A brief but meaningful in-person meeting with a dear colleague and friend near the Amsterdam airport last week!
Friends the globe over,
Good afternoon from sunny Houston, Texas, where I’m comfortably settled and back from the five-week trip to Greece. Today’s blog post is special to me because I can finally say that I met one of my favorite artists in the world—in person—while on a mere 14-hour layover in Amsterdam, Holland.
Wendy is just as glamorous and feminine and spectacular as her masterpieces of art. Here featured is her work, “Symphony in White.”
Almost ten years ago I “met” Wendy Buiter, internationally known Dutch artist, on Instagram as I was looking to collect art from different artists around the world. I began following Wendy, who at the time had just sold her company—a makeup artistry academy—to take the leap of faith and pursue art full time. This she did despite being a single mother of two, with one child experiencing some significant health challenges.
What impressed me at the time about Wendy was that she understood her vision, aesthetic and how to be methodical and structured in her approach to building a profitable business and brand. And BUILD she did. Fast forward to today and the Wendy Buiter brand is well-established and highly respected in the art industry. Wendy has collaborated on global partnerships and campaigns, even having her own collection with Hallmark Cards!
Layers and textures and rich details define Wendy Buiter’s work in my opinion!
Back to the beginning, though…….
Wendy and I began dialoguing on Instagram all those years ago when I purchased some of her art. We talked about how I, too, had taken an interest in art and wanted to eventually turn it into a career. We discussed how Wendy planned to build her brand globally, what her “dolls” that she paints meant to her, and how her art was an extension of herself. She said that she knew this was something she absolutely had to pursue. She built structure for art time into her schedule, removed unproductive distractions such as TV, and had an unflappable belief in herself to persevere and become a successful artist.
Wendy had so little time to create art with two small children and art academy classes during the day, so she could be found most evenings at her easel painting late in the night or early morning hours. She would lose track of time experimenting with new materials and techniques, drawing inspiration for many of her paintings from such luxury brands as Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Her brand and following grew step by step, one project after another, one collaboration after another, one new idea after another.
My very first original work from Wendy: a Louis Vuitton inspired masterpiece
Wendy and I have kept in touch over the last several years and I have seen her brand evolve into the glorious, well-known, luxury, unique art brand that it is. I couldn’t be prouder of her.
The masterpiece is entitled “Caresse de Satin.” Visit Wendy’s site for details: www.wendybuiter.com
I’d love to share some snippets from our conversation with you today. Here are the top 5 things I learned from Wendy through both her mentorship and entrepreneurial example spanning almost a decade:
You MUST believe in yourself and drown out the noise of anyone or anything that deters you, drags you down or casts your dream in a negative light. Laser focus on your goal is the key to long-term success.
Repeatedly create art, whether you love the result or not. Do this daily and in copious amounts to then see your unique style evolve. It takes a lot of time and practice to cultivate a signature style as an artist.
Your brand is built by YOU personally, even during the times you need to utilize a marketing or public relations firm. YOU are your brand.
Being consistent by posting your work regularly on social media and interacting with your audience are crucial to your success as a business owner.
Offer your products at various price points to appeal to different types of buyers: beginner art buyers to seasoned fine art collectors.
I want to add a sixth point here from my own observations as a beginning artist: that is, people buy art from people they like and with whom they feel a connection. From the beginning, Wendy was a friend and I appreciated her style, warmth, glamour and kindness. In addition to being drawn to her art, it was Wendy’s likability and approachability that led me to purchase her pieces.
As the flight from Athens arrived at the Amsterdam airport last week late in the evening, I messaged Wendy to let her know I had landed. She drove about an hour from her hometown of Rotterdam to visit with me at my hotel.
Of course she came bearing gifts of signed prints and original art just for me. This is how generous Wendy is, friends!
A personalized gift for me, one which I will cherish and add to my Wendy Buiter collection!
During our very brief in-person meeting, we chatted about both her and my business plans for 2024 and beyond. It was a conversation between two friends, business colleagues, single mothers, and two people determined to forge our paths in the art world….one obviously much further along than the other.
I’d like to publicly thank Wendy Buiter for giving so freely of her time. Friends, please head on over and visit Wendy’s website and her blog. You will be delighted at what you see and read. She is gem in the cosmopolitan world of art!
Until next time, friends, live colorfully!
Your color girl Lauren B.