We were lucky to catch up with Spencer Welch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Spencer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I have always been very creative. As a child, I would copy my sisters sketches, I thought she was the most amazing artist. Throughout the years I’ve studied by watching other artists create, reading books and learning from the masters, and lots and lots of practice. I still remember sitting in art class with my friends, even though I wasn’t actually taking the class, and listening to the teach tell us about Georgia O’Keefe. I consider myself self-taught, but I have to give credit to all of the people in my life that encouraged me and believed in me, and to the ones who shared their wealth of knowledge and talent with me along the way.

Spencer, 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 a visual artist, and I specialize in figurative and portraitures works. I have been running my business and creating art professionally for about three years, and it was completely accidental. Around 8 years ago my husband (then boyfriend) noticed me drawing one day and suggested I had talent. He told me I should pursue art, and so with his encouragement I signed up for an art class at the local community college. I had always been a creative person, often painting/drawing/making something in my free time. However, I had a very talented sister and an incredible artist friend and so I didn’t believe that I, too, could be an artist like them. I had never planned in being one, but now looking back, it makes sense that this is who I am today. I practice and continued to learn how to paint throughout the next couple years, and eventually started sharing my work on social media. Friends and family started asking for commissions, and it built to strangers asking me for my work, and I soon realized I could potentially run a business using my talent and skill and passion for art. Fast forward to now, I run a small but meaningful art business where I create custom paintings and originals for clients, galleries, and shows. I had to step back from working primarily with commissions and now incorporate my own works, which helps me from becoming burnt out. Some of the most important work I do is creating portraits for non-profit organizations for childhood cancer. I have painted 10o’s if portraits, and they are all such a blessing to me.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

My business grew from commission work, that’s what clients were primarily coming to me for. However, I quickly found myself feeling tired, withdrawn and completely burn out. I couldn’t survive solely in commissions, it was keeping me from creating passionately, I needed to explore who I was an artist and start creating again from the heart. I had to pivot my business this year (2023) so that I could build a body of work for galleries and shows. I took a huge financial loss doing this, but I know it’ll be worth it in the end.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

There have been many times where I’ve applied to shows or galleries and have been rejected. As an artist, we all generally have a stack of “failed work” and a pile of rejections. But it’s all important! Don’t give up.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.spencerwelchstudios.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/spencerwelchstudios
• Facebook: www.Facebook.com/spencerwelchstudios