We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Talya Black. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Talya below.

Talya, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today One thing we always find fascinating is how differently entrepreneurs think about revenue growth and cost reductions – both can be powerful ways to improve profitability. What do you spend more of your time and energy on?

This has been on my mind a lot lately. In my experience. Especially, this year I’ve felt a huge pull back on spending/buying. Not only in my personal life but also in the lives of people in my community. I know that my area of Cache Valley is an area of low cost items and the community isn’t as adaptable to higher costs as some of us artists would like. The community’s expectations and costs to remain low is a very high demand. That weight alone is what drives me to have lower priced items to sell to higher priced items. I am grateful for the support of my community that loves gnomes cause the gnome stickers are what keep me going and hold most of my revenue.

I have, however, tried to keep my cost down as much as possible. The problem is even if I did bring my costs down there is no guarantee that people are going to buy still just due to new patterns of behavior. Do I then continue to fight for the prices my art is worth or lower it so I make sales?

My average income at the Cache Valley Gardeners Market is down $100 per time compared to last year. My new average is making me question if it’s time to either change up my product a lot or stop doing the gardeners market. My time with my family is precious and the time spent on my business hasn’t shown as much growth as it did last year.

Revenue to me is about the value of your worth and the work you do. I don’t want to depreciate my worth as an artist that has worked this hard to learn, study and improve my craft; because the community simply can’t afford it. (which, I very much understand). My family is in a position where we are now going to have to rent till we die because of the economy’s expectations of house prices. My family on top of my worth can’t afford to reduce the cost of my art because of the time I’ve spent working on it all.

I don’t think there will ever be a clear answer to this question but I also have found that if you underappreciated your art your customers will feel that and it won’t feel as rewarding when you make a sale. I spend my time making art when I feel like making and organize the costs accordingly. I stick to those costs unless I have either way undervalued the time and adjust it.

I have used the “Profit First” by Mike Michalowicz method for organizing my revenue to where I feel like I do have money in places to spend when needed to maintain my product and materials to make. I highly suggest taking a look at this book if you are looking to start a business. It has greatly helped my business and relieved the stress from my family to support it. It supports itself.

Talya, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My business is Tally Marks Ink. I make and sell art of basically all types. I am an artist that can’t settle for any one medium or really anyone specific style. I do however, love color and I am all for bright, vibrant, straight out of the tube color!

I handmade sketchbooks & watercolor books. Which are made from first painting the covers either on paper or canvas boards. Then I prepare the covers to be bound. The paper I hand tear to have the deckled edges, folding, punching holes, then sew them to the covers.

I discovered my love for pour painting, where you quite literally pour paint on the canvas and move it. It creates a marbled look that can’t be replicated (some people will associate it with hydro dipping). I love that each book cover will forever be a one of a kind and unrepeated pattern. Even when I use the same colors they turn out so different. So if you are looking for a one of a kind sketchbook with blank sketchbook or watercolor books I am your artist!!

I use some of my leftover paint from the paint pours to make jewelry with recycled paint chips. I have necklaces and earrings of all colors and they are soo pretty.

I also paint. So aside from the book covers. I recently discovered 3D texture art painting and it’s so peaceful and enjoyable. I’ve made a few art pieces featuring the state of Utah in them with this new technique. I am always looking for new things to inspire me and drive me to try new things. This was one of them.

After the books and paintings my art switches to a very Gnome centered world. Gouache painted gnome prints, cards and stickers (the popular choice). They are so fun to create and coming up with new ideas for the gnomies is my favorite.

Then to finish it all off with ceramics. I love to get my hands dirty on occasion and really bend and mold something with my hands. Painting is its own kind of mess but building something from nothing is really a true reward. Gnomes with soft yarn beards, trees for simple and elegant decor in your home, to tree bell ornaments to necklaces in the shape of faces or mushrooms are in my little business.

So to really answer. I am an artist of all trade, adaptable and learning all the time. I love to share those learnings with others trying to make there mark or at least dealing with life itself. I hope to inspire other people to learn and grow in their own creative endeavors.

I teach art as well. It’s more like private lessons than group lessons at the moment but I definitely thrive as an artist when I can help others feel successful on there own journey to discover which medium fits them.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

One book I was recommended by another small business owner. Matt Stong with Stong Bread. He suggested “Profit First by Mike Michalowicz”. I am still only barely putting it into practice and I have already found a much less stressful time managing my business finances. I feel more in power and I get paid!! Who can say that for only being in business officially for two years!.

It teaches you how to divide your income into appropriate categories. One of them being profit of course, but also operations, owner compensation, taxes, & income.

I have been blessed to have a very smart husband that knows excel, I’m going to say it because it describes my humor but you could say, “he excels in it” haha. Seriously has helped me organize my income and funds out so that it is divided into sections. So far I have been successful enough this year to not need to dip into our personal funds to supplement anything. Which I completely rely on my knowledge from Profit First.

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

I feel like with the start of my business I had every reason to not start. One of them being I had a new member of the family coming and the first was almost 1.5 years old. I was only getting started with the business and the family. I wasn’t sure how I was going to balance them both. The more as time went on I got more and more nervous about all the number 2 jitters of having children, starting a business aka art making and maintaining a house hold.

I ended up having more anxiety about it all to a point I talked to a professional and got a little help. To all new moms and moms with more everything, I understand the struggle of overstimulation, managing laundry and cleanliness on top of pursuing your dreams or hobbies. I am no professional when it comes to all the subjects but I love to share my experience and knowledge.

My resilience resides in always making time for art and or space to breath in-between it all. We were able to afford partial daycare for the kids and I have one day a week especially for me for artmaking or mental health or truly to catch up on shows and laundry. Its a truly hard balance but I have found it so important and my husband has supported me in it. It’s incredibly important to be resilient in your metal health and happiness.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tally_marks_ink?igsh=MXFxbWprNm9vZG11cg==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talyabooks?mibextid=ZbWKwL