Become an Overnight Success

"How does she do it?" could be your first question after reading the inspiring Artist Profile in the current issue of Décor & Style magazine. San Diego painter Leslie Lemberg discusses her body of work, her family and lifestyle, and her views on creativity.

"Lemberg's large, open studio is filled with natural light and fresh air. She has everything she needs to maintain her comfort and feed her imagination," it goes on to say. Leslie, my client, gave me permission to write about the years of behind-the-scenes effort and decision-making that account for those two sentences. This, for the sake of all those who think, "Why can't I do that?"

When Leslie was first transitioning from full-time motherhood to her art career, she carved out space in the family's two-car garage for her easel and paints. But she soon realized she needed an offsite location that was entirely hers, away from the phone, laundry and unscheduled demands. Some considerations she encountered were:

• Finding a space that was an easy commute
• Whether to form a coop and share rent and utilities
• Buy or lease? How much for how long?

Those three bullet points represent months of work and reflection.

Once the location was arranged Leslie:

• mapped out her floor plan
• identified her equipment and materials needs
• ordered and purchased the above
• installed and arranged the studio

Several more months.

Carving out time to paint while maintaining a busy family life was another consideration and work in progress. She:

• figured out which days worked best
• blocked time out on her calendar
• calculated grocery stops in one direction and family carpool responsibilities in the other.

And then she began to paint. From that point forward, everything shifted because Leslie was using her gifts as an artist. There was flow.

Entrepreneurs will always face challenges. But for Leslie, the joy of self-expression, not to mention her success in getting gallery and media attention, fuel her capacity for managing the everyday issues.

For every successful glossy magazine portrait you see on the newsstands, there is a reservoir of experience, perseverance and grit you don't see. The complex textures and surfaces of Leslie's paintings as well as their beauty, are testament to her talent as well as what it takes to be an artist.

You, too, can be an overnight success in your marketplace if you continue to take all the steps and work as hard as Leslie has. To visit Leslie's website, click here.