Cheryl Renee Long Fine Art
2006 to present
Seattle, Washington
SITUATION/STORY
In December of 2002, Cheryl was diagnosed with both endometrial and breast cancer. On that day the momentum of her life came to a halt. The unrelenting stress of an 18-year career in corporate sales disappeared, never to return. What did she want to do for the rest of her life? Art was something Cheryl planned to do when she retired. Like almost everyone else, she considered her creative passion to be optional, something to reward herself with when it was convenient.
What happened to Cheryl when you are not sure if you have a future? She came home from the hospital and by the time the effects of the anesthesia wore off, she was painting. She was 56 years’ old and realized she would no longer put off her love. Now, cancer free for over five years, Cheryl is a full-time artist living her dream. She opened Cheryl Renee Long Fine Art.
I was brought in to assist Cheryl in making her art her business and her primary source of income. I consulted with Cheryl to develop office systems (bookkeeping, accounting, data base management). We then developed a workable marketing plan that reflects Cheryl’s values and we update on an annual basis. I gave input on her website and also give on-going feedback on her marketing pieces, public relations.
“The main thing Linda did with me from the very beginning as my business development coach and consultant was to have me 100 percent believe in myself. She inspired confidence and began showing me a wider range of clients to market to. We began to develop an identify package for my business and she taught me how to understand and market to my champions – as they are my supporters, too, and are entitled to full consideration. Linda has a profound coaching style. She helps me recognize that there are endless marketing opportunities, yet how to be strategic about choosing them and how to keep perspective – I have to market and I have to keep painting at the same time. She keeps me on an even keel and truly knows how to balance work with fun, pleasure and down time. She constantly makes me strive for bigger and better art galleries and totally busted my perception of the stereotype of the starving artist. She sees my vision so clearly and has me focus always on my strengths. I also love the way she intuitively knows how to put together inexpensive marketing pieces and how to stay in touch constantly with my clients. She is holistic – she looks at every aspect of my work, my passion and me. I love working with her.” – Cheryl Long
RESULTS
Cheryl is now earning a healthy living as an artist and hangs her art with top-notch galleries in the Northwest and Southwest. She has a consistent group of people who buy her original art and giclee prints on a regular basis. She keeps in touch with her clients at least quarterly with a compelling direct mail piece. We continue to work together to develop her business.