A few short months ago a fantastic opportunity arose for me to facilitate a combination of art classes, including sculpture and glass bottle painting, at a local art studio. The problem was I had little to no funds to make this happen. Alongside this I was also struggling to get my own business as an illustrator and portrait artist off the ground, as I lacked the computer skills to get some professional looking flyers and posters printed. Computers really aren’t my thing! So realistically there was simply no way I could afford the studio hire and acquire all the art materials and equipment needed to get the classes off the ground. I began to feel very despondent about my illustration business as I hadn’t had a new client in very long time.
Happily, thanks to the Purple Shoots loan I was able to put down the deposit for the studio hire and acquire the necessary materials to get the classes off the ground. Within less than a week I managed to hire a professional designer who created eye-catching flyers for both my studio classes and my illustration business! I then launched an effective advertising campaign through the local paper and initiated a door-to-door effort to promote my services. I now have a fantastic new colour printer, which has already saved me so much time and money. Before I was always either heading to my local library, or printers, to get references for illustrations printed out. Now I can do everything I need from the comfort of my own living room. My living room feels more a like a vibrant art studio now.
I also recently acquired a drawing board, which is something I have long dreamed of, as I’ve been hunched over my living room table for years. My art classes are steadily gaining traction, the hot weather put a lot of people off during the summer months, but we are confident of gaining more clients come September. I’m still finding my feet, many years ago I worked as a Support Worker and ran art classes for vulnerable adults. Now I’ve got my foot in the door at the studio I hope to run classes for people with sight issues. For the past year or more I’ve been working as a volunteer for local charity that assists people facing these issues. And it would be great to give visually impaired people the opportunity to do something creative, clay modelling being a wonderfully tactile outlet.
I’ve already attracted two new clients for my illustration business. The next step is to expand the reach of my website through social media sites like Instagram. I don’t have any experience in this field, so I intend to get some professional advice, and the loan is really going to help out in this regard. Art materials can be very expensive and it is a great relief knowing that I now have a full cupboard stocked up. This has really made a real of difference knowing that I can focus on my classes and my business with a healthy budget in place.
I couldn’t have accomplished any of this without the invaluable support from Purple Shoots, and I am deeply appreciative of their assistance.