We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Piya Samant a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Piya, thanks for joining us today. Alright, so we’d love to hear about how you got your first client or customer. What’s the story?
I’ve been a visual artist for as long as I can remember painting portraits of people and pets who caught my attention. I enjoy capturing the personality of the subject in addition to their likeness.
I had gifted some of these drawings and paintings to the subjects and pet owners. A friend of one of these portrait recipients asked if I would considering doing a commissioned painting of their granddaughter who is a ballerina. I captured the young girl in all her pink tulle and childhood playfulness. The client set the price as it was my first time and I had no idea what to charge them. However, the word spread fast and before I knew it most kids’ in the ballet school wanted one of their own portraits and some wanted their pets painted too.
Soon I had a size and price chart set up and within a few years I retired from my day job as a tech professional to pursue my profession as a full time practicing artist. This was 10 years ago and I’m happy to say I still enjoy what I do in my career as an artist.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! My name is Piya Samant, and I’m a self-taught practicing visual artist. Primarily an oil painter, I enjoy capturing florals, people, pets and landscapes in a painterly style.
I sell my original artworks through galleries as well as through my website store www.artbypiyali.com. Another avenue to view my latest and in progress pieces is my Instagram account @art.by.piyali. I post 5-6 times a week and have a following of 20k + art lovers.
Best way to contact me with questions or commissions’ requests is to email [email protected].
Artist Bio:
Piya’s artworks are an explosion of vibrant colors, radiating a mesmerizing light that fills the canvas with a sense of joy and wonder. Her distinctive painting style, characterized by bold, painterly strokes, captivates viewers and transports them to a world of beauty and emotion. Despite being self-taught, Piya’s artistic talent has be recognized by museums and galleries across the United States.
With a keen eye for detail and a thirst for knowledge, Piya has honed her craft by studying the masterworks of legendary artists, transforming their techniques into her own unique, awe-inspiring creations.
Artist Statement:
As an artist, I am driven by the fleeting beauty of life, from humans to flora and fauna. Through my paintings, I seek to immortalize my subjects in their entirety, capturing not only their physical features but also their character and essence. I connect with people through body language more than words. Floral still lifes offer me the chance to project my emotions onto flowers with light and brushstrokes. My art celebrates the transient beauty of nature and the enduring power of creativity.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
I started using Instagram and Facebook for my art business in 2012. I started with a handful of friends and family following me.
The most important thing that helped build my brand on Instagram @art.by.piyali (20,000 followers) and Facebook @artbypiyali (3000 followers) is consistency. Consistency in content – always keeping it business, never spamming my followers with content that’s not art. No baby pics, no life stories, no drama etc. Consistency in posting is just as important. Social media is free marketing, it is important to post about your brand regularly so your followers keep you in mind.
Another way to grow on social media is to think about what you can offer your followers. In my case, it’s art tips, sneak previews of upcoming pieces and painting process.
How’d you think through whether to sell directly on your own site or through a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc.
I sell my work directly through my website – artbypiyali.com and also through pxpxcontemporary.com.
I used to sell through Etsy about 5 years ago but that platform no longer works for my purposes of selling 2D art.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbypiyali.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/art.by.piyali/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtByPiyali
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/piyali
- Twitter: https://x.com/artbypiyali
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@piyasamant
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/piya-samant-fine-art-worcester
- Other: TikTok : https://www.tiktok.com/@piyasamant
Image Credits
Photos clicked by: Al Weems, Brian Hale, Piya Samant