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HOW MY BUSINESS GREW ORGANICALLY

I never dreamed that I would have a painting hanging in The Pentagon (Chief of Chaplain’s office) or owned by the current Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, or hanging in Washington, D.C., or hanging in more than 7 other countries …I’ve been oil painting for over 12 years, the last 3 being a full-blown professional business.

But when did this really start? 2 things -

1. wayyyy before I could even draw a stick figure I worked for a professional artist (Jen Brandon) . I attended HER art shows, setup gallery-style walls, hung paintings, observed, listened. I am brave because of her. This all led to where I am today.

2. The “organic” growth started to happen as I showed my work both in person and online. I tried all sorts of different posts on Instagram until I found my niche. The early followers on my page have been nothing but incredibly kind and supportive and have carried me along in this world of aviation. I knew nothing - NOTHING - about this world until my husband began flight school. And even then I did not know what was rotary wing v. fixed wing.

So if there is just two things I could tell anyone who is in the arts or in a small business - a mentor is a necessity, and a niche is a necessity.

FROM COCKPIT TO CANVAS

The process of turning aviation into fine art

The first aircraft I ever painted was the Apache helicopter. It was a way to connect with my husband as he embarked on this new flight school journey. From that moment on, I’ve been painting people’s pictures and photos to preserve their legacy - and tell their story. But the nitty gritty of painting is a bit more in depth than that. Choosing a reference photo, choosing a perspective, a background color, and ultimately discussing the end goal with the client is all part of “the process.”