Self-taught Abstract Painter

Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in fine arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Chelsey Hornsby, owner of Chelsey Hornsby Art, located in New West, BC, Canada.

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

I am an abstract artist working out of my home studio just outside of Vancouver, BC. I love to paint large scale and do a lot of commission pieces for interior designers creating custom art for their clients and projects. You can also find my work in local shops scattered around Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Tell us about yourself

I ran a successful interior design business for over twenty years. I have always painted but never had time to commit fully. I decided to take fewer design projects and give myself one year to decide whether or not I make painting my full-time job. I spent that year focused on my painting, creating a website, and really putting myself and my work out into the community.

I no longer take on design projects and have been busy selling my pieces ever since. My love of design still motivates me, and I am able to help a lot of my collectors with the scale, color, and location of their art. They receive some interior design advice as well as a new piece of art for their space - it's a win-win situation!

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I would never have imagined that in such a short amount of time I have turned a painting hobby into a full-time career. I keep busy with a steady stream of commissions and new releases and feel so thankful for the many collectors that love my work enough to keep coming back for more.

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

The biggest struggle for a creative person running a business is having to put down the paintbrush and focus on the logistics of that business. When I am in a creative swing, the last thing I want to do is pull myself away from it. I really have to schedule my time wisely so that I stay on top of the "not so fun" bits of the job.

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

I am a true believer in doing something you love and making a living at it. You don't have to jump in head first, but you also don't have to spend years of your life watching from the sidelines.

Take your passion and research it, test it, ask a million questions and then take some steps to make it a larger part of your life. If you love your idea and put your heart into it, you will succeed on some level. You will make mistakes and then learn from those mistakes, which will, in turn, bring you that much closer to succeeding. Take the smallest of accomplishments and use them as your fuel for moving forward.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://chelseyhornsbyart.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelsey_hornsby_art/

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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