Share Your Wealth Building Story

We feel that when you're first starting out on an entrepreneurial endeavor, it is important to have support and inspiration; many times this can come from reading about others experiences.

We're currently collecting stories. We encourage you to share with us and others your experience and knowledge of being an entrepreneur in today's world.

Send your stores to mystory@mywealthpuzzle.com. We'll be posting your stories here to share it with others.

Stories

I've always wanted to tell my story. As an artist, you know that odds of achieving fame and fortune are thin. But I think my chances are a little better than average. Not because of talent, but determination and the fact that I love what I do.

Determination isn't just a new thing for me. At age 16, I dropped out of high school. It wasn't an easy decision. I was determined to get a college education. But my family really needed money, and the public school I attended was terrible. So I decided to get my GED and apply for a Pell grant in the fall. I figured if I attended community college for a couple of years, I could transfer my credits, and continue to college on a scholarship. My plan took longer than I expected, mostly because I had to work full-time. I had to make a lot of adjustments along the way. But I never abandoned my goal.

Right after I dropped out, I was looking for a job at the mall where my mom worked. Since I wouldn't be turning seventeen until the summer, I had to fib a little to get this couple to hire me at their shop. I think they could sense how badly I needed that job, because nine years later when I paid them a visit, I told them my real age and they confessed that they knew all along. They saw someone in need, and believed in me. I have always been grateful to them, because they really helped me by giving me a chance. The few dollars I made really helped make things easier for my family.

After many years of working and gong to school part time, I finally graduated from the University of Houston with a degree in Fine Art/Education. The "/Education" meant I had taken enough extra education classes to be certified to teach. I didn't want to be a "starving artist," and there was no way I was going to be one of those people who graduated from college and ended up working at Starbucks. Especially not after everything I went through for that degree. I figured teaching was a noble profession, with benefits and summers off. I could paint in my free time. What could be bad about that?

But once I got into the real world of teaching, I realized it was not for me. It wasn't the children. They were mostly great. It was all the burecratic b.s. that comes with teaching in the public school system. The budget was never enough to get the supplies we needed. After work, the school expected you to coach or lead extra-curricular activities, and all for very little pay. You really need to love the profession, and not care about all of the other things that come along with it.

So there I was -- 26 years old, about to get the degree I worked toward for over a decade, and I was already miserable with my career choice. Had I compromised too much by doing the "smart" thing and setting myself up for a steady job? Luckily, I was happily engaged to a wonderful man named, Alan, who encouraged me to take some time and explore the possibilities. Maybe I could do something in the art field that wasn't connected to schools? But first we were going to treat ourselves to a visit with friends in New York. It would be our first time together in the Big Apple.

Around this time I got the most wonderful gift -- a puppy Jack Russell Terrier. I had always loved dogs, but because of our family's situation, I had never been able to keep one as a kid. I fell in love instantly. I named her Bobo, and we became inseparable. I confess, I was one of those obsessed pet owners. She was like my child, and I spoiled her rotten. I'm sure some of you understand. I couldn't stand the thought of boarding her, so my sister came to stay with her while we went to New York.

I was at the Museum of Modern Art when the inspiration struck me. The exhibition was by Chuck Close, and although I was familiar with his work, I had never seen it in person. His portraits stood about 8ft. tall and 5ft. wide, some even larger. It was amazing how he took what seemed like an average person, and made every detail so so telling and expressive with extreme close up composition. Of course, I couldn't keep sweet Bobo off my mind either, and it wasn't long before I was planning my own portrait of her. I couldn't wait to get started.

Once I got home, I basically locked myself in the studio for two weeks trying to take that inspiration and put it on canvas. I had some job leads I was working on, but the longer I worked on Bobo's portrait, the more I thought I might not need that job after all. If Bobo's portrait was such a hit, why wouldn't every obsessed pet owner want a portrait? I did my research, and found a lot of artists doing pet portraits, so I figured there must be a market for my idea. Even better, I saw that my style was unique. There were plenty of artists making beautifully realistic renderings of pets in dignified, but unnatural poses -- some looked like the canine version of the JC Penny portrait studio. But I felt like my first few efforts, with my candy coated pallet and quasi-cartoonish rendering applied to close up faces, offered something different. Most importantly, I had finally found a truly personal subject for my artistic expression.

I decided to get a body of work together to present to the public at the upcoming annual dog show. After struggling with various breeds, I chose the best looking paintings, got a license and headed out to the show. I got enough commissions to work for the next six months, and I have painted my pet portraits steadily since that day, but it hasn't all been so smooth. Like most artists, I did not have a lot of business sense. I realized that art, like anything else is a product, and I needed to educate myself with the business of art. I tried many ways to get exposure, and I can honestly say 80% of the things I tried, like expensive ads, didn't do a whole lot for me. There is no instant success. There was no single bit of press or fancy marketing technique that could magically take me to that "next level" and allow me to triple my prices overnight. I learned that it's the sum of all the little things you do that makes the difference. And that's why heart is so important. When you believe in what you are doing, I think you open yourself up to the world, and people appreciate that. And I realized that getting to know my clients and their pets made for better paintings, happier clients, and more referrals and repeat customers. I got involved with groups like the Humane Society, pet rescues, and animal shelters, and I donated a lot of artwork that helped a lot of animals, but I also connected with people who share my love and made more sales because of it. I think that belief in what I am doing has made it possible to take the chances and put out the effort necessary to make this work.

Of course, another big motivator has been my realization that I would never be happy working for someone else. The longer you work for yourself the more determined you become to have it stay that way. Especially now that I have children, I really enjoy the flexibility. I don't want to miss out on anything with them, and I want them to know that I am here for them at any time. I could never have that if I didn't work for myself. I also couldn't handle the thought of making money for someone else who may, or may not appreciate my hard work. And the most important reason, I love painting people's pets!

Since I started painting pet portraits in 1998, I haven't become a millionaire, but I do have a steady stream of business. I am well-established in my home-town, I am starting to license my work, and I've just released my first poster -- "The Dawgs of Nawlins." I am also the official artist for the Louisiana SPCA, and, believe it or not, a film maker is doing a biographic documentary about me. No matter what happens, I know I will continue to find new avenues for my art. Painting is my passion - being a portrait artist is who I have become, and I plan to keep it that way.

Aidi Kansas
www.aidikansas.com