We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Pam (PJ) White. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Pam (PJ) below.

Alright, Pam (PJ) thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I’ve never struggled saying “I’m a runner”, “I’m a mom”, “I’m a technical trainer”, “I’m a sales person”, “I’m a waitress”. I’ve been an art collector for forever. I love art, all art. But to me, an artist, performer, musician-they’re in a different realm. People I’d be hesitant to speak with because I couldn’t grasp what they did.

I never painted or drew as a child or young adult. But I had a growing collection. I began to paint during a very bad health scare. I became an artist when I won my first big award in a juried show. But I still couldn’t say “I’m an artist”.

I entered my first Art Market on Hilton Head Island.and almost sold out in an afternoon. In my mind, I painted…but I wasn’t really an artist. I took comission work, and showed and sold my work in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.

On an average afternoon while enjoying a casual tennis game, I fell backwards breaking both my wrists. The gravity of the situation was slow to set in. The pain was significant, the recovery very slow. I would go in my studio in the middle of the night and try to paint with my non dominant hand, I tried collage, I tried changing my style to accommodate for my weakness. After three months of physical therapy, my therapist told me my left (dominant) hand had only improved 1%. It was only then …. When I had lost my love….that I realized from deep in every fiber of my being-I was in fact an artist.

Pam (PJ), 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?

I am an encaustic wax artist living in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. In the most basic of terms I paint water using fire. While I sell my work through Instagram and Facebook, I am honored to be represented by The Grand Bohemian Hotel and Gallery in Charleston, SC.

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

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

I’m never ever ever going to “pay” a company to grow my followers-and I find it laughable. I have never noticed that an increase in “followers” correlates to an increase in sales. I also don’t believe that more “likes” equals more sales. I guess I’m old fashioned. My business has grown substantially over the past five years. Some of my growth is definitely directly from Instagram, I try to post three or four times per week and half of the time someone will make an inquiry. I’ve grown a following of collectors….make your clients happy and they will return. Also they will be your biggest advertisers.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Artists are resilient…we have to be. It’s personal. It’s not like a sales position where a client either likes or doesn’t like your product. When you sell your own art, you’re selling a part of your heart and soul. It’s easy to give up-don’t. When I was selling a lot of oil paintings, And then broke both wrists—-I experienced more sadness and frustration than I could have ever imagined. The pain and the inflexibility after therapy were astounding. I tried using my opposite hand, softer mediums, etcetera. If you love something, you can’t give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: Pjwhiteart.com
• Instagram: @pamwhite3

Image Credits
John cranford