We recently connected with Maredie Palmer and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maredie, thanks for joining us today. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

One of my dad’s friends came by the house one day, and after a series of questions and conversations, I had my first commissioned piece. He wanted something with the Falcon’s logo in the middle of the painting with a dose of my creative abilities with resin art. When I told him the price, he didn’t hesitate at all. He was more so looking forward to my work, and I was so excited to have someone have that much confidence in me.

I was crazy nervous about creating the piece. I spent hours sketching the picture, figuring out which pigments to mix to get a deep red, reviewing the best technique to ensure the colors weren’t overly blended – and then, I finally finished it, and the best part was that he loved it. He was highly impressed with my work, and his expression when he finally came to pick up the piece of art was priceless.

At that moment, I knew I had what it takes to go full force with my art business.

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 never imagined myself as a “business owner” or “artist.” So, to have both come true, it’s a blessing. When I began creating my art, I had no intention of selling my artwork. I did it because it was a new way to release my stress. I have always loved to travel and am no stranger to traditional therapy. However, at the time, I didn’t have the money to venture off to some new country, nor did I have any desire to sit on someone’s couch to talk about how I was feeling. I yearned for something to fill me up – something that would challenge me yet allow me to express myself in a way only I understood.

After months of getting more comfortable with my techniques and weeks of hearing “you should consider selling your art” from my closest friends and family members, I eventually got the courage to start sharing it via social media, and my parents were super supportive in sharing my work with people they knew.

Now, I own my very own art business. I curate beautiful pieces for homes and businesses, but most importantly, I can share my love for vibrant colors and abstract concepts in a way that is attractive to others. My pieces aren’t just your typical art pieces- they are stories. They are my stories. They are my feelings poured and manipulated into something easy to admire and love. They are my thoughts created into whatever you, as the viewer, perceive. They are a happy dose of imagination. No person will view my piece the same way, making it even more of a conversation starter.

I am just an ordinary person that dreams, struggles, loves, and believes, just like anyone else, and that is what my art is about. That is my brand – an art business that shares love, thoughts, frustrations, and dreams in a form that is easy to receive.

I am proud of my artistic growth and love watching my skills improve each pour. I’m excited to add more art styles to my business, and I’m always open to collaborations with different people and businesses.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Growing up, I went to a fine arts school, so I always understood the importance of supporting artists. It’s always been a way of life for me. But as I grew older and met more people, I realized how distant most people are from valuing art.

For one, I would love to see more schools adopt the arts into programs available for students to learn more about them. Whether it’s for financial purposes or just introducing it as a form of therapy – either way, it could make a profound impact on our society.

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

I have a communications background, so I know a good chunk about social media, marketing, etc. But every industry is different, and the art world is a beast. There will always be someone “better” than you creating something, but you have to remain confident in yourself and your work and know that even if your work is similar, that person is not you. That person doesn’t share the same story as you do.

I could use this advice during slow sales, but be consistent! All it takes is one post or connection to make your business blow! Have faith in that. Trust the process, and utilize the resources available to you. There are so many social media guru books and podcasts out there. Listen to them, try a little trial and error, and find a strategy that works for you! I don’t have a huge following yet, but I have faith in myself and my system that one day, I will grow!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.levellaarts.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/levellaarts
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/levella.arts
• Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/marediepalmer
• Other: TikTok: @levellaarts Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/levellaarts/

Image Credits
Photography of me in the pink by Cameryn Robertson Photo of me behind a few of my works from the Black Girl Artshow in Nashville, TN