Equipping Visual Artists to be Self-Sustaining Entrepreneurs

We are saddened to learn of the loss of a wonderful artist, our friend Paula Ensign. Our deepest condolences go to her friends and family. Paula was a member of the CHF Art-Business Accelerator cohort of 2017-18. Raising three children as a single parent, she set up a studio the day her youngest went to college, saying in a 2017 interview: “Not a day goes by that I am not grateful to be living the artist’s life.” Drawing for Paula was a meditation. By drawing and painting on location, Paula established visceral connections to specific places where she found peace and harmony. She became part of the scene, and shared that with her audience. They feel the sand between their toes, smell the pine in the air, hear the seagulls, and watch the sun dip below the horizon. In this hectic world, locations that replenish the soul were Paula’s treasures to share. Paula accomplished so much at CHF, and said: “The past two years have been a real turning point in my career.” We will miss working with her to build the business that would do justice to her incredible art.

Some of her CHF colleagues shared their memories: “Let's raise a glass to Paula in honor of her creative life! I am grateful to have known her, even for a very short time, because she had the courage to listen to and follow the voice that asked her to be an artist. Cheers to Paula, with respect to our colleague who was part of a community of artists, and in sympathy to her family for her loss. “—Aaron Laux “Though shocked and saddened by Paula's passing, one only has to look at her lighthearted and cheerful paintings to feel joy once again.”—Donna Lee Nyzio “I emailed her just a few weeks ago, and she said she was still making art...Which is incredible…”—Willy Richardson “Paula was a lovely, calming presence, and her art reflected that as well. She had tremendous perspective, except when it came to the powerful impact she and her work had on us all. She was much too gracious to acknowledge her own importance. Like Willy, I was in touch with her just a few weeks ago. She leaves behind gigantic, empty shoes.”—Elizabeth Hulings “She carried the calm and strength that her paintings revealed coupled with the bright swath of a shining smile. I know that she will be missed, but it sure was a pleasure to have had the time that we had.”—Bethany Taylor “Here is what she wrote to me when I asked her the question of how she would define growth: ‘Through artistic expression, hearts and souls grow and expand, and life becomes more meaningful both for the artist and those who appreciate art.’ Her paintings were sublime…”—Belgin Yucelen “I didn't know Paula personally, but from her art I felt very connected to her. I felt lucky and blessed to have known her through CHF. Any of us brave enough to have applied and made it into the program had skill, stamina, and artistry! I adored her art, such a precise technician with the splash of color. Her art was a window into her personality—strength and delicacy at the same time. Blessed to have known her.” —Nadia Fairlamb Paula’s obituary is in the The Bainbridge Island Review. We are deeply honored by the donations we have received in her memory. We will do right by them.

It’s getting to the end of the year, when we like to take time to reflect on all the things we have accomplished. Our team has a few highlights that we’re especially proud of: the Report on the Working Artist, our many Art-Business conferences, development of new partnerships, great plans ahead for 2020—and of course, our amazing 2019 Accelerator Fellows. Fellow James Moore has had a recent string of successes. James is an experienced sculptor, whose art focuses on combining figurative and abstract elements. He came to our program with the plan of building a network of public-art contacts nationwide and continuing to apply for commissions. His work, Stargazers, is featured in the Hyatt House Hotel public art project in Cupertino, CA. Raji Mahalingam, Fine Arts Commission of Cupertino, said: "Star Gazers is a wonderful example of how our Fine Arts Commission works to enhance our city’s cultural and visual landscape. Through the work of wonderful artists like James Moore we’re able to make our city an even more attractive place to work, live, or visit.” James was recently named a finalist for the Sunnyvale Recreation Center public art project in Sunnyvale, CA, and was just awarded the commission for the Seymour Street Plaza Sculpture Project in Montclair, New Jersey. Here’s to a great 2019 and an even more artful 2020!

A prominent alumni of the CHF Art-Business Accelerator program and one of this year’s mentors, Kristin LeVier is living proof that a person can be an artist and a scientist. In her TEDx talk, The Art of Science, Kristin shows how art intertwined with science creates works of beauty. It is only with one foot firmly in both worlds that she is able to imagine and achieve the art that is her life’s work. Kristin LeVier exemplifies being a thriving artist by taking two of her passions and using them both to strengthen each other—and she isn’t the only one. Many other artists use their skills to enhance both fields in ways that could only be possible with this combined knowledge. LeVier draws her personal inspiration from her molecular biology background, specifically focusing on tentacles, wings, leaves, and nature in motion. The MIT-trained artist links her creative roots to her first time working with a microscope as a young child. This TEDx talk won’t transport you into a science lab, but it will take you on a journey of discovery. Curl up and put your headphones in: it’s time to get inspired.

After two years of hard work, the Clark Hulings Fund Report on the Working Artist is here! Laying out in carefully-researched detail the key part that artists play in today’s economy, our very own CHF data analysis team Daniel DiGriz and Lily Dulberg sat down to talk details on the latest episode of The Thriving Artist^TMpodcast. We now have indisputable proof of the need and demand for business education for artists! This incredible data shows that we should be investing more in art and artists, and that doing so can change not only the culture, but the economy for the better. The ROWA report isn’t our only good news: we are proud to announce that The Thriving Artist^TM podcast has now passed more than 100,000 downloads! We have reached listeners in over 117 countries and all 50 states. Subscribe today, and listen to the show here. Isn’t it time you joined us?