Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Terry Sauvé. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Terry, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, though it was a slow build. When I began selling oil paintings, I had a somewhat “Hollywood” idea that someone would discover me and handle all the marketing and sales while I stayed in the studio. And even though I kind of had this false notion of what it would look like I still managed to suit up, show up, and put myself out there in ways that I wasn’t entirely comfortable with at first.

A turning point came in the early 2000s when a friend handed me a flyer for a small street show in Sausalito. I totally did not want to do it but my husband said “come on this is ridiculous it’s your audience” and so we borrowed a tent and some panels from a friend. That day, a really great Gallery in Sausalito picked me up and in the next 18 months they sold 23 original paintings.

Looking back, if I’d been more focused on generating steady income from the start, I would have jumped into art festivals sooner, collected contacts earlier, and stayed in touch with my audience. One of my biggest lessons was to say yes to unexpected opportunities because they often turned out to be the most pivotal for my career.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a California-based fine artist and landscape painter working primarily in oils, with a focus on Western United States landscapes. I enjoy capturing moments featuring light. The majority of my paintings are depicting the light around sunset and sunrise, interacting with the landscape, the sky, and the water.

I definitely had a circuitous route to get to this point where I am selling paintings full-time but it’s been an incredible journey. As a kid, I was always on fire with creativity and painting was the first thing that really lit me up. In fact, one of my early memories is of creating a book of nothing but different colors that I had mixed with my first watercolor set. I grew up believing art could only be a hobby for me. In my 20s, I pursued academics and even a graduate degree, until a simple comment from my mother “I always thought you’d be an artist” made me reconsider. At 29, I left graduate school, enrolled at the Academy of Art College in San Francisco, and discovered plein air painting. The beauty and joy of connecting with nature in this way, really lit up my spirit, and I knew pretty quickly that this was what I wanted to do.

Now, 25 years later, I’ve built a thriving art business. Most of my work is sold in person at open studios and art festivals, where I connect directly with collectors. I’m proud not only of my discipline in the studio but also of embracing the business and marketing side of my career. It was difficult at first to jump into sales but now I view it more as a way to serve others.
Through marketing my work and connecting directly with customers, I’ve come to realize that my paintings are more than landscapes. They’re invitations to pause, breathe, and connect with a moment of beauty. People have shared stories of how my art has brought light into difficult times. One woman, facing cancer, told me she used a painting as something positive to wake up to each morning. Knowing my work can bring peace, joy, or hope to someone’s life is what fuels me every time I step into the studio.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Throughout my career I’ve learned that It’s not so much about specific resources, but rather lessons I wish I’d understood earlier about being an artist. When I was in art school in San Francisco, most of my teachers supported themselves through a combination of teaching and selling their work in galleries. For a long time, I thought that was the only path. What I wish I had realized sooner is the value of connecting directly with clients and the many avenues available to do so.

Building relationships, keeping in touch with anyone interested in my work, and seeking out venues to show my art have all been game changers. Learning from other artists about the incredible opportunities at art festivals, where you can meet collectors face-to-face, also opened up a whole new world. It took me a while to see this as a viable (and exciting) complement to the traditional gallery system. Taking full responsibility for the growth of my career has been essential, rather than waiting for a gallery or outside agent.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey has always started with just a strong, irrepressible urge to create, whether it’s in the kitchen, sewing clothing, creating artwork or making jewelry. So I went into art school at 29 years old with the idea of starting over and doing something with my life that I loved. I connected so strongly with painting landscapes, and while I didn’t realize it at first, the practice had a profoundly healing effect.

Now that so much time has passed, my mission has become to create and share beauty. When I’m in nature, witnessing that transcendent light, I feel a deep sense of awe and connection to something larger than myself. I’ve even found myself moved to tears in front of a sunset or an original painting of a master because of its sheer beauty. I believe both nature and art carry an incredible power to heal, inspire, and promote wellbeing, and that is the energy I strive to share through my work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.terrysauve.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/terry_sauve/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySauveFineArt/