Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Dan Scott, Founder of Draw Paint Academy, located in Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
We help people learn how to draw and paint using traditional mediums.
Tell us about yourself
I started painting at an early age. I remember being inspired by some of the paintings which hung around the house from renowned Australian artists. I was particularly interested in painting landscapes. After school, I gave up on art and pursued a normal career in accounting. I spent a few years studying and working the standard 9-5 (more like 7-6). I learned many things during this time, but my creative side was absent. One day, I felt I needed something to take me away from my busy schedule. So I decided to jump back into the art world after what had been a lengthy break. I basically had to learn everything from scratch again. I ventured onto Youtube, read all the blogs, and just started painting.
This was a frustrating yet exciting period. I was doing most of my learning by watching others paint. But I was not learning the theory behind what was going on. Trust me; this is not an efficient way to learn art. But few artists teach the theory and fundamentals, let alone teach it well. Most are more interested in demonstrating their skills. My interest in color and the Impressionism movement started around this time. I was fascinated by how masters like Claude Monet could use these short, jabbing strokes of color to create the illusion of form.
So I started to learn everything I could about color. Then composition. Then brushwork and all the other fundamentals of art. I figured that by learning these fundamental areas, I would better understand what goes on behind each stroke. My art started to improve significantly after this shift in focus. I still have a long way to go myself, but hopefully, I can help you out along the way. I may not be the best artist in the world, but I strive to be one of the most helpful.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Being able to get out of accounting and spend much of my time painting.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Juggling between being a dad, business owner, and partner to my beautiful girlfriend. Each role requires me to bring different things to the table.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
- Aim to be really good at whatever you do.
- Look for opportunities and strike fast when they come.
- Don't focus only on getting attention and noise in the early days. Sometimes, you need to work quietly and diligently without recognition.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://drawpaintacademy.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drawpaintacademy/
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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