Why did you decide to start your own business?

I have dreamt about doing this for 4 years when I fell
in love with this career. I like working for the BEST
boss there is...ME!!! It is the most exhilarating
feeling when you can be free to be an artist on your own
AND making a living out of it!

How did you get started?

Well it's not that simple. In fact, the way I started
is something that may not happen commonly with anyone.
The first time I discovered my love for decorative art
was at a tiny children's gift shop 4 years ago. I was
personalizing children's gifts by painting rocking
chairs, tables and toy chests. Now I am at a large baby
department store doing the same thing. I met some of my
very first clients here doing baby room murals! After
that, "word of mouth" became the Midas touch!

What makes your company unique?

Well right now, it is just me and my husband. I feel
the need for my business in where I live is what makes it
unique. Everyone has a way of approaching people and
selling themselves. It's the way that you do it that
makes you unique. I for one have seen many people
positively respond to the fact that my husband and I are
newlyweds AND that we can work together!! It amazes
everyone! That and the fact that you just have to
radiate that LOVE for art!!

Were any special skills/training required? Where did
you get this training/experience?

Actually, it began with furniture at the stores I
mentioned above and the true key to decorative art is to
know interiors. Whether residentially or commercially,
you have to love seeing someone's place come alive with
your touch of art. I also created such a library of
books on the subject as well as magazine subscriptions,
being on the internet, active membership in related
organizations, etc. There are so many!! I am also
currently signed up for an intensive training course in a
school in Florida this October. You can't ever stop
learning about this industry!

What were the approximate start-up costs?

I can't come up with a figure off-hand but it does
require a working space like your basement or a spare
room. Then you need your draft table, a writing desk and
invest most in art supplies! It never ends!!!

What difficulties did you encounter starting out?

I had to take job offers that were very cheap and not
my worth in the beginning. But you can only gain
experience and a portfolio piece so I learned to keep
that in mind.

How many hours do you work in a typical week?

Approximately 2-3 / 8-hour sessions is the usual.

What are some ways you market your business? What
method has worked best for you?

I am currently working on word of mouth and meeting
clients by chance at the store. I am getting too
dependant on it though. I wish to start out by placing
ads in local town papers and during my "off" time, making
B/W flyers of my business with pictures of my work (which
can only be of furniture pieces) and leaving some at
potential businesses and posting them on public ad
boards. You have to start small in order to try out each
method. Then let it ride from there.

What has been most rewarding about working for
yourself?

Not worrying about how I have to DRESS to go to
work!!! That for me was the most wasteful thing I did
when I had to spend away to just to fit in! Really, it's
just the freedom of being your own boss. There isn't any
job in the world that can compare to telling YOURSELF
what to do!

What has been most frustrating?

Well, there is the lack of benefits, loss of contact
with the world if you will, lack of social life as well
as time for family, etc. The pre-packaged 2 weeks paid
vacation/9-5/live for the weekend/no pay for overtime/
retirement in 25 years or so/ETC. is NOT for everyone but
understandably is a way of secure life for the majority
of us "rat racers" (in the Big Apple that is).

How do you separate work from home?

In my home, it is virtually next to impossible since
my husband also freelances as an artist and that is all
the conversation we really have! Sometimes it is
literally closing the studio door from the rest of my
apartment!

What advice do you have for others starting their own
business?

LOVE: either you have it or you don't. And no, it
can't be for MONEY!! If you're doing it to just make
money, expect it to be short term. Believe me, it's not
luck, it's the love for what you want to do; what you
will DIE to do and the best thing in the world is not of
this world but definitely FOR this world: our God.

NO LUCK JUST GOD!