We recently connected with Lovejoy and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lovejoy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

The most meaningful project I’ve worked on is the one I am currently nurturing. Teaching people to enjoy the painting process, showing adults that they are creative, and encouraging them to bring creative outlets into their lives. I taught first-time and beginner painting in San Diego for over a decade. Many of my students would lament how they wished their friend or family member could take one of my classes. That planted a seed in my brain and I started making youtube tutorials with the intention of making my popular “Paint your Pet” class into an online version so anyone in the world could take my course. In the manner of 4 years, I have produced over 400 youtube videos, completed the Paint your Pet online course with 8 other courses for first-time and beginner painters. The results that the students are painting are amazing, I’m truly surprised and so proud at how great they are doing. Even better are the emails and feedback, with so many students stating how scared they were to start yet now so glad they found my videos and enjoy painting, how they loved painting as a kid and in retirement are now picking it back up and my videos helped ease them back into the groove. It is a true joy to read these emails and comments. This passion project has grown beautifully and very steady, I am honored to help so many people discover their joy in painting.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name Is Lovejoy, I am an artist, freelancer, and business owner. I have had a very interesting and adventurous journey since graduating from college (Savannah College of Art & Design.) I fell into teaching about 5 years after school and realized I had real patience and the ability to break things down into simple logical steps. Teaching private and group classes in Sedona, AZ & San Diego, CA gained great experience in helping first-time painters discover their joy in the painting process. I often call my classes “Adult kindergarten”, helping my students embrace child-like creativity. My California studio saw thousands of students paint their pet and leave with proud smiles from ear to ear. Due to the success of the studio class and the encouragement of my studios, I turned the Paint your pet class into an online self-paced workshop. The photos of what students are painting at home with this course are amazing, I am so proud of each student. (paintyourpetcourse.com) Two fun courses to choose from: POPArt your Pet(crazy colors) & Paint your pet (realistic)

The online course will show you which painting supplies to purchase, how to edit/crop & print your pet photo, How to transfer the outline to the surface. You will learn how to paint and see the shades of your pet’s fur and paint stylized eyes for your pet portrait. You can paint as many pets as you like during the time frame you purchase. (30/60/365 days)
You will have direct support from Lovejoy via a private slack group and email. You will find Lovejoy’s signature positive support throughout all her videos.

All of Lovejoy’s students started out nervous and scared, yet by the end, they stood proud and grateful they pushed their comfort zone and learned something new. Many students became repeats, most people have more than 1 pet. So it made for great practice and they saw their skills improve with each painting.

Painting is a great way to relax from the stresses of everyday life, it is a way to switch gears and focus on transforming a blank surface into something created by you. It’s very rewarding and satisfying to create something with your hands. When you paint with friends or family you will create quality memories you will reflex on for years.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

For my creative teaching journey, my goal that fuels my passion is helping people discover their innate creativity. Through painting, I am able to help them with simple steps to take out the intimidating fear of failing at painting. The only way to fail at painting is to not paint at all, Helping people get over a fear of failure is very rewarding. The change I witnessed in a 3-hour class is fascinating

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

Prior to my paint your pet class, I worked for the first paint and sip company in san diego. I witnessed firsthand the explosion of creativity to hit the social scene, and how people couldn’t get enough of this style of creative entertainment. It was amazing to see so many people flock to painting. due to my positive teaching style, I developed quite a following. When I left the company I opened a studio in Liberty Station, simplified my paint your pet class, and started advertising. A=fter 6 months I finally hooked up with the san diego humane society and we put on a creative fundraiser with my class. When they listed the class it sold out in 20 minutes, I was thrilled and crazy excited. This first fundraiser started a snowball effect for this class and I was busy almost non-stop for the next 7 years. the first 6 months of teaching these classes I tweaked and adjusted the class based on how the students reacted to my presentation. I created an effective outline that made it easy for me to reach a variety of learning styles. It was so much fun to witness the change in people in a 3-hour class, It made me feel like I was fulfilling my purpose by showing people they are more creative than they give themselves credit for. Because I worked for the paint and sip company, I noticed that they were doing great until competitors started opening, and that shifted the marketing and focus. with that experience in my rearview, I know the same thing would happen to my class. I had the market to myself for almost 2.5 years, It was wonderful. When the competitors started showing up I knew it was time to focus on the next thing, so I started a youtube channel to offer step-by-step tutorials. Eventually, I turned my Paint your pet class into an online workshop. I still teach in-person classes but after the pandemic, my online workshops are helping so many people paint at home.

I am grateful that my instincts have lead me to adapt and change with the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://paintyourpetcourse.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paintwithlovejoy
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paintwithlovejoy/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/PaintwithLovejoy
• Other: http://paintwithlovejoy.com/

Image Credits
Lovejoy Creations