We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Austin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump back to the first dollar you earned as a creative? What can you share with us about how it happened?

After graduating with a degree in Management and Finance, I floated about and landed a part time job at an art supply store in downtown Portland while I figured out with to do with my life. Working at Art Media gave me a good lesson in art supplies and materials and I started painting on the side. They used to have group employee shows in the store and I decided to put a few paintings in. I couldn’t believe it when a woman came in and asked to buy my painting from the window display! A stranger! Someone who wasn’t my mom! In my blind excitement, I wrapped up the wrong painting and the woman had to come back the next day to tell me and exchange for the other I made. It still makes me laugh and it was the start of my new career.

Rachel, 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 have been a full time artist since 2006 when, after getting a degree in finance, I realized art was probably a better path for me. My work has been sold worldwide and recent projects include working with the Boston Children’s Hospital and the new Ritz Carlton in Portland. Projects big and small, I love them all and feel incredibly grateful to be making art for a living.

Nature is the primary source of inspiration for my paintings. I am inspired daily by the quiet beauty of landscapes, maps and the soft shadows and details of plants. Nature grounds me when feeling overwhelmed and my paintings attempt to capture that tranquility. The botanical paintings show an abstracted view of plants and shadows. I have always been drawn to breaking things down into simple forms with a focus on color, shape and composition and enjoy working in a variety of mediums.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

In my career, I’ve made several small pivots in how I make a living as an artist. When I started out I would only make original paintings to sell in shows, galleries and online through Etsy. I thought originals were the only way to go until another artist told me I should make cards of my paintings. I didn’t really think a card for a few dollars would help me out but I gave it a try. Some years it was the humble card that provided most of my income as stores from all over the world ordered from me. I got into wholesaling and having card reps all over the country selling my cards and prints to stores. Today I do much less wholesaling and have pivoted into having my own little retail shop/showroom where I sell all sorts of things I make. I often tell artists it is important to have a few revenue streams when making art for a living because usually one will go down and another up. Today I make my living by direct sales, art commissions, licensing, and wholesaling. I am thinking about adding teaching small art workshops into the mix for the future and can’t wait to see where that next pivot might lead.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

For me, a lot of the day is filling orders, working on the website, responding to emails, talking to designers or restocking my retail stores. Often I feel like I do very little painting and working on new series – being in that dream creative space. Sometimes I have to schedule into my week a ‘studio art retreat’ where I’ll just play with paint and try to ignore the business side of work for a day. I do paint a lot, but I think people imagine me painting all day in the studio. For me the business side of art takes up most of the week. I don’t mind it because sometimes it is hard to feel that creative pressure all the time and nice to have a mental break to just fill orders and muse on how grateful I am to be making a living from art.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelannaustin.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachelaustinart/
• Other: Etsy : https://rachelaustin.etsy.com/ Retail showroom: inside of Urbanite at 1005 SE Grand, Portland OR 97202 filled with my original art, cards, prints, vintage and other women makers

Image Credits
studio photos by Andrea Morris of Apis Photography