From “It’s Just a Hobby” to Gallery Walls — The Life of a Self-Taught Artist

Nobody prepares you for the rollercoaster your life becomes when you chase a childhood dream mid-career. Wow! I’d been a hospitality professional my whole working life — from hotels to destination weddings. Always people-facing, with endless travel and irregular hours. So rebooting my art during COVID (like everyone else) felt like a massive leap of faith. Baby steps were easy at first. I kicked off with Instagram Live sessions, then online workshops, graduating to offline ones once the world became social again. It felt fulfilling — a small, steady income plus that social media validation high.

Hitting the Exhibition Wall Two years in, I wanted to level up: paint bigger, exhibit seriously. That’s when my “non-art” background hit hard. No insider tips, no mentors. I applied to a basic group show — pay-to-play for amateurs in a rented venue. No sales, predictably. But it forced discipline: I painted my first large series and networked with fellow beginners. Next: India Art Festival (IAF). I snagged a spot in a shared booth for the next chapter and met real artists — self-taught and art-school vets alike. My biggest takeaway? Visibility ruled: bigger booths cost a fortune.

The IAF Circuit Gamble My husband and I crunched numbers and committed to IAF’s full year — booths at Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi. Bangalore (next up) went better. New series, meticulous planning, social media hype. Slow start, but day three: my biggest sale yet (4x4 ft canvas) to a collector. Head rush!

Mumbai drew crowds; I sold smaller pieces but broke even at best. Bonus: a well-known curator bought a few pieces — gold contact. Delhi? Bust. Tons of inquiries, zero closes. Throughout, sketchy “galleries” pitched displaying my work — for a fee, no sales guarantee. Lesson: Not all galleries are equals.

Pausing to Pivot This year, I’m hitting pause on fairs. Dual focus: honing craft (classes with a senior artist, scouting legit local galleries) and a fresh series. Formal art education? On the radar too. Limbo feels real without deadlines — I remind myself it’s growth. I’m no “established” name yet, but I’m comfortable calling myself an “artist.” Figuring my style, my circle — that’s enough for now.