Artists ~ Jennifer Gilloly Cahoon ~ East Providence
Artist’s name: Jennifer Gillooly Cahoon
Shop name: Etsy: JGCahoon Visual Artist |
Brick and Mortar: HeARTspot Art Center and Gallery
Website: www.heartspotart.com
Facebook: (Artist Site) www.facebook.com/jgcahoonartist
(Brick and Mortar Site) www.facebook.com/heartspotart
Instagram: (Artist) JGCahoonArtist
(Brick and Mortar) HeARTspotArt
Other: (Artist Website) www.jgcahoon.com
1. Tell us about your work:
In college, I received a degree in sculpture, but in 2011 began to teach myself how to paint. My work began to gain popularity on FB, and I started to explore the creation of printed items of my pieces. (Photo reproductions, mugs, magnets, etc.) At the time, I was a public school teacher but my work in visual art took off enough to the point where I was able to resign and open a brick and mortar business based not only on my own work, but on supporting other local artists, art educators and makers.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
My Etsy Store is simply a variation on my own name. My brick and mortar business name was inspired by the idea of art being at the heart of so much that makes life meaningful, and ties to the idea that an artist community can be the heart of a place.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
As I alluded to above, I was a public school teacher for nearly 20 years. It wasn’t until I transitioned from the SpEd classroom into the art room that I began to take making art seriously again for the first time in over a decade. Social media (FB in specific) gave me a sounding board and a platform that helped me gain confidence in myself as an artist and emboldened me to take risks.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
My work on Etsy is composed mainly of my personal take on pop culture figures, usually with some kind of twist. I mainly choose individuals I feel strongly drawn to portray and attempt to reveal something about the core of their essence as I read it in that given time. Most of my commissioned work is comprised of loved ones who have passed, or of people who would like to mark a special occasion like a marriage or birth.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
I don’t sell originals on Etsy – I have found that not to be a very fruitful pursuit. Instead, I limit what I sell on Etsy to my personally designed and locally printed products featuring my paintings. The most fun pieces to create are my mugs! When creating those, I get to play with graphic design as all of those pieces need to accommodate a wrap-around design of which my art is just one small piece.
6. What’s your best seller?
In the past, my hand signed photo prints were the most popular item, but now I sell more mugs than anything else. This also holds true in my brick and mortar store. Mugs sell far more frequently than anything else I carry of my personal work in my Artist Gift Shop.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I’ve lived here for just over 30 years. As a child, into my early teens I was a Boston native.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
So many things, but the artist culture here is so wonderful and beautifully diverse. One of the reasons I opened up my business here was to help facilitate and help grow the artist culture and industry here in our state.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
Water Fire is a favorite of course, but if that’s not an option, bringing someone out for a great meal on The Hill or down to the beaches in South County is wonderful too.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
KEEP AT IT. This isn’t magic, and success doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll only discover your voice/niche if you keep putting in the hours and allow yourself to be seen. Put yourself out there—You’re your own best advocate.
11. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
As wonderful as Etsy is, it’s only a tool. It won’t do anything for you if you don’t actively promote it regularly. Keep other social media pages active too—put your work out there and cross-promote to your Etsy site. It works! Also, there are lots of businesses here in the state like my place that may be willing to help promote and sell your work. Seek us out!
Shop name: Etsy: JGCahoon Visual Artist |
Brick and Mortar: HeARTspot Art Center and Gallery
Website: www.heartspotart.com
Facebook: (Artist Site) www.facebook.com/jgcahoonartist
(Brick and Mortar Site) www.facebook.com/heartspotart
Instagram: (Artist) JGCahoonArtist
(Brick and Mortar) HeARTspotArt
Other: (Artist Website) www.jgcahoon.com
1. Tell us about your work:
In college, I received a degree in sculpture, but in 2011 began to teach myself how to paint. My work began to gain popularity on FB, and I started to explore the creation of printed items of my pieces. (Photo reproductions, mugs, magnets, etc.) At the time, I was a public school teacher but my work in visual art took off enough to the point where I was able to resign and open a brick and mortar business based not only on my own work, but on supporting other local artists, art educators and makers.
2. Is there a story behind the name of your business?
My Etsy Store is simply a variation on my own name. My brick and mortar business name was inspired by the idea of art being at the heart of so much that makes life meaningful, and ties to the idea that an artist community can be the heart of a place.
3. How did you come to be a professional artist/crafter/designer?
As I alluded to above, I was a public school teacher for nearly 20 years. It wasn’t until I transitioned from the SpEd classroom into the art room that I began to take making art seriously again for the first time in over a decade. Social media (FB in specific) gave me a sounding board and a platform that helped me gain confidence in myself as an artist and emboldened me to take risks.
4. Where do you draw your inspiration?
My work on Etsy is composed mainly of my personal take on pop culture figures, usually with some kind of twist. I mainly choose individuals I feel strongly drawn to portray and attempt to reveal something about the core of their essence as I read it in that given time. Most of my commissioned work is comprised of loved ones who have passed, or of people who would like to mark a special occasion like a marriage or birth.
5. What’s your favorite item to create?
I don’t sell originals on Etsy – I have found that not to be a very fruitful pursuit. Instead, I limit what I sell on Etsy to my personally designed and locally printed products featuring my paintings. The most fun pieces to create are my mugs! When creating those, I get to play with graphic design as all of those pieces need to accommodate a wrap-around design of which my art is just one small piece.
6. What’s your best seller?
In the past, my hand signed photo prints were the most popular item, but now I sell more mugs than anything else. This also holds true in my brick and mortar store. Mugs sell far more frequently than anything else I carry of my personal work in my Artist Gift Shop.
7. How long have you been in Rhode Island?
I’ve lived here for just over 30 years. As a child, into my early teens I was a Boston native.
8. What do you {heart} about Rhode Island?
So many things, but the artist culture here is so wonderful and beautifully diverse. One of the reasons I opened up my business here was to help facilitate and help grow the artist culture and industry here in our state.
9. Favorite place to take out-of-towners?
Water Fire is a favorite of course, but if that’s not an option, bringing someone out for a great meal on The Hill or down to the beaches in South County is wonderful too.
10. Any advice for new/wannabe makers?
KEEP AT IT. This isn’t magic, and success doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll only discover your voice/niche if you keep putting in the hours and allow yourself to be seen. Put yourself out there—You’re your own best advocate.
11. Please include anything else you’d like to add:
As wonderful as Etsy is, it’s only a tool. It won’t do anything for you if you don’t actively promote it regularly. Keep other social media pages active too—put your work out there and cross-promote to your Etsy site. It works! Also, there are lots of businesses here in the state like my place that may be willing to help promote and sell your work. Seek us out!
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