Anti-9 to 5 Inspiration, Episode 1: Angie Renfro

Interview with Angie Renfro, Painter
www.angierenfro.com

What is your name? Angie Renfro

What is your age? 28

What did you study in college? I started out at a private university in Texas majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Fine Art. At the time, the plan was that I wanted to do computer animation. The school I was attending didn't have a program for it, so I tried to combine both skill sets in my own way. I finally decided it would be more effective for me to attend a school that actually had a computer animation program, so I moved out to San Francisco. I started out studying animation and somehow wound up taking more illustration classes. The degree I finally received was a BFA for Illustration.

When and how did you start painting? I've always been interested in art. As a kid, I used to make my own coloring books. My ridiculously supportive parents recognized this interested and enrolled me in a little painting class when I was like 12. It was a small class that met in our teacher's garage.

When and how did you receive your first money for a painting? I had a studio that was a part of a monthly open studios night. A local gallery owner came through and invited me to be a part of a group show. The first painting I sold was opening night.

How long have you been a full-time painter? I've been painting full-time for just one year.

What were you doing before you were a full-time painter? I had a few interesting jobs in the arts - I was an illustrator for a bit and then worked as an industrial designer. Besides those exceptions, I've had mostly lame restaurant jobs.

What did you do to get your work out there? The main thing that propelled my work being noticed was placing an ad in an art publication. I had a connection that hooked me up with a full page ad in a Texas art guide. My first gallery contacted me from seeing that ad. It's been a snowball effect ever since.

Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently? I would have given painting a shot much sooner. Had I known that I could actually support myself with my art, there would have been a lot fewer tables waited upon.

Do you have any advice for aspiring artists? If you are going to do this seriously, you need to treat your artwork as a business. You need to advertise. You need to protect yourself - if you're doing a commission, always get half up front. Create contracts and document agreements. I've been burned several times, but have definitely learned from my mistakes. There's this book called "The Practical Handbook for the Emerging Artist" by Lazzari that I thought was really helpful. I still refer to it.

What were your main obstacles to overcome? As with any major change in one's life, the main obstacle I had to overcome was a fear of failure. The fact that I had nothing to lose when I embarked upon this path was a huge help in overcoming that fear. I left behind my life and my friends in San Francisco to be able to focus entirely upon painting. It was a big sacrifice but it was what I felt I needed to do at the time.

What was the turning point for you in your career? The major turning point was when I moved to Texas to fully commit myself to becoming a painter. I was laid-off of a design job and faced with a decision of returning to school to build up my design portfolio or to try to make painting my sole source of income. I knew I couldn't fully devote myself to building up a volume of work if I was painting part time and I knew I couldn't afford to live in San Francisco without working full time. So I packed up and moved in with my mom in Texas for six months so that I could live rent-free and paint full time. I didn't want to look back on life and regret not taking the chance..

To what do you attribute your success? The support and encouragement I have received from my family and friends is what has gotten me this far. My parents have always been in support of my art - my mom basically talked me into giving painting a proper chance. My good friend from school who is now an insanely successful painter has been a huge source of encouragement and motivation. Also, my very understanding roommates who allow me to have my studio in our house - fumes, sprawling canvases and all.

Any last words? It is possible to live the pipe dream of doing something you love for a living. It takes talent. It takes hard work and commitment. It takes rejection and disappointment. It takes selling yourself and shmoozing. But it is absolutely worth it.