I’m doing it backwards, but it’s working!
Instead of getting an Art degree and them starting my professional art career, I’ve done it the other way around.
In 2025 I applied to art school as a 55 year old CPA (Chartered Professional Accountant) who had no formal art training but had dabbled in watercolor, urban sketch, collage, photography, acrylics, and so forth for personal pleasure. I managed to hobble together a portfolio for my application from the various artwork I had done.
I Was Accepted to Yukon School of Visual Arts!
Due to work obligations, and the fact that I would need to move to the Yukon to attend the Yukon School of Visual Arts, I deferred my attendance until September 2027 so that I could sort things out.
I decided to spend the intervening year working towards establishing myself as an artist.
I Joined Art Storefronts
If you don’t know, Art Storefronts (ASF) is a website designed specifically for artists and photographers. Membership includes direct expert consulting and coaching, a gallery style website, and many tools and resources to assist with running an art business.
Following their advice I set up Instagram and Facebook for my artwork, and started creating urban sketch style art. I did my first Instagram post on April 28, 2026.
Success By The Numbers
Fast forward exactly 3 months. By the numbers:
- 659 Instagram Followers
- 55 Facebook Followers
- 33 Email List
- 16 Artworks Created
- 2 Originals Sold
- 2 Commissions Sold
- 1 Juried Art Exhibition
- 1 Charity Art Auction (artist keeps 50% of proceeds)
- Professional Artist Designation with the Province of New Brunswick
Backwards, But Moving Foward
I work full time, and only have a few hours daily to dedicate to my art.
I don’t believe that any of this would have been possible without Art Storefronts guiding me on how to get started and giving me direction on where to go next.
Perhaps because I am a CPA, I value the business side of things, including making and selling art. The guidance I have gotten from Art Storefronts, because it is so targeted to artists and photographers, has been invaluable.
I may have done it backwards, but I definitely have forward momentum going as an artist!
Stay Sketchy!
