was going to discard, but it brought my son so much joy. The vibrant colors of the water table toys and the green elephant ear caused me to pause and take pictures to capture the joy my son was experiencing through his eyes. I love how there’s an underlying thread of art and creativity that runs through my day, now that I’ve given more time to my painting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hopeellenturnerart.com/
- Instagram: hopeellenturnerart
