Being an Artist
by Carrie Waller
Being an artist as a military spouse is definitely not a traditional career. But let's face it, being a military spouse is not a traditional lifestyle. It is what we make of it. As any military spouse knows you have to constantly reinvent yourself with every move.
After our first duty assignment in Germany where I was unable to find a job using my degree in Interior Design I quickly realized that I was going to have to create my own opportunities. I pledged to myself that I would always do something creative as long as I was following my husband's career. Throughout the years I have taught art to children and adults, painted murals and worked as a custom framer. After having my second child, I decided it was time to commit to becoming a professional artist. I decided to paint every day and gave myself the goal of creating a watercolor painting a week. I created my blog, Carrie's Creations at that time and blogged about my painting adventure. Having a blog opened me up to the art world and to other women who were also mom's pursuing their dreams as artists. This network of blogging friends became a huge source of motivation for me and the best part was no matter where I moved, they moved with me.
As I became even more serious about my art career, I started a website. Having a website gave me a professional presence on-line and was one more step in my artistic career. Having a Facebook personal page and fan page have really taken my career to the next level. The ability to market myself via social media as an artist is something that artists less than 10 years ago didn't have. I also realized after several moves as a transient artist I had a benefit that a lot of local artists were not taking advantage of - the fact that I knew we would only be in one location for a few years or less pushed me to hit the ground running. As soon as we moved to an area, or even before we got there, I was researching local art clubs, galleries and exhibitions. I reached out to art club members via Facebook and e-mail and had immediate connections when I got there. I noticed that a lot of artists felt the need to gain a name for themselves on the local level before striving for national or international recognition. These local artists didn't have an immediate time crunch so they could take their time, but as a military spouse I knew I didn't have that luxury. The quick time line really worked to propel me quickly into local and national art scenes. I looked at my art as a business and made a strategic plan of action. I wanted to gain local, national and international recognition simultaneously.
My plan of action was:
- Paint Daily
- Set Goals
- Dream Big
- Share my work and work-in-progresses via Facebook, my blog and my website
- Enter local, national and international exhibits
By painting daily I was gaining the skills I needed to accomplish my goals and dreams. I didn't have to finish a painting everyday but I needed to get brush to paper every single day. It was equally important to make a list of goals. If you don't know what you want to achieve how are you ever going to achieve it? I made sure to include big dreams on that list of goals. I also placed my goals/dream sheet where I could see it. It is important to see that list every day. I put a human face on my art career and shared my ups and downs with my career and paintings. I shared art works when they were completed and work in progress pictures of my art. By doing these things I was engaging my audience and branding myself. People want to be invested in you and your art so you have to let your personality shine through. I entered big and little exhibits that I thought would benefit my career. This has been instrumental in getting my name out there and gaining exposure.
By being persistent and sticking with my plan of action I have had much success. I sell work locally and on-line and have won many awards, been featured in major publications nationally and internationally and am now teaching workshops on my art techniques and my marketing strategies.
Carrie Waller is an award winning, internationally recognized watercolor artist, military wife, and mother to two young sons. Her unique works are bold, dramatic, vibrant, and full of light and color. Carrie is a guest co-host and contributor Artists Helping Artists the #1 art blog radio show. She is also signature member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society and has paintings in collections around the world. Carrie Waller is one of the curators for the inaugural NMSN Military Spouse Small Works Art Exhibit. You'll have the chance to meet her at our upcoming 3rd Annual Military Spouse Career Summit in October and see her art on display.