Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kayla Nord. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kayla , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I officially started my art business, Kayla Weber Art, in 2015 while I was still an art teacher. I would teach art all day to elementary students and then come home and paint all night, creating custom paintings for my coworkers, friends, and family! At this point, the money I was making from painting was just extra money, since I was teaching full time. There was never any pressure to support myself solely on art, so everything I made was a bonus.

Through word of mouth, my business began to grow and I really starting to hone in on what I loved to paint—which ended up being all things Kentucky! I began painting lots of horse racing scenes, rolling Kentucky landscapes, Keeneland & Churchill-inspired paintings, and bourbon art. I started doing in person markets, I created a website, business cards, and I really went for it! I knew I needed to scale the business if I wanted to really achieve my goals, so I began making prints of my more generic work, so that I could reach a larger audience. Offering prints of my work allowed me to make more money, it freed up my time, and helped get my work out there at a lower price point.

In 2018 my business had really taken off at a rapid rate and I knew I needed to make a change. I couldn’t keep up with the demand for originals or even keep up with fulfilling print orders through my website. After a lot of thought and burning the candle at both ends, I decided to quit my art teaching job and become a full-time artist. It was a very scary leap of faith, but I knew it was the right decision.

Up until that point, I was working solely out of my home but knew I needed a place to actually go into work. I began discussing this with my parents, who have owned their business, Springhouse Gardens ever since I was 6 years old (I guess you could say the entrepreneurial spirit was in my blood!). They had just redone the office at Springhouse, so one of the rooms was open and perfect for me to have a small studio in.

In August of 2018, I moved my home studio into the office at Springhouse! It worked out perfectly because I was helping out with Springhouse’s marketing, website, weddings and events, so it seemed appropriate for me to be on-site for all of the above! I moved in and was so excited– but quickly realized I had already outgrown it! It was then that we started throwing around ideas about building a larger space that would allow me to sell my work and have more space to create.

We worked through many different designs, got lots of quotes, and ultimately started on a building that would be in the garden center area.
 This was one of the scariest decisions of my career, because it was a huge investment. I knew if I wanted to continue to grow I needed a space to call my own, and a space to sell my work out of.

The Studio at Springhouse is a two-story white building with huge windows, lots of natural light, a loft area, a few bathrooms, lots of storage, and ample space for me to spread out paint, sell my work, and teach workshops!

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

I started painting at a very young age and always loved art. I knew I wanted to be an artist and a teacher, but didn’t think being an artist full-time was feasible. I went to college for art education, studied art abroad in Florence, Italy and started teaching art at an elementary school right after graduation.

I started my painting business on the side and painted anything and everything for anyone who asked. It was when I started honing in on my style and painting all things Kentucky that the business really took off. It grew fast and I realized after a few years of doing both that I could fully support myself as an artist. I absolutely loved teaching, but knew my passion was painting.

I quit my teaching job in 2018 and have been full time ever since! I have been selling online for several years, and just recently built a large studio building and retail space to sell my work out of! I have 5 employees and been working hard to break into the wholesale industry and get my art all over the country! We have over 90 accounts all over the United States. I still get to do some teaching with various painting workshops that I host in my studio, and I also host week long workshop retreats in Florence, Italy!

My prints and products are so much fun, and add so much color and dimension to interiors and homes. I think what sets me a part is that my art is very reflective of my life and lifestyle. I create art that I would want to hang in my own home. All of my pieces are designed specifically with creating an inviting and happy home.

I have been married to my husband, John, for 7 years now and we have one son, Max, who is 2 years old and have another baby on the way! We have a golden retriever, Bulleit, who is the resident greeter at The Studio. John and I have been to 32 countries together! We just got back from a trip to Iceland–it was a blast although traveling internationally with a toddler was no small feat!!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Social media is truly one of the biggest reasons I was able to quit my job and become a successful artist. I have a very love/hate relationship because it is always changing, but I attest a lot of where I am today to instagram. I had instagram since 2011 when I was still in college, but didn’t start truly utilizing it until 2015.

At this point I was slowly starting to see other artists in other areas having and creating success through social media. It dawned on me then that I could do it too! I quickly switched my personal account to a business one and started posting a lot more art content. I shared my process, my struggles, and my personal life. My friends and family made fun of me… but I kept sharing! I would teach all day and come home and “pretend” I was painting, sharing photos and videos. I “faked it ’til I made it” you could say, but I knew I had to be consistent with posting and sharing my work.

Building my following on instagram has always been a slow and steady journey over the last 7 years. Anyone that tells you it happens overnight is lying or buying followers. It takes true and consistent posting, keeping up with the trends, and letting people in on your real life. I can’t tell you how many people who come in to the shop tell me they feel like they know me. It is crazy how an app can make people feel so connected, and I am so thankful that they connect with my story and my life enough to purchase my products.

My advice for someone just starting out is to be consistent and don’t give up. It is a hard, slow journey… but even if you can connect with 10 people– you’re doing great. Let people in on your life and what you’re passionate about. People love to see other’s journey’s and processes.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have pivoted many times in my career as an artist, but I think all of the changes I have made has only made my business stronger. I have always been willing to try new things, go places I’ve never been before and switch things up. As an entrepreneur you can’t be afraid to change or switch things up if they aren’t working. One thing that I attest to a lot of my success is my willingness to add new areas of the business. We have so many different revenue streams coming from so many different places, which helps to free up my time and keeps things fresh, exciting and new. I am always branching out, shifting our business model, and adding new things that we can offer.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kaylaweberart.com
• Instagram: @kaylaweberart
• Facebook: kaylaweberart

Image Credits
Katie Wilkins – Lane Lens