Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Stroud.
Caroline, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have painted my entire life but never viewed it as a job opportunity until college. I had done a painting for a friend as a gift and people wanted to know how much I would charge for one like it. It kind of took off from there. I was doing any commission I could get- pet portraits, UGA football paintings, downtown Athens scenes. In addition to these commissions, I really wanted to get into live wedding painting. It was a trend that I had seen other artists I followed on Instagram doing and I knew I had the skills to at least try it out. When my cousin got married in Charleston two years ago, I offered to do a live painting at her reception as a wedding gift. It took about a year for wedding paintings to really take off, but not it is a cornerstone of my business. After I graduated, I knew I wanted to pursue art but with the advice of my parents, I waited to jump in full time until I had saved up a bit of money first. After 11 months of working a corporate job and painting commissions every night and wedding paintings every other weekend, I took the leap and got a studio in Decatur. It has been such a learning experience and I cannot wait to see where I’ll be a year from now.
Great, 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?
My biggest struggle other than knowing when to pull the trigger and go full time has been finding my artistic style/voice. Comparison in art literally kills you. Everyone’s work is so different and there is no good or bad art- just different. I always have to remind myself of that when I am painting. My biggest advice for young artists who are just starting their journey is to not compare your work to other peers. I would say to continually experiment, and you don’t have to post everything you create. My advice for artists and non-artists alike that are just starting out would be to take the chance and go for your dreams. That does not mean doing it without planning or preparation. Save up some money, make a business plan and start targeting the exact market you want to reach.
Please tell us about Caroline Stroud Art.
Right now, I specialize in live wedding paintings. This is a fairly new trend that has recently taken off. I arrive at the ceremony venue for about an hour and a half before it starts and start painting in the background. Then, I snap a picture of whatever scene the couple wants to be painted (first kiss, first dance, etc.). I set up the photo on my iPad and reference that the rest of the night while I paint. I move inside to the reception and continue to paint and entertain guests while they eat and dance. It is not only entertaining for guests but also a lifelong keepsake for the bride and groom to keep. I am proud of the reputation I have built within the wedding community as being punctual and easy to work with all while providing a memorable experience at your wedding. I believe my services help shape the night of your wedding into one you will never forget!
What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?
I have two favorite quotes that really motivated me to take the leap and start my own business. The first is this: “Visualize your highest self, then show up as her.” I think visualizing yourself in your dream job motivates you in your current job or situation to work as hard as you can to get there. It is a whatever it takes mentality and that is what you need when you are just starting out. You will have to sacrifice nights out with your friends and events with your family all in the name of pursuing your dream career. But if you are visualizing where you want to be, you will do anything you can to get there.
My second favorite quote is “The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do”. I think this quote helped me realize how attainable my dream job was if I was just willing to put in the work. It was not some lofty, far away goal that would be impossible to achieve. I just had to put my head down and work hard. This quote made me realize my dream job was achievable.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carolinestroudart.com
- Phone: 4783902134
- Email: carolinestroudart@gmail.com
- Instagram: @caroline_stroud_art
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Caroline-Stroud-Art-119528432010848/
Image Credit:
Photo Via Audrey Herron Photography, Photo Via Ashah Photography, Photo Via Brooke Collins Photography
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