Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Angela Bandurka, Founder of Angela Bandurka | Art & Design, located in Lynnwood, WA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I call myself an impressionistic representational painter and art instructor. All that means is that I paint pictures with acrylic or oil that look like the thing I'm painting but with an artistic touch. My customers tend to be people who appreciate fine art and have the financial freedom to bring an original piece of artwork that speaks to them into their homes.

Tell us about yourself

In 2008, my son was three, and I was deciding whether to try to begin making my art my business or whether to go back to work full-time. In the end, I decided to put my hard work to work for me instead of someone else. Having a background in graphic design, with a little management experience, has been invaluable. Every day I'm motivated by two things - my insatiable need to create something and the desire to make enough income to do what I want to do in life (eat, pay my bills, travel and have a little in savings).

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been as an artist - when a painting of mine graced the cover of "The Best of Acrylic" magazine in the fall of 2022. This means a lot of exposure for my work, and having a painting on the cover of a magazine was never something I even dreamed would happen.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things that have come from being a business owner has been to convince the public as a whole that I am, indeed, a business owner. Apart from the fact that I am my own accountant, marketing manager, and the sole creator of my product, I also face questions from some of the public about the nature of my business. There are many who see what I do as simply a "hobby" and not something to do a business of. Even some of my friends ask me personal questions about how I've been able to buy a home and continue to pay my mortgage. Artists have an image issue to tackle. For some, the mental image of an artist is of a poor person who is relying on government handouts and is always on the verge of homelessness. It's one of the main things I do in outreach when talking to young people or anyone who asks me about how I can afford to be an artist. It's all about keeping your eye on the bottom line and making sure that you value your time and hard work and project that out so that people see your work as a culmination of your life's work and value it accordingly.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

If I were asked to give another emerging artist any tips to start and run their own business, I would say this:

  1. Take some business classes, whether through your local college or Chamber of Commerce. Get a business license and a reseller permit, learn how to maximize your tax write-offs, and promote your business.
  2. Learn about the value of social media and email newsletters. Yes, there are evils associated with social media, but as a business tool, it is invaluable.
  3. Update your website regularly, and consider writing a blog or creating other content that you can link to from emails and social media.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.angelabandurka.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbandurkaART/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abandurkaart/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbandurkaArt
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abandurkaart/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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