Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kate Moynihan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Kate, 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?
I’ve been an artist painting watercolors and oil art for thirty years, but that was not my first profession. Growing up I had always been a crafter learning to knit, sew, and macramé – hobbies my stay-at-home mother taught me. As a young girl in the 1950’s I idealized not only my mother, but the popular TV shows, Father Knows Best, Ozzie and Harriet. Wanting to follow in these homemaker footsteps I attended college and became a registered nurse.
During my twelve years as a nurse, I married and followed my husband to five different states working in as many hospitals. Being low on seniority I was mandated to routine duties of checking blood pressures and temperatures. I was restless in my profession, but it wasn’t until I stumbled on an adult education watercolor class that I discovered a craft that didn’t follow a pattern. Being enthralled at how the paints went any direction they wanted led me to taking a series of classes. Soon I had a growing collection of paintings, ones that were sellable so I tried my first outdoor art fair, selling my first painting! What a thrill it was.
At that time, I moved states again, but instead of applying as a nurse at the hospital, I took a risk.
The pediatric wing was remodeling their unit. It was early 1990, a time before hospitals considered branding or marketing themselves. Using my watercolor talent, I designed a whimsical animal logo that I incorporated into wall art, coloring books and bravery badges for the kids, along with a parenting newsletter for the adults. Since there wasn’t an appropriate department for my presentation it took numerous phone calls to schedule an appointment. After being passed from one person to another, I finally got to the administrator who approved my project.
The pediatric project was the springboard that gave me the confidence to return to college as an art major. The education polished my innate artistic talent, but the real creativity was finding multiple part time artistic jobs to earn a living. From teaching watercolor classes to designing newspaper ads, I did it all. I even acted as a ‘security guard’ for a valuable exhibit by spending the night on a cot at the local art center.
After graduating I moved back to my home state of Michigan and opened an art gallery in downtown Holland, retiring after 25 years.
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.
Over thirty years of painting I have created landscapes, incorporated paper collage, even painted pet portraits. Throughout my career, my most popular image has been the birch tree with its contrasting black and white bark.
In addition to it being a customer’s favorite, the tree is symbolic to me. Its beauty is the craggy bark, weathered with texture and contrast. I believe we all have that kind of beauty, and by peeling back our layers, we too, can become inspired to discover ourselves.
In fact, the tree was the inspiration to the title of my memoir, A Lone Birch, My Artistic Journey. In my thirties, I was uprooted from my family to face rejection and embarrassment. Alone, with roommates of shame and guilt, I only had myself to rely on for survival. To move forward, I had to stop being a people pleaser. And like the birch tree’s rough and craggy bark, I had to stand tall accepting my flaws.
My memoir tells my story from nurse to artist to 25-year veteran art gallery owner, in downtown Holland, Michigan. Available on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.com.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
More than 75% of the population has a fear of public speaking. And I was one of them.
Early in my career as a financially struggling artist I scoured numerous options for earning an income. Attending a national trade show as an exhibitor in New York City was a goal I was determined to conquer. But I didn’t have the budget.
Then a flyer from the trade show arrived seeking volunteers to be on a five-panel open forum on “How to Write a Business Plan.” And they were seeking guests to fill the panel. Better yet, the position paid!
I could do this. Could I?
In the early 1990’s the library with its subject card catalog was my only option. After hours of research, I learned a business plan was simply a guide, like a roadmap, that outlined and detailed how you planned to get where you wanted to go. I narrowed it down to three easy steps.
Confident that I tackled the content, next I had to conquer public speaking. Luckily I had a friend of a friend who taught high school speech. After bartering a painting for the teacher’s time she listened to my presentation. In less than a minute she raised her hand like a stop sign. “You’re reading it.”
I gave her a blank look.
“You need to add inflection to your voice, speak slower, and announce each syllable,” she continued.
Taking a deep breath, I tried again. And again.
Persistence paid off. After contributing to the five-panel forum I was invited back to other trade shows for even better pay!
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Even though written in 1936, Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People continues to be a current and easy-to-implement leadership concept. One of my favorite books. With 30 million copies sold I’m not alone in this opinion.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katemoynihan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katemoynihanartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katemoynihanartist/?ref=page_internal
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-moynihan-93a133bb/
- Other: Memoir: A Lone Birch – My Artistic Journey Available on Amazon.com -Link: https://www.amazon.com/Lone-Birch-My-Artistic-Journey-ebook/dp/B07B9FGSMN/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14HATU720B8DI&keywords=a+lone+birch&qid=1697219573&s=books&sprefix=a+lone+birch%2Cstripbooks%2C98&sr=1-1 Barnes & Noble.com Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-lone-birch-kate-moynihan/1128642797?ean=9781984265425