Ronni, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s one of the most important lessons you learned in school?
One of the biggest lessons I learned in art school is that no one outside of those walls will ever care about your art the way art school does. Any art major will tell you that is true, but it ended up being one of the most valuable things I took away from that experience.
Yes, I learned skills that directly apply to what I do now—figure drawing, plein air painting, observation, discipline. But more importantly, we were constantly pushed to understand that we are the ones responsible for putting ourselves out there. No one’s coming to do it for you. And if you want to have an art career, especially as a creative entrepreneur, that mindset is everything.
After graduating, I moved to Atlanta without knowing a single person. I had a few weddings under my belt from Mississippi, but that was it—no name, no network, no reputation. It was up to me to create something from the ground up. So I did all the uncomfortable outings, such as bridal expos, networking events, cold calling venues, reaching out to planners, anything to get my foot in the door. I built my website myself. I started my Instagram with the work I was doing in real time. I just kept going.
And going and going.. After you build the clients the you still have to execute the paintings on the wedding day. That was a whole adventure in itself. I learned how to show up in unfamiliar places and how to talk to everyone. I learned how to advocate for myself when other vendors don’t take the artist seriously. I learned how to ask for what I need as a human and a wedding vendor; otherwise, you won’t get it.
I heard a podcast recently where the guest corrected the old “fake it till you make it” line and said, “make it till you make it.” That really clicked with me. Every day, you show up and consciously make your next move. You keep building, adjusting, and pivoting. It’s not linear. But that drive to keep pushing is what creates a sustainable career.
I think part of that resilience comes from my parents. My dad has owned a restaurant in Mississippi for over 35 years, so I saw the hustle up close. I saw the long nights of unpredictability, yet the consistency. My mom, on the other hand, approaches life with such thoughtfulness and strategy—she calculates her next move with care. I think I carry a mix of both of those qualities into how I run my business.
I’ve never really been nervous about putting myself out there because I’ve always believed in the work. I knew this was what I wanted to do full-time—it was the only option that felt natural. But without that lesson from art school—that no one’s going to care about your art more than you do—I don’t think I would’ve had the push to start putting myself out there before anyone was asking.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I moved to Atlanta about five years ago, completely on my own and without knowing anyone. It was a huge risk, but I was determined to make it work. With a passion for capturing beautiful moments on canvas and a commitment to building something meaningful, I got to work as a live wedding artist and event painter. Happy couples are the reason I can live out my dream, and I am forever grateful. I make every painting with such care because I care too. I feel deeply, and I am deeply moved every wedding I have the pleasure of painting. Though the stresses of being a business owner are many, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
I am most proud of my courage to keep going all by myself. I am proud that I have moved through each hard mental block, and I am thankful to all my beautiful clients, who are the reason my dream stays alive.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
A big lesson I’ve had to unlearn is thinking that making people happy means saying yes to everything.
I have a history of being a people pleaser, unfortunately. I genuinely love making others happy, and when I started my business, that mindset came with me. I used to say yes to everything, offer discounts when people asked, and push myself to do extra work that wasn’t part of the original agreement. I’ve had clients who were super picky or difficult after asking for a deal, and I’d end up working twice as hard just to keep them satisfied. It always left me drained, frustrated, and resentful.
Over time, I’ve learned that you can still give people a great experience without sacrificing yourself in the process. There’s such a fine line between great client service and people pleasing—and that’s been a huge challenge for me. But I’ve realized that in order for my business to be sustainable, I must figure out how to create structure around communication and expectations so both the client and I feel respected.
That’s the fun (and scary) part of running your own business—you make the rules as you go. You learn from every tough situation. And now, before I take on a project or commission, I check in with myself. I have a sticky note on my fridge that says:
Will it bring me joy?
Do I have the time?
Will it stress me out?
If something doesn’t pass that gut check, I let it go. That little habit has helped me stay grounded and make choices that serve both my art and my well-being.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
You have to move with the “trends”, unfortunately sometimes, and be willing to adjust. I’m dealing with that right now. I love and prefer live wedding canvas paintings—that’s where my passion and expertise are—but watercolor guest portraits have become super popular lately. I do offer them and enjoy them, but that’s not the ultimate experience I want to be known for here in Atlanta.
Because of that, I’m currently in the process of training and outsourcing that part of the work to other reliable, up-and-coming artists who love it. It’s a win-win. It allows me to stay focused on what I love most, while also fulfilling a need and giving opportunities to other artists. Plus, it naturally expands my business without myself too thin.