Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Miller.
Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was in college and had never taken any art classes, but always had a knack for doodling. Out of nowhere, I decided to paint a watercolor portrait of my college boyfriend’s cat for our one year anniversary. He loved it! So I posted on my college’s buying & selling Facebook page that I would paint their pets for only $8. I got so many orders for the Christmas season that I improved my skills quickly. Through word of mouth and using my marketing degree, I never stopped getting orders and took my business full-time when I graduated in 2018. It’s been four years full-time now and I’m still painting pets!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Things were slow in my first year full-time. All my friends were working corporate jobs and my painting was feeling more like a hobby than a job. I started applying for other jobs and was about to call it quits when Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye tagged me in an Instagram post with a portrait I painted of his cats, Larry and Bug, in the background. Followers and orders started flooding in and it gave me the momentum to keep going!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I paint watercolor pet portraits. It’s been my niche the entire time and if you asked me to paint a tree, I probably couldn’t. But what I’m most proud of is the conversations I have with my customers. I am especially a safe person to grieve to when my customer has lost their pet. I’ll read you an essay about your pet’s life story, their favorite toys, your relationship with each other, and look through as big a google drive of pictures as you want to send. And I will probably cry along with you when your heart is broken. I think that bond we make is why I have the most loyal, caring customers who I love!
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That the unconditional love we have our pets is the most emotional and powerful thing, we have in this life!
Pricing:
- $50-$275
Contact Info:
- Email: sarahpaintspets@gmail.com
- Website: www.sarahpaintspets.com
- Instagram: @sarahpaintspets
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarahpaintspets
Image Credits:
Rare Love Stories – Bianca and Marcus Inyang
