Cover Story
Bay area women put their creativity to work
Published: Mar 21, 2007
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Three local artists individually have found ways to mix their talents with their affinity for nature to create inspired works of art. With some patience and ingenuity, you might be able to follow their lead.
Using shells collected from around the world, Heather Kendall designs and constructs mirrors, chandeliers and decorative items accented with shells. Kendall, 42, started designing pieces eight years ago to challenge herself and was delighted to find they've been successfully marketable.
To those interested in selling their own creations, Kendall advises checking out stores to see what they lack.
"Research what products are needed. Make products worthy of your time," she says. If you spend a lot of time on something and can't sell it for enough to cover your time and expenses, you might want to reconsider.
"I love to make artistic things people treasure in their homes and that they are happy with," says Kendall, whose parents also are artists. The most rewarding — and challenging — part of her business is "to come up with a design that fulfills your customer's hopes and desires."
Being her own boss is a wonderful bonus, she says. "What surprised me was how great and fun it is to work for myself, to not have a boss, to make my own time schedules, to make my own designs, and to find out how much people love it. I'm just amazed that they really like my work," Kendall says.
Having shows in friends' homes is a great way to start an artistic business, Kendall says.
"Ask yourself, 'Who are my clients? What do they like? What would they like?' And always have a book available where people write down their addresses so you can send them postcards with photos of what you're working on," she says, adding that yacht club boutiques are another great market.
"Start slow, use a bit of your savings to try your new career idea and don't quit your day job until you are sure your new career has proved to be more financially secure," Kendall advises.
Custom design is at the core of Kendall's business, but she sells pieces in 15 stores across the country, including at Vanity Home, 4234 Bay to Bay Blvd., and at her studio, The Pink Pineapple, at 4220 Bay to Bay Blvd. Visit www.elegantshells.com for more information.
Mom enjoys making soap
Creative souls who enjoy experimenting with natural oils and herbs might find soap making to be a wonderful career, says Lizzie Lino, founder and owner of Lizzie's Kitchen Made Soap.
"It's the most fun I've ever had doing something," Lino says. She uses natural ingredients, such as lavender, tea tree oil, rosemary, lemongrass and oregano, in her soaps.
Lino began selling her soaps, priced at $4 each, so she could afford to keep making them. She admits that marketing is her least favorite aspect of the business and says she thinks Tampa is an excellent market for someone who has time to make it a career.Because she home schools her two children, Lino hasn't fully concentrated on growing her business. Even so, strictly from word of mouth, she now has 50 regular customers. Lino can be reached at 813-254-1080 and lizzieskms@verizon.net.
"I think there's a huge and growing market," Lino says.
Natural Florida inspires painter
Walk into a Tampa establishment and your eyes might discover artwork by Donna Morrison, a painter who has found that one of the best ways to show her art is on the walls of friends' offices.
Word-of-mouth marketing, participating in art shows and connecting with other artists have worked for Morrison, who focuses mainly on commissioned pieces.
Always a fan of art, Morrison began painting professionally in 2001. Her favorite subject matter is natural Florida.
"I just feel like there's so much beauty and interesting details," the 43-year-old Morrison says.
To those aspiring to join the field, Morrison suggests joining arts organizations and entering art shows.
"The nice thing about where we are with technology today is that almost all art shows want digital images of your work, so you can just sit at home and submit to shows that are national," Morrison says.
Taking weeklong workshops to learn various techniques has been beneficial, says Morrison, whose work sells from $99 for prints to $2,000 for originals.
They can be viewed at www.bayougraphics11.com.
"I feel like there's a huge desire and there will always be a market for art and natural world stuff. You really have to find your niche," Morrison says.
"If you are called to do art, you need to just follow your heart."
