Hello,
I recently met creative Erica Haskett out of Memphis, Tennessee. She just celebrated her one year anniversary for her art business. Since I am celebrating 25 years in business I thought it would be great to talk with her artist on artist; at two points in their journeys. I have to be honest I cannot remember much of year one in my business. I painted and I exhibited and I was paid in cash; under the table. It was simple. Let's see what Erica has to say.
What is your creative business?
Erica
"My creative business is currently called Erica Haskett Fine Art, and as an artist (painter and photographer mainly) I offer a variety of products and services. There are original paintings and photography prints available in a variety of sizes to purchase on my website, and I am also available to photograph any and all people, events, and occasions from portraits to weddings to families. You name it, I'll photograph it. Everything can be viewed, purchased, and booked through my website ericahaskett.com. I hope to have more products and services to offer in the near future, but for now this is where I'm at."
Me
"I paint abstract art and sell original one of a kind paintings. I sell prints and my art on products (mugs, notebooks, tote bags and such) through Society6 too. My paintings can be purchased at my shopify website or what usually happens, collectors contact me directly. I recently did a mural and I would like to get more mural gigs."
How did you get into photography? How did you get into painting? What came first? painting or photography?
Erica
"I got into photography with my brother Ryan back in like 2014. He started taking and editing pictures with this iPhone and was already posting them to IG in like 2012 and as we grew closer and were spending a lot of time together he started taking me on adventures with him and showing me some tips and tricks. I started a photography page (which is my current business page) in 2014 and it’s just flourished since then. Those early years with my brother are some of my favorite memories ever with him.
Painting and photography kind of came together. Around the same time I got into photography, I started working at a paint your own pottery studio and immediately fell in love with painting pottery, and knew I wanted take painting classes in college."
Me
"I started painting while in college at Columbia Chicago. My major was advertising and sometimes my classes would require art projects for assignments so I would paint my homework. During this time I would go to the Art Institute and see all this art and in my gut I knew I could do it."
What is your motivation for your painting?
Erica
"My motivation/reason for painting is my deep love of color. There is nothing in this wooooorld like mixing colors together and playing with them and seeing what happens. It’s one of the most fulfilling, freeing, and also frustrating things that I do. Or at least lately it’s frustrating hahaha. I don’t know what to paint lately, but I’m giving myself grace and trusting the process"
Me
"For me I rarely need to be motivated, but what fuels me is my life. Feeling in love with people, places, music, a book, a movie, tv, fitness high, friends. I think when you are in love you are grateful and when you are grateful the whole world open ups to you with blessings and it lets one see life differently and creativity can pour out of you. When you go to a concert and everyone is belting out the songs together and after you are all good vibes. I suppose I can call those feelings happiness, peace, love, passion, freedom. The feelings of being alive and grateful for that moment. Those feelings are what fill me up. What fill my creative chakra and eventually those emotions spill out on to canvas."
Do you enjoy photographing people or places/ objects? Why?
Erica
"I enjoy photographing everything honestly! It started with nature and places (mainly Memphis) and has evolved into a deep love for working with and capturing people. I’m dying to get into editorial style photography and working with other businesses and brands, so that’s next for sure! I just love it all."
Me
"I paint feelings and sometimes places or nature. I am for certain more drawn to painting abstractions. I like how abstract art is a puzzle for the viewer to figure out."
What is the hardest part of being a photographer?
Erica
"The hardest part of being a photographer for the longest time was finding my style, and though I have some idea now that I love (light and airy), it’s still and always will be evolving. But overall, editing is the hardest part for me. There’s just so many options and ways to edit!"
Me
"My hardest part of painting is lugging large paintings around without a car. A car is in my far away future."
What did you learn in the first year of your business?
Erica
"In my first year business I learned grace. Grace for myself. For all I didn’t know. For all the mistakes I made. For how far I’ve come and how far I still want to go. Grace for others as well as plans changed constantly and I was ghosted and all the things -a lot of other things. I can expand on this question for suuure, but grace was probably the biggest thing."
Me
"Thinking way back, I cannot remember, but I have learned over time. It doesn't matter how any other person paints a person, place or thing. My way is my style and it's not wrong, it is my vision."
What is the best advice you were given about your business that you use?
Erica
"The best advice came from one of my best friends' and mentors Aleks. We were talking one day and I told him I was scared to do something and he responded with “do that shit scared!” (not sure if he said shit the first time, but he’s said it since and I enjoy it a bit more that way hahaha) and that’s honestly become a new life motto of mine. It’s perfect in every way."
Me
"Talk about my art. A lot of the time I do not talk about it." No one is going to know about it unless I tell them. I may have also just learned that!"
What would you tell a person just starting out as a painter & photographer?
Erica
"I’d tell them exactly what Aleks told me if they’re scared or nervous–do that shit!! Just start. Dive in deeeeep and head first. Practice. All. The. Time. Study it as much as you can. Form opinions. Meet with people in your area who do what you want to do and ask for help. Watch youtube videos. Whatever it takes and you think will help–do that. And do it with passion if you lack passion you won’t get very far."
Me
" I'd tell someone just do it, wing it. It doesn't have to be perfect. Just be real. Once you start your world will begin to evolve."
What do you do for yourself that is not in the arts?
Erica
"Everything is art to me and it all connects back to my art practice in some way, but the biggest thing I do for myself is put my dang phone away and live in the present moment. I try to do this as often as I can and tune into myself and meditate and relax. "
Me
"I love fitness. Probably I am obsessed and someone has to tell me some days it's ok to take a break. I also love hockey. and go to as many Blackhawk games as possible."
What are you reading? What music are you listening to?
Erica
"I’m currently reading Creative Calling by Chase Jarvis and listening to The Anthropocene by John Green on audible. Loving them both and definitely recommend them both!
I am listening to all kinds of music and honestly not really vibing with any of it. I need some new music desperatelyš"
Me
"I am reading, The War Of Art by Steven Pressfield, The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, and A Gentleman In Moscow by Amor Towles which I have been reading for more than a year, I read slow, I read more than one book at a time and I don't read every day. Then, I have had, Sam Roberts Band, Cold Water Kids, Caamp on repeat for months. My neighbor must be rolling his eyes every time "Love On The Brain" plays."
What is a local hidden gem spot in Memphis? to photograph? to paint? to hang out?
Erica
"A not so hidden gem but definitely one of my favorite places to photograph and explore would be our abandoned sky scraper 100 N Main. I love painting in my apartment on Mud Island, and need to take my easel outside on the river sometime and see what happens. And I love hanging out at any and all local coffee shops, pretty much anywhere downtown, and I’ve been really enjoying the Dixon Gallery and Gardens and the Brooks Museum this spring/summer."
Me
"A hidden gem in Chicago are the forest preserves in the city not just surrounding the city, but in it. They are beautiful all year around. There is also a little cafe in Edgewater neighborhood, I don't get to enough, it's right on the beach, The WaterFront Cafe. Speaking of beaches, my happy place, 12th Street beach is always magical to me. Then if you love vintage, JuJu's Vintage is a place you spend hours in."
What plans do you have for year 2?
Erica
"I have a looooot of plans and dreams for year 2, but the main thing I’m focusing on right now is finding all the clarity and organization with everything–from backend stuff, to the literal spaces that I create in and store things, to my computer, to Instagram–literally everything. I also plan to do a big, beautiful rebrand, purchase a new laptop and get an iPad, and travel often for my business, among other things that I’m holding close to my heart for now."
Me
"Year 26, is going to be about getting my early work photographed and looking into licensing and with prayers, buying a 2flat."
From year 1 to year 25; what journey for us both. One day you are here and before you know you are somewhere else with having lived at least 3 other lives. Time is a thief.
See Erica's art journey here.
Thank you Erica for your time! I look forward to watching your business grow and evolve.
Thank you to everyone who keeps coming back to my blog!
Stay tuned...
