Meet Courtney Senior | Artist

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

Hi Courtney, what is the most important factor behind your success?
There are a lot of qualities required in starting and running your own business: intelligence, creativity, ambition, but for me I think a big part of success boils down to perseverance. From day one, I knew I wanted to make this a successful business and every day I strive to improve my artistic technique while simultaneously evolve the marketing side of my business. And while so much of the process presents exciting opportunities, it also presents enormous barriers that can really only be overcome by perseverance and persistence. From the early stages of not even knowing how to pack and ship a painting or set up an e-commerce website, to the ebbs and flows of inspiration and even sales, I could have easily let any of these issues break my stride. Every challenge must be met with the desire and dedication to work through it until you reach your goal. None of us will get to where we want to be in life without some level of grit and perseverance.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a self-taught abstract artist. I started selling my paintings in 2014 after a 4-month stint of non-stop painting as a way to curb some anxiety I had been experiencing. I created so many pieces of artwork that my condo quickly became a studio. At first, selling my work did not seem like an option. It felt like a scary universe that I knew nothing about and couldn’t possibly overcome. It was daunting trying to figure out where to sell, how to market myself, pricing, shipping, packaging etc. Not to mention, the fear of not succeeding. So, I thought why not just give it away. I initiated a social project called #ArtandFound. I neatly packaged up my work with a note taped to the outside that read “Hello, I’m an original abstract painting in need of a loving home. FREE ART #ArtandFound.” I would also leave a note on the inside saying who I was, what the painting was about and contact information for anyone who wanted to follow up with me. I would leave them around different neighbourhoods in Toronto, CA and hope that someone would pick them up. The response was so incredible that eventually it gave me the confidence to start my own business. And while the last 6 years have been met with many more challenges from planning my first art show and building a social media presence to a very long and intense inspirational drought, I always look back at this moment to remind myself that I can learn to do anything if I just put my mind to it. Yes, it sounds cliché, but in times like that we have to be able to put our heads down and keep at it when it might seem easier to give up.

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?
Unfortunately, I don’t know Miami, well :(.

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?
I’d love to give a shoutout to the artist community as a whole. Over the years, I have had the pleasure of connecting with and following so many amazingly talented people. They have taught me to push my creative boundaries, have been a continuous source of inspiration and know-how and have shown their support and encouragement since day one.

Website: www.courtseniorart.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtseniorart/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/courtseniorart/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJbh81jLS-WYmaL4a5AzBPQ