Meet Whitney Paige | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Whitney Paige and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Whitney, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I started my full-time artistic career right after the covid lockdown ended. I had just gone through a grueling separation from an abusive relationship and right after that was let go of my corporate job in Human Resources. Businesses were still figuring out their hiring practices and at the time I lived in a small mountain town in the middle of Winter and opportunities for work were slim. Instead of seeing my circumstances as a hurdle, I saw them as an opportunity. It felt like DIVINE TIMING. I had just gone through the hardest season of my life and for the first time ever I was entirely unemcumbered, so I thought, “This is it! This is my moment! I need to dive headfirst into my art and put EVERYTHING I have into what I’m passionate about.” I figured if I failed, I was no worse off than I was before I tried, so it was time to try! And wow, that was 4 years ago now! January 2021 is when I officially became a full time artist and I booked my very first art commission! Looking back on that first year it feels so surreal. I was living alone in the mountains, just me, my pup, and my cat. I was going through trauma counseling and working so hard on healing from the abuse, and I spent every spare moment outside of that just working on my art and my business and learning everything I could about how to have a sustainable art career. The solitude was difficult but looking back, it was so necessary. It gave me the space to really alchemize who I am as an artist and as a business owner.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work is infused with mythological, spiritual, magical and feminine elements that encourage us to reclaim the narrative around femininity and empowerment. Women are wonderful, and weird and wise and sometimes scary, and I want my work to encapsulate the range of diversity we find within the feminine. I really work to bring an element of enchantment in my art. When we were children I think we all felt a connection with the world around us that filled us with faith. I think I personally felt my most powerful when I was 6 years old and telling my secrets to the wind and I could almost hear the wind whispering back. That’s the experience one should have when they hang a piece of my art in their homes.

I got to where I am today professionally by having faith. I resolved to have unending faith in myself and what I could accomplish and I shifted my mindset to entrusting that things would always work out for me. Even when it wasn’t immediately apparent that things were unfolding with my best interest, I forced myself to believe that they were. I think having that mentality really helped me push through the tough times instead of giving up.

I’ve also learned from my collectors that my art and voice as an artist are important. The work we do as artists is important! We are living in unprecedented times. We are more connected than ever and have access to so much information and while we should be working toward equitable living for all, we still have archaic ideas pulling us into the past. It’s my job as an artist to empower those who are resisting going backward. My work is for the wild, weird, and wonderful women who don’t fit into your standard narrative of what it is to be a woman. My work is for the women who are redefining femininity and embracing the wide spectrum of womanhood.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The absolute first thing that popped into my head is a Miami classic. I would take them to Enriqueta’s for a Pan Con Bistec. When I lived in Georgia for 5 years, I would dream about this sandwich! And when I moved back to Miami, I was worried that it wouldn’t live up to the memory. The entire area around Enriqueta’s has completely transformed and I guess I was worried that the transformation somehow changed the food in this wonderful restaurant, but I ordered it, and took the first bite and giggled because it was actually better than I remembered.

Around the corner from here is Dear Eleanor and that would be our next stop. Whatever event they have going on their calendar is bound to be a good time.

I would also take them to Amelia Earhart park for some wakeboarding and to Odyssey arcade for some gaming.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The person that most impacted me as an artist and an entrepreneur is Eric Patrick. Unfortunately, he is no longer on this plane of existence, but I’m pretty sure he still pops in from time to time to check on me, so maybe he’ll read this from whatever dimension his soul is exploring now. Eric was an incredible mentor to me. He hired me as an artist’s assistant for his paint and sip studios when I was in my early 20’s and had 0 experience as a painter and eventually promoted me up to Regional Manager overseeing multiple studio locations in South Florida. Eric was the first person to ever really believe in me and because of his guidance, I eventually learned to believe in myself and follow in his footsteps by becoming the artpreneur I am today. Eric led his team with such incredible care and really cultivated each and every person who worked for him and always held space for our quirks and idiosyncracies. He was a BEAM OF LIGHT and I have strived to run my business that same way.

I would also credit Max Mace. She has always been there to be a sounding board when I felt directionless. She has always been willing to jump in and help me with anything I’ve needed from administrative help to artistic vision. She has been my work wife for over a decade and I have definitely leaned on that sisterhood unabashedly. I have no idea where I would be without it.

There are also so many artist friends that have been wonderful in sharing what works and what doesn’t. A strong artist community is integral to success as an artpreneur and I fully believe that I’m not in competition with any other artist. When one of us does well, we can all do well. I can’t remember every artist that has given me advice over the years but to name a few Shaz Taylor, Sammy Kaplan, Tall Greg, Debbie Bowman, Jeston Rodriguez, Stella Strzyzowski, Tiffany Dae and I’m sure there are a ton more!

Website: https://www.whitneypaigeart.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/whitneypaigeart

Facebook: https://facebook.com/wipaige

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/whitneypaigeart

Other: https://tiktok.com/@whitneypaigeart