Lisa Congdon: Painting Business Skills Into the Life of an Artist
Fine Artist, Illustrator and Author
Twitter: @lisacongdon
Website: www.lisacongdon.com
Bio:
Fine Artist, Illustrator, Author and Blogger. Known for her colorful abstract paintings, intricate line drawings, pattern design & hand lettering. She works for clients around the world including the MoMA, Harvard University, Martha Stewart Living, Chronicle Books, Simon & Schuster, and Cloud9 Fabrics. She is the author of several books including the starving-artist-myth-smashing Art Inc: The Essential Guide for Building Your Career as an Artist, and illustrated books 20 Ways to Draw a Tulip, Whatever You Are, Be a Good One and Fortune Favors the Brave. Her latest book The Joy of Swimming: A Celebration of our Love for Getting in the Water will be released in 2016.
Innovating in Field of Work:
• Lisa speaks and writes regularly about changing the business of selling art, including making diversifying your income (working in both commercial and fine art) as an artist. She has now made it her mission to teach others all of the ways you can make a living as an artist.
• She has authored seven books, including Art Inc: The Essential Guide to Building Your Career as an Artist where she shares how to break the traditional rules of the art world and shows that you don’t have to “starve” to do what you love.
• Lisa writes regularly on her popular blog and gives speaks around the country for artists and creative entrepreneurs about diversifying income streams, risk taking, networking, and letting go of attachment to perfection as catalysts for abundant and satisfying art careers.
• Lisa offers classes, one of which is called “Become A Working Artist” — a 22-part class which focuses on balancing the business and creative aspects of making a living as an artist.
Impact:
• Lisa gives talks on various topics including her own unique “late start” path as an artist, creativity, breaking through “imposter syndrome” and working outside your comfort zone. She has spoken at TYPO International Design Conference, The CUE Art Foundation in New York, ICON Illustration Conference, The Contemporary Jewish Museum, The Nevada Museum of Art and at numerous colleges and universities. She also reaches a vast online audience through her blog, Facebook fan page and Instagram following.
Role Model:
• Lisa didn’t begin drawing or painting until she was 31 years old or launch her professional art career until she was in her late 30’s. She has become a role model for many older women who would like to start or re-launch creative careers.
• Lisa regularly writes personal essays on her popular blog, participates in podcasts and gives talks around the country for artists and creative entrepreneurs about diversifying income streams, risk taking, networking, and letting go of attachment to perfection as catalysts for abundant and satisfying art careers.
• Through public speaking, blogging, writing, and social media, she shares her story — the ups and the downs, her fears and what she’s learned from her experience. As a proud member of the gay and lesbian community she shares aspects of her business and life without filtering the nature of her personal life. Followers have told her she gives them a “vision for my future that I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”
Reinvention / Risk / Momentum:
• Lisa is a self-taught artist and entrepreneur who changed career paths in her late 30’s. She previously worked as an associate director in a non-profit, but was unsatisfied with her work. Over the course of several years, and without formal training, she transformed her hobby into a high paying, satisfying career.
“Because Lisa didn’t start her career as an artist until she was in her late 30’s she is also an example of taking a turn in your 20’s and 30’s to follow new passions. Younger women see Lisa as a role model — someone who not only followed an unconventional path, but also was successful without abandoning her values or humility. ”