Logistics
When I started Lonely Door Creatives, I knew two things only: that I liked to paint, and that I wanted to paint for others.
From those two truths came over 100 paintings, projects, prints, shows, markets, and a business bursting at the seams. From knowing those two things, to where LDC stands today, there has been one constant: stumbling.
It’s those decisions I want to share - the ones that helped me, the ones I got right. And maybe the ones I got wrong, too.
Logistics - Direction - Relationships: the business of stumbling
Western Rose Photography
All branding images courtesy of my beautifully talented sister at Western Rose Photography.
When I started Lonely Door Creatives, I knew two things only: that I liked to paint, and that I wanted to paint for others.
From those two truths came over 100 paintings, projects, prints, shows, markets, and a business bursting at the seams. From knowing those two things, to where LDC stands today, there has been one constant: stumbling.
Business ownership is hard, especially doing it independently. Daily decisions accumulated turn in to a sprawling entity that is you, but is separate from you, too. It’s own… thing.
It’s those decisions I want to share - the ones that helped me, the ones I got right. And maybe the ones I got wrong, too.
Disclaimer: I am not a business coach, a boss babe, an expert - in any of these areas. This is my personal experience only, and these things may not apply to you, your circumstance, and your goals for your business!
Original: Fields of Fire
this baby has a home.
Logistics: Get it right the first time
Over this content series, I will share in three areas that have driven the growth, sustainability, and enjoyment of LDC. So - let’s get started on the Logistics.
Let’s chat start-up. There are two things I did, before anything else, that aligned with my values, personality, and felt good to me.
Register
I registered LDC under a trademark name. For this, I used Ownr - a website where you can file online! This is the first step I took to establish my business, in regards to logistics. Registering your business is region and industry specific - search registering small business & your province, territory, or state to get started! The requirements differ for your business, depending on your circumstance.
For many opportunities, I was asked to provide my registration. This included opening a bank account, registering for Amazon Business, and more!
Figure out your $$$
For me, this meant registering for a bank account, establishing Auto Deposit, and securing an accountant to do my taxes! I opened an account as part of a promotion on Ownr that returned my investment for registering, and then some, when opening a business account. I was approved for a credit card, which helps me to cover expenses & pay bills, regardless of what the month looks like. My credit card has been essential for my larger investments, as well!
Secure Supplies
The next step to establishing the logistics, was securing supplies. Early on, I found two primary suppliers who I commit to and work with exclusively for my products. This ensures consistency, allows me to set up billing appropriately, and takes the guess-work out of supplies - I know exactly what is carried, where to find it, and how to get my hands on it.
I purchase all of my art supplies from Delta Art and Drafting Supply local to Edmonton, AB. An incredible long-term staple for the art community here in Edmonton with an incredible story of its own. A top piece of advice I received while very, very new to the art of supplies was standing right there in that store, where an employee leveled with me that I should always, always use the same paper for my work. I even tried to cheap out on that for a while this year, and promptly came crawling back. Thanks, Delta.
I personally use Uline for packaging materials! I purchase in bulk, so the pricing model works for me. I have made some big mistakes in supply procurement, too - I’ll save those for the mistakes post.
So fresh
one of my very first shows & opportunities to show my work, featuring my portfolio series!
Set-up your Physical Space
We are living in a post - brick & mortar world. That means, your physical space can be anywhere that works for you! Personally, I need a lot of space, for the vast physical items I need to have to run my business. This includes a computer set-up, an easel work station, a portable work station, a laptop, a printer, a place to store finished work, a place to store materials, and a space to store packing materials,
My partner helped me clear our office to make room for a studio, though I do still have two wedding dresses currently taking up prime real estate in the closet, so I have spilled in to our spare room as well.
You need a safe place to meet clients, if you are doing so! As a general rule, I do mail or drop-off, unless with a client I know personally.
Website Time!
A website was a later decision for me, but an absolutely crucial one. While socials are great, websites are still a key factor to establishing legitimacy, consistency, and a brand protected from changes to social media platforms.
I used Squarespace for my website (obvs - hi Squarespace!) which allowed me the artistic flexibility of creating an online space that suits my brand, with a user-friendly interface. Websites take considerable time to build, contribute to, and maintain, so I recommend doing this after establishing your community, products, and brand to an extent.
I built my website at the one year mark, though I would recommend sooner if selling products! I am still merging product sales given that I sold for a year through Etsy before making the switch.
There are more decisions that helped, but let’s stop there for now! Next up on the journey is a little more exciting - direction. We chat branding, ethics, social media, and more coming up whenever I actually sit down to write on this thing again.
Survivor Series
I want to tell you about Kelsi.
Hi - I’m Court. And these are my paintings.
The Story.
I’d like to tell you about Kelsi.
Well, not me, per se. I knew Kelsi. I worked with her on various projects in 2020, both personal and business oriented. As all who met her were, I was inspired by her. I remember feeling intimidated, not by her spirit as it was kind and confident and brave, but because I knew the work I was doing meant something. It was important, in a way that had me strapped to my computer obsessing over details. It was important, because Kelsi was important. And she still is.
So, back to it. I want to tell Kelsi’s story, but I am not in the best position to tell it. I knew Kelsi, but not in the way a best friend knows another. Not in the way a mother knows a daughter. Not in the way a peer knows a classmate. And so, I have debated telling her story. Mostly because I don’t know I am the person who should be doing so.
The reality is, this series was born while Kelsi lived. While she laughed, and sang, and cried. While she was here with us.
Survivor Series is born.
The reality is, I told her I would do it, and that hers would be the lead piece. And so I will. For her, and for her mum, her family, and for Zoe, and for you, and for me. For us. For Kelsi.
Kelsi will have her own post for the series. Her story is one that needs its own highlight. Kelsi was beyond her cancer, beyond her physical being, beyond this series. And so I have a few people who shared her heart, her tears, her vulnerabilities, and the fierce resiliency of her spirit to help tell that story as the lead piece in the series, coming up next.
The Survivor Series
So, what is the Survivor Series? Well, it hasn’t changed much since that very first thought back in September. Presenting the full spectrum of the human experience by sharing stories of surviving. Surviving sickness, surviving trauma, surviving our experiences, surviving ourselves.
These stories are not about shiny endings or “it’s all better now” rhetoric. Life shreds you sometimes. And while we may persist, we do not always recover. Not in the way you see on Instagram, in movies, or in cafe chats. We don’t always recover. And not every hard story has to have a happy ending.
Oh - and survival is relative. We will not be comparing suffering. We will not be comparing our stories with the others. Your pain, your story, your Survivor Series isn’t Kelsi’s, isn’t mine.
The Logistics
In the coming days, the initial submission form will be released. While I will hear and consider all stories, my limits exist as being a singular human being with a paint brush and a large capacity for connection.
Depending on submission interest, I may not be able to include all stories in this wave of the series. I am more of a big idea person than detail-oriented, so we are just going to see how it goes.
I will select stories, will capture your story in the way that you are most comfortable with sharing it, and will depict it in an art piece. I may request reference images for the piece, and I may represent it in an abstract or metaphorical way. That will come as I take the story in, and allow my brain to create it. Again - we will see how it goes.
What I can say, is your story will be safeguarded to the extent you want it to be. Anonymous, or not. Including your likeness, or not. It will be shared, but how you are connected to it is entirely your decision. Informed consent is foremost at all times.
The intent with the project is to share it - both here in the blog in written word and in the art piece. To share it through social media, through print media, through galleries (maybe - if you own a gallery you just go right ahead and hit that email button).
To share. To free the shame of hiding our vulnerabilities behind carefully crafted captions and transformation photos and stories of “coming out the other side”.