04.28.08
My Interview with Corinne Sullivan, Owner of Daydream Art Studios
Please meet Corinne, Owner of http://daydreamartstudios.com.
Where are you located? Beautiful Grand Rivers, Kentucky, between two lakes.
What do you design? Vases, paintings, jewelry, found art scultpure. I also paint in oils and acrylics and have been painting for years. I am primarily a self taught painter and am learning and experimenting all the time. I tend to have a short attention span, a love for the process over product, a passion for all mediums, so my work can be all over the map.
Where/How did you learn this? A lot was learned from experimentation. I read a lot of books and I also took tons of art classes in high school and college, where I graduated with an AFA in Art Education.
Favorite Artist who inspires you? I like different artists styles different days. I love Salvidor Dali, Van Gough, Matisse, Picasso, Lichtenberg, Mary Cassatt as some all time faves, but I also love to discover up and coming and great new contemporary artists and learn from them.
Where does your inspriation come from? I am inspired in art from the beauty around me and like to exaggerate and show off the beauty in the everyday and mundane. I am inspired in life by my 9 year old daughter, whom I am fortunate enough to home school and spend all day, everyday, with.
What do you do to combat creative block? Haha, I really have more ideas than time! When I do have a block, I sketch out and draw things others have requested (I draw a lot of tattoos for people), which always requires I focus more on technique than ideas. I try to draw everyday, to stay in practice, but also to stay inspired. Sometimes I force it, but it always pays off!
Where do you design your creations? Everywhere! I have a small studio in my home, which is so stuffed to the gills with supplies, I end up working in my kitchen, my living room, the driveway…I am in the process of converting/remodeling my outbuilding into a large working studio that offers studio space for rent, workshops, and after school programs. I currently take donations on my blog and website to help me get the funds to meet this goal.
What does your work space look like right now? Haha! It’s actually pretty annally organized, but since I have more supplies than space, it overflows.
How does your family feel about what you do? They are very supportive and seem pretty proud of me really. But then, they get great gifts! My daughter wants to sell her artwork already, so I guess she likes it!
Do you have any advice for someone looking to make their own creations using this method? Have patience, be willing to learn from your mistakes. My mom always said it’s only a mistake if you didn’t learn from it! 
Best advice you received when starting your business venture? Gosh, I don’t think I received a lot of advice, I am still winging it! I once heard an overnight success takes 10 years. I always remember that when I am frustrated. I have also heard to be successful, fill a need that no one else is. In art, though, that can be hard.
Favorite part of owning your own business? Freedom, loving what I do-by far! I am a very lucky girl!
Least favorite? Wow, you can never escape! It’s always here, staring me down. My husband is more bothered by this than I am. Sometimes he begs me to stop drawing and watch TV with him!
How do you relax? LOL, I paint! I also love the outdoors, so I hike, go out on the lake, camp or sit on the beach.
Favorite color? All of them! I love pure, bright colors.
Does this color show up in a lot of your work? All my paintings are vivid and bright.
If there were more hours in the day, what would you be doing? Painting or sculpting.
A sample of Daydream Art Studios products. For all products, please visit Corinne’s website.
