We were lucky to catch up with Karla Gudeon recently and have shared our conversation below.
Karla , appreciate you joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
My day-to-day life as a creative, earning a living from my artwork, is largely dictated by my to do list.
My overarching to-do list is both a work of art unto itself and a hydra. Maybe not a hydra, maybe more like some sick horror film game of “Whack-a-mole,” where as soon as you cross one thing off, 10 more things rise up to remind me I’m constantly behind. Sometimes in order to feel successful, I need to add something to the list that I’ve already finished, just so I can get my fix of that intense feeling of satisfaction that waves over my body when crossing an item off. Other times I just have to sit back and just admire my list, the way I do a finished painting.
Especially on the nights I can’t fall asleep, when I’m home, and my mind is racing, I wonder what it would be like to just “be done for the day.” To have a regular job with a steady, reliable income. I’ve had “regular jobs” before, store clerk, Erotic Bakery sculptor and sales (I remember I could truly relax immediately after that last pe*is cake went out the door) and first grade elementary school teacher (‘cause that’s what one does in NYC with erotic bakery on the resume, no education credits or experience).
But then I remember. Back in the day, when I didn’t take my job home with me at night to the extent I do now, I wasn’t whole. It was a constant feeling of not living a life true to what I really wanted and had dreamed about as far as I can remember.
Here’s another thought that might seem like a non-sequitur but I’ll bring it back around. Promise. As somebody who realized late in life that my marriage was unhealthy and I needed to down-size my house and my husband, I’ve since spent many an hour thinking about relationships and love. I’ve realized the healthiest relationship with a partner is one that allows you to not just love the other person, but just as importantly, allows you to fall more in love with yourself. A job can be just like that relationship. While having a regular job might afford me the luxury of being able to be turned off at night, it didn’t and wouldn’t help me love myself. Living my life as an artist defines me. It’s my truth. While maybe not as steady an income as a regular job, when those to do list items get done, making art can actually earn me a decent living. Being a creative is what makes me happy, defines me, and allows me to fall in love with myself.
Karla , 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?
Karla Gudeon Art and Design offers an extensive collection that features original fine art, home decor and gifts. I employ the timeless craftsmanship of hand-pulled engravings, infused with meticulously-painted watercolors to create both original art and the surface designs for KGA&D’s products.
My collection features contemporary themes that bring joy to shopper’s with their vibrant colors and uplifting imagery. With a price range that extends from $11-$3500+ there is truly something for everyone in the KGA&D collection.
Inclusivity is at the core of my design philosophy. I take pride in creating imagery that resonate universally across all ages, cultures, races, and genders. When designing, I intentionally focus on what I consider to be common threads and shared human experiences, which helps me center on ideas that will resonate with people from every walk of life.
My “Little Ones” collection features paintings that have themes that cover nearly every conceivable life event or experience, from weddings, births, and other milestones, to family and friendship, and strong women, to humor, a little naughty, divorce, Judaica, healing, hope, gratitude, and beyond.
To further cater to my clientele many of my paintings can be personalized with inscriptions or design customization.
Having customers of all ages brings me great joy and lets me know I’m reaching a broad customer base. My younger customers appreciate the fact that I have affordable “starter pieces.” I once had an octogenarian purchase a painting telling me that she was in a “giving away stage of life” but felt she just had to have one of my paintings. My peers will often tell me their personal stories that explain why my artwork “speaks to them” on a deep level.
I am excited to be celebrating more than 25 years of experience in merchandising, retail, wholesale, mobile events, retail display and virtual events. All designing, printmaking and painting takes place in my Long Island, New York studio where my two assistants and I enjoy a highly-creative and empowering work environment.
I feel it is a privilege to make a living as an artist and to have my pieces become a part of my customer’s lives and collections.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey? One of the original watercolor engravings from my Little Ones collection features the title “It takes a Village, People.” I am reminded everyday that I could not be where I am without the village of women I’m fortunate to have in my world. From the women friends and family members that encouraged me to step out on my own as an artist, to those who supported me and propped me up through trying times in my life, to the women who come to work at the studio, happy, productive, collaboratively banter ideas, and keeping my head on straight, and to the women-owners of small artisan businesses who make up my creative network, I am inspired and fueled by each one.
As a studio owner, I want the women who work for me to know how integral they are to our success. I want the studio to be a joyful place, where women know their input is valued, listened to and respected. I think women are the best at finding humor in darkness, making others feel they are not alone, the best at recognizing and bringing forth beauty and the best at making the impossible happen when crunched for time or faced with a problem.
As an artist, I want other women to see their best selves in my paintings. I want the themes to remind women they are not alone in their experiences or challenges. Lately, I’ve been loving my new “happily divorced” imagess, that include “Free Bird,” “It’s Over (the fat lady is singing lol), “And She lived Happily Ever After” and “When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens.” When talking to customers, we often find ourselves over-sharing and bonding over the emotions a painting brings forth. I want women to feel connected to something larger than the piece, when they enjoy my artwork.
I happen to have sons, and do think it’s important that my artwork has a wide range of appeal, it’s just that the idea of supporting other women is a major motivating factor in my creative journey.
Have you ever had to pivot?
As it did for everyone, the pandemic brought tragic circumstances, uncertainty, and extraordinary challenges on a personal and professional level.
Having a business that relied upon DTC in-person retail events required re-thinking and creative solutions. Over a zoom glass of wine with 4 other amazing women artisans I knew from the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair (*), we founded Art Party Central. We all agreed that trying to replicate weekend art shows virtually in a long format would not work for patrons or artists. We designed a format with weekly (sometimes bi-weekly) 60-90 minute virtual events wherein 4-8 artists would present their work, technique, studios and back story in a festive, non-pressured short-format zoom gathering.
APC (Art Party Central) onboarded over 200 artisans, helping them sell and engage during the years without art shows. APC founders personally coached artists new to video on their talks, studio presentation, lighting etc. Additionally, our APC newsletters to more than 10,000 subscribers were met with joy, gratitude, and engagement. By having artists cross-pollenate their invite lists for their own events, each participant’s email subscriber list increased by leaps and bounds with each event. Our ability to reach collectors helped foster loyalty and subsequently attracted new attendees to our art shows post-pandemic.
Working with my friends and colleagues to run APC, also helped me increase KGA&Ds commitment to customers by expanding our virtual presence to encourage individual collectors to use virtual art consults to connect directly with me via Zoom and FaceTime.
The pandemic forced me to pay more attention to my website and increase online sales.
The lasting effects of the pandemic on my business is increased online business, more virtual consults with customers, and staying closer to home for in-person events. I’m so fortunate to have Karla Gudeon Art & Design based in such close proximity to NYC where I now focus my in-person events on the Grand Central Terminal Holiday Fair, and Sundays at Grand Bazaar NYC.
* Kathleen Tesnakis, Ekologic, Meghan Patrice Riley Jewelry, Teri Johnson, Harlem Candle Company, and Sam Stone and Nora Swan, Swan and Stone Millinery
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.karlagudeon.com
- Instagram: @karlagudeon
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karlagudeon
- Linkedin: @karlagudeon
- Youtube: @karlagudeon