podcast

Crafting a Career: Practical Insights From Watercolor Artist Sue Dolamore

In today’s episode, ArtsvilleUSA founder Louise Glickman sits down with Sue Dolamore to discuss the painter’s dynamic career as an artist and educator.

Louise Glickman

Aug 21, 2024 • 3 min read

When Sue Dolamore started painting, she joined a small group of Asheville-area plein-air artists. Under her leadership, the outdoor painting group ballooned from 12 members to nearly 400 over a five-year period. All the while, Sue learned to capture the breathtaking mountain vistas of Western North Carolina by working outdoors. These days, Sue also works inside a studio, but her abstract landscapes and lively sketches always retain the joyful, lighthearted energy of plein-air painting. In today’s podcast episode, ArtsvilleUSA founder Lousie Glickman sits down with Sue Dolamore to discuss the painter’s most valuable insights as an artist, educator, and marketer.

In 2019, soon after she joined the plein-air group, Sue opened a studio in the River Arts District of Asheville, about 25 minutes northwest of her home in Marshall, NC. A dedicated educator, Sue’s influence extends far beyond her studio walls and into the community. She’s taught art at John C. Campbell Folk School, Montreat Retreat and Conference Center, Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Givens Estates, and other locations around the Asheville area. While she no longer oversees the plein-air community in Asheville, Sue occasionally joins them to paint as her busy schedule allows.

Sue shares her thoughts on balancing art-making with the demands of teaching and marketing, revealing that no two days in her practice are ever the same. She also touches on practical tips for artists, covering topics like networking, community, and pricing work for different markets. Whether you're an aspiring artist, an art enthusiast, or simply curious about art education, our conversation with Sue Dolamore is packed with valuable insights you won’t want to miss.

Key Points From This Episode:

What motivated Sue to become an artist and how her career as an educator evolved
How Sue strikes the right balance between making art, marketing art, and teaching art
A week in Sue’s life, from creating and teaching to networking and marketing
Sue’s creative process and how she makes her work accessible to everyone
How Sue navigates the business challenges of being a professional artist
Sue’s key takeaways from her experience in Artsville’s Virtual Gallery of Artists
Why community plays an essential role for artists at every stage of their careers
How to contact Sue and take advantage of her incredible classes

Quotes:

“I still want to paint what I’m passionate about and not give that up, but within that, I can still find ways to create work at different price points that can be accessible to everyone.” — Sue Dolamore [0:21:23]

“I want my artwork to be of a high quality. I want my marketing to be honest, authentic, and truly a way for me to find the people who will care about what I do. I don’t care about the number of followers. I care about the quality of followers.” — Sue Dolamore [0:23:50]

“If you’re an artist and you want to start showing your work, look for a cooperative gallery because you will have a community, they will all be artists, and you will learn a ton from them.” — Sue Dolamore [0:31:15]

Longer Quotes:

“You're creating the artwork, networking in your local community, doing promotional and marketing activities, and keeping track of accounting and purchasing the things you need to keep your studio and your art practice going. We have at least those jobs, if not more, within the context of becoming a professional artist.” — Sue Dolamore [0:15:20]