Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Waldrop.
Hi Wendy, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am American but grew up overseas from ages 2-18. My parents worked with schools and churches in international cities in Ukraine, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Throughout my life, I always enjoyed making art but was hardly ever a part of a school system with an in-depth art program. When I went to college, I decided to study Studio Art more intentionally and ended up majoring in it!
After college, I moved to Istanbul, Turkey, to teach at an international school. There, I discovered the beauty and portability of watercolor painting. I didn’t have a lot of time or money, but watercoloring was something I could do on the go. I loved to sit on street corners of new cities, painting my surroundings, and, on multiple occasions, people offered to buy my sketchbook page off of me! I usually accepted the offer! In Istanbul, people began to ask me for commissioned paintings, and I realized I could actually make money selling my art.
When I moved back to the States, I felt a little burnt out from teaching, so I began advertising my artwork and offering commissions more widely. Slowly, it gained traction and I’m loving where I’m at now! I do watercolor paintings for real estate agents and individuals who want to give someone they love a custom gift. It means so much to me to be able to create a piece of art that’s so personal and will hopefully be treasured by someone else!
As someone who’s traveled a lot and lived in multiple places, buildings and spaces hold a lot of memory and significance. I know that even if I don’t personally resonate with the place I’m painting, the recipient of the painting surely will!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Making and selling art is usually not a very smooth road, unfortunately! I struggle with the lack of consistency in income and not knowing how to budget the money I make. It varies widely from month to month.
Moving to Cleveland Heights has been a journey because I’ve had to start over in the market scene. It’s all about who you know, and I’m still growing my community and client base here. While it’s uncertain sometimes whether I’ll get into a certain market (especially if it’s a big one!) I hope and believe I’ll make my way into it someday.
Rejection is never fun, but I’m trying to not let it get the best of me and continue to move forward and put myself out there!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I do watercolor paintings, predominately centered around places and architecture. I am starting to be known for my watercolor paintings as well as the fact that I’m always with my very cute toddler.
Some people know me for my photography and web design work as well, as I also freelance in those departments!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
My favorite book is “I Capture The Castle” by Dodie Smith. It’s incredibly whimsical, raw, and stream-of-conscious. I find quirky, artistic novels spur me on to create better work, even if they aren’t centered on art-making specifically.
Apps for art-making (and social media content generation) include Adobe Lightroom, Unfold, Canva, and Square. I use Square Up for online commission purchasing as well as markets.
One of my favorite art-related podcasts is called The Lonely Palette. It’s a thoughtful and fun podcast that makes art history more accessible, with a lot of good interviews. It was created by Tamar Avishai, who happens to be an Ohio resident!
Pricing:
- $4.5 per greeting card or postcard
- $17 for a 4×5 fine art print
- $35 for an 8×10 fine art print
- $200 for an 8×10 original
- All other original watercolors are priced by size!
Contact Info:
- Website: wendywaldrop.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/wendywaldrop
- Facebook: facebook.com/wendywaldropstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendywaldropstudio/
