Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in arts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Olaf Schneider, a fine artist based in Mississauga, ON, Canada.
What's your business, and who are your customers?
I am in the fine arts business. Most of my customers are art collectors.
Tell us about yourself
I am a husband, father of two, and grandfather of seven. I studied at the Ontario College of Art and Sheridan College and was greatly inspired by mentor Ron Greig. In 1986, while painting large-scale outdoor advertising billboards for Mediacom, I acquired a strong practical foundation that would become integral to my work today. For me, each piece represents an intense exploration and refinement of my personal pictorial sensitivities, especially as they relate to beauty, form, light, and shade. Composition, color, and craftsmanship are all elements that become the building blocks of my work. I am a prolific painter inspired by the power and diversity of the northern landscape and anything that needs a "second look." An explorer by nature, I travel across North America and Europe to gain inspiration. I am best known for my high realism style of painting. It has been extremely rewarding to be recognized and awarded with the highest honours for much of my work in Canada, the USA, and Europe (France & Austria). My work can be found in private, corporate, and museum collections such as the TD Bank collection, Sick Children's Hospital (collections both in Toronto & Montreal), and the Louvre in Paris. My training has been thorough and exceptional. My inspiration comes from painters such as Norman Rockwell and William Bouguereau. I am a true realism painter by the very definition of this genre.
My early experience in the art world began as a mural painter. This entailed doing enormous mural paintings which dotted the face of the City of Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and the surrounding area for many years. The company for whom I worked, Mediacom Outdoor Advertising, was renowned. These murals involved working with securing vendor permits/ tenders, utilizing Boom and scissor lifts, and painting on scaffolding (occasionally under adverse weather conditions). As my talent and experience grew, Toronto. I was at a crossroads; a friend suggested painting the world of Formula One race cars. My father had been a race car driver who perished in an accident while driving the track. This new realm of the race car world enhanced my growing experience in working with a professional team. My work no longer became mural based but rather on canvas on a much smaller scale. I painted many successful race car drivers in North America and Europe. The paintings were large, exquisitely executed, and very successful. Some of these paintings ended up in the Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and a well represented in Montreal, Canada. This was an exceptionally successful time in my career on many levels. From there, I moved into the world of horse racing. One of my paintings is still grace the Woodbine Race Track. After my honeymoon, I took to painting Landscapes and played with Still Life painting, using flowers and glass to hype up the interest in the work. *The first oil painting sold to Michael Andretti at the Toronto Molson Indy.
What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?
Painting outdoor advertising murals and billboards. Hang one of my pieces in the Louvre in Paris, France.
What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?
Finishing a painting is one of the hardest jobs I have.
What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?
Create a body of work, have a website, promote yourself, knock on doors get involved.
Where can people find you and your business?
Website: https://www.olaf.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olaf.artist
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olaf_artist/
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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