Today I am excited to share with you an interview I did with one of my favorite artists, Gretchen Warsen. Gretchen creates beautiful, flowing mixed media abstracts that are full of life.Maybe most people are like this, I don't know, but for me the process of selecting artwork for my home has been a very important and personal journey. I've been taking my time and really searching out artists and pieces of art that speak to me. Instagram has been my friend through this journey, and boy was I excited when I discovered Gretchen. I adore her work, and when I had the chance to meet her in person, discovered that I adore Gretchen the person.I am overjoyed to share her story with you. I hope it is inspiring for all of you artists, like me, who one day hope to turn their art into a successful business. Enjoy!

Hi Gretchen! Going back to the beginning. What was your childhood like and how do you think it has influenced your life as an artist?

I grew up in an old farmhouse in rural Maine and come from a long line of creatives. My dad converted an old dairy barn on the property into his metal studio where he had dreams of pursuing his career as a sculptor of imaginative and inventive flying machines. I will always be grateful to him for letting me have free reign of his shop—trying out tools, learning how to measure, etc. His mother was an artist in many senses of the word—she sang, danced, painted, wove, sewed and embroidered and I have wonderful memories of her teaching me how to do a watercolor wash and how to thread an embroidery needle.

When I was 4, my parents and some of their friends started a tiny, alternative-education school. It was kind of like a Montessori school, in an abandoned chicken barn a short distance from our house. There were 20 children, 2 teachers, and an abundance of time allowed for all forms of creativity. In fact, I don’t even remember doing very much “traditional” learning. I do, however, remember sledding for hours, listening to my teacher read aloud while lying outside in the grass, writing and performing plays with friends, and making valentines for days. Writing about this now makes me realize it was a pretty idyllic way for an artistically-inclined child to grow up!

When I started attending the public middle school, I was already on course to become a pianist, which I pursued until my second year of college. Drawing and painting were something I always made time for, but I didn’t think too much about pursuing art as a career. Oddly enough, it was my piano teacher in college who could see that music was not something that made my heart sing. One day we had a serious conversation where she asked me if there was anything else I truly loved to do. I brought in some paintings and she encouraged me to seek out the art professors. Once I realized that this thing I had always done and had seemed so “easy” and natural could actually be studied and developed in-depth, I switched majors to Studio Art.

When did you know you wanted to pursue an art career?

While I was in college in the early 90’s, I was fortunate enough to get a summer job where I learned the basics of graphic design. I didn’t know of any artists who were making a living from art sales (including my dad, who by this time had become a software engineer) so I thought that graphic design would be a practical way to make money while use my creativity. I worked as a graphic designer in the Boston area for several years, but continued to paint and draw whenever possible. I would add a hand-drawn illustration to a design job, or an invitation for a friend or a Christmas card.

In 2002, my husband and I moved to New Hampshire and I left my design job to become a full-time mom. After about 10 years of raising 2 girls, I realized I wanted to use the creative part of my brain for something other than making fairy houses with my girls (wonderful and tiring memories!) so I called upon a family friend, Alison Rector, who is a successful painter, and asked her for advice. She helped me see that a career in art was possible.

Can you tell us a little bit about your creative process and how you approach your work?

Currently, my creative process starts with a daily morning walk with my dog. During the walk I keep my eyes open for natural colors, textures and lines. I am also obsessed with podcasts and often hear a phrase or a subject that inspires me and gets an image percolating in my head.

In the “studio” (a 4-season porch in my house that I have completely taken over) I tackle the dreaded blank white page by getting initial pencil marks and color washes down. I work on Yupo paper, which is quite forgiving and allows for all kinds of water-based and acrylic media. I enjoy making layers of paint, marks, lines and juxtaposing opaque and transparent color fields.

You have a very clear style. When one of your works appears on my IG feed I know in an instant that it is yours. Has your style always been so clear?

Looking back at some of the abstract work I started to do in college, I can see some similar elements that I (not intentionally) have continued to include in my work now--20+ years later. I think that means that I'm still the same person, with the same love of lines, certain color choices, and a desire to mix drawing with abstract forms.

To answer your question, I think my style is something that sort of happens naturally but it has morphed over the years and continues to develop the more art I make. Sometimes I wish I could change my style, actually!

What have been some of your biggest successes and biggest challenges?

Biggest success: I think starting an Instagram account has been wonderful. I cannot believe how supportive and affirming that community is! Of course, it has its downsides, but I love using Instagram to ask questions, get feedback, and have an immediate place and motivation to get the work out “into the world.”

Biggest challenge: Ugh, the business side of being an artist. Taxes and dealing with money numbers? I know it’s necessary, but yuck. I'm still figuring this piece out, but the book, "Art Inc." by Lisa Congdon is a fabulous resource.

What advice would you give to someone who has been approaching art as a hobby and now wants to turn it into a business?

I would pass along the same advice that my friend Alison gave me:

Do as much “front-loading” as you can. Make piles and piles of art, give yourself some assignments and themes and create a series. You ideally want to have 10-20 good paintings that can show a gallery you have a consistent style.
Use good art supplies, don’t bother with the cheap stuff. Even when you’re experimenting, it’s so much better to use high quality materials.
Take good photographs and learn how to use Photoshop (or hire someone to do it for you).
Set-up a simple web site so that when you’re ready to approach galleries or apply for a juried show or art fair, they have a place to land to read more about you and see your work.

A lot of artists have a great time creating, but then break-out in a cold sweat when it's time to start selling their work. They just aren't sure if their work is good enough. What advice would you give them?

Ah yes, I know that feeling well! I think some ideas that have helped me is that if you're nervous about whether or not people will buy your work and you're worried that no one will, it's really good to ask yourself, "do I like this? Would I hang it on my wall?" If the answer is yes, then chances are someone else will like it too.

Then its just a matter of finding the best way to reach your future collectors--whether its on social media, starting an email newsletter, building a web site, approaching a gallery, finding an art fair, or just inviting some friends over for a little art sale and snacks.

What are your goals for the future?

I would love to teach, maybe do a residency somewhere, and participate in as many group gallery shows as possible. I say group shows because I really enjoy meeting other artists and I think it’s a wonderful thing to see different styles all in the same space.

Can you tell us a few fun facts about you?

I once spent the night in a teepee where my teacher lived (she was a teacher at the alternative-education school).
I’m right-handed but I draw and paint almost exclusively with my left hand—something a college professor suggested and I’ve painted that way ever since.
I absolutely love assembling Ikea furniture. In fact, I have put together Ikea furniture that wasn’t even mine.

Want to see more of Gretchen’s work?

Turning your art into a biz with Gretchen Warsen