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The following
stories are drawn from earlier newsletters.
November
2004
SUE GETS HER CARDS
INTO 20 MUSEUM SHOPS!
Sue has had a
flair for art since she was young – but lacked confidence to believe she
could make a career of her creative work.
As a mature
age student she took the risk of pursuing further study to get a qualification
and completed a bachelor of design in Visual Communication, graduating
in 2003. The course set Sue on a career path and she began looking
for work in the graphic design area. . It was hard work to get into
this field, without work experience, and to get work experience you need
to have a design job!
Sue decided
to trust her skills as an artist. She decided to launch herself into
self-employment. |
| Now
she feels the relief and freedom of not looking in the situations vacant
column! She has decided to create her own job, as a visual communicator.
While establishing herself Sue also spent 6 weeks doing a course at Deep
Wells called ‘Life in the Third Age’. She says the seed of direction
was planted there in the question posed: “if you could do anything you
wanted what would it be?”…for Sue, Art was the answer, not graphic design
… but still her confidence floundered…..
Sue pushed
into a small business course with the Small Business Enterprise Centre,
and had ideas of running art courses for holiday programmes, or making
cards. Art history was one of her major subjects while studying and
Sue had produced a substantial number of acrylic paintings depicting Kiwiana
through the decades. Her designs were eye-catching.
Sue had not
made an appointment with me at the Angel Fund Wahine Putea, but popped
into the Office with all her bits and pieces on her way to getting quotes
to reproduce the paintings as gift cards. |
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Sue was delightful
to talk with, she was so full of ideas – prints, calendars, placemats…I
was excited by her work, which had great character, detail and interest.
Sue says the
timing was amazing, within a week her loan was approved and she was off
to the printers to get her cards reproduced! She overcame her initial
dread of marketing, launched herself into cold calling and searching the
internet for museums with shops. She made up folders with samples
and price lists and sent them off to friends in different parts of NZ and
within 8 weeks had covered her costs and was ready to reinvest in a second
print run!
“The most exciting
moment was when I got a small order from Christchurch Art Gallery – 60
cards!” Sue said. Since then she has been offered commission work
from another Museum. Sue is now supplying up to 20 outlets with a
print run of 1,200.
Since getting
her cards printed Sue’s confidence and horizons have grown significantly.
Networking has led to new contacts and opportunities and also people offering
new ideas for how to develop her work. Lucille, from Salvation Army
Employment Plus has done some one-to-one mentoring, helping Sue to plan
and maintain her momentum as well as expanding her ideas. Particularly
the idea of not just having ‘one’ job, but getting an income from 3 or
4 different strands of creative work. Sue is now pursuing the idea
of producing life drawings for pregnant women and new mothers and also
free-lance graphic design. She says having a mentor has made her
accountable, given her space to think out loud, and provided constructive
criticism and positive reinforcement to her ideas and work.
A ‘weekend
‘Fuse’ course which Sue came across on the library notice board introduced
her to other artists who wanted to make money from their art. The
input was helpful and Sue will attend a longer course getting in to the
details of how to plan exhibitions, contracts etc…
The two exhibition
possibilities Sue now has have come from contact with a framing firm, and
referral to a publisher has given Sue a new lead on presentation of her
art history themes, and a goal to work towards.
Sue particularly
enjoyed referring her friend in the North Island to a gallery when they
approached her for cards. “It felt great to be able to say go to
Wellington City Gallery, my cards are stocked there!” Sue comments.
Sue is full
of ideas, she is smiling, positive, and her confidence is growing and carrying
her through.
Story
taken from Sept 02 newsletter
Celebrating Kiri’s
first sale!!!
Kiri makes beautiful
carved and painted pictures in wood, but she also carves egg’s!!
In six hours Kiri can transform an ordinary ostritch egg into a beautiful
and unique work of art.
Kiri say’s
she did not really enjoy art at school - the programme and the teachers
didn’t suit. But today she is happily creating some vivid, unique
and wonderful works of art! Her unique sand designed frames enhance
the overall originality and effect of her pictures.
About 10 years
ago Kiri was approached by Oamaru Bird Sanctuary to make a model bird for
promotion of the sanctuary. She said it took 2 years to complete!
(papier mache). Following on from this they asked her to paint the
exterior of 2 trucks, what a job! The results were great, her talent
were on display....
Kiri’s was
interested in developing her skills and knowledge and this led her to Hagley
Community College’s Foundation Art course. |
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She needed help
with the fees, so approached the Angel Fund and a loan was granted for
her to undertake the year long course. “It was a very useful course,
introducing a range of concepts and techniques and exposing participants
to different mediums - clay, 3-D sculpture, photography and computer”.
But carving was what caught Kiri’s imagination, and this year she has worked
away developing her ideas.
In order to
go into production Kiri needed materials and paints. Again, up front
money was required. Kiri had paid off her loan and was saving with
the Angel Fund, so applied for funds and used her savings as a ‘top up’
to get the necessary items. Just a few months later Kiri has produced
a range of beautiful products, featuring NZ Maori art and native flora
and fauna. She is supplying her work through Te toi Mana Gallery
and, yes, the first picture sold just last week!!
Kiri would
like to make a name for herself, and has a dream of owning her own gallery
some day! Visit the gallery and see for yourself, I’m sure you will
be impressed!
Kiri’s talents
together with financial help from the Angel fund have added something beautiful
to the world - thanks to our donors and lenders for helping get Kiri’s
dreams off to a great start!
Kiri's website:
www.kiri.co.nz
Story
taken from April 2003 newsletter
Louise makes ear
candles!
Ever heard of
ear candling? It’s a gentle and relaxing natural process of clearing
the ears of wax and debris, using the draft created from the heat of a
hollow taper like candle. Does it work? Louise says it’s great
for things like head colds, ear infections, sinus troubles, hearing loss,
for pre-flight treatment, swimmers, divers the list goes on! The result,
a clear head and nasal passages! Louise says its good for everyone,
it’s all about looking after your ears!
Louise learned
how to make this health product working to support her mother’s business
when things were busy, in Australia. However, life was not working
out for Louise, and she recently returned to Christchurch with her young
son.
She always
wanted to work for herself, and, while on the DPB, she attended the Christchurch
Small Business Enterprise Centre course on how to set up and run a business.
When she had done the homework to explore if she could make a go of ear
candling in New Zealand, the next stop was the Angel Fund. A loan
was granted for materials and business cards, and Louise’s business was
launched.
Louise is passionate
about her new business, and over the last months has been hard at work
promoting her product through health stores and naturopaths north and south. |
People often
fall asleep during the
process, which
takes 15-20 minutes
per ear.
“All you hear is a gentle
wind like
sound, like at the
beach” Louise
says. |
There has been
good interest, and it was great to hear from Louise that she is heading
toward her goal of financial independence!
Louise’s advice
for women about launching a business idea - “decide to do it, research
the idea well, then just do it - don’t make excuses!
Louise’s aim
- “to be a nation wide supplier and have her product well known by the
general public”.
Louise’s opinion
on the Angel Fund loan - “it has been a great confidence boost and allowed
me to get established in self-employment, which has advantages of flexibility
with young children!”
At the time
the article was written, Louise’s products were available locally through:
The Herb Centre, Healthy Living, Marshalls Health, Homestead Health, Concern
Cottage, Kahunkura Natural Family Health & Saga Gibbs.
Louise now
has over 300 outlets throughout NZ and they can be seen at www.earcandlesbylouise.co.nz/stockists |
