Today we’d like to introduce you to Audrey Gale.
Audrey, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started drawing dogs 10 years ago, during a summer break from nursing school. After I finished my first piece, I thought, “I’m actually pretty good at this.” Looking back, it was decent, but my blind confidence led me to keep drawing, and over the next year I actually got really good at drawing dogs.
Over the next several years, I was a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner, while working on my art business part time. While still drawing pets, I started branching out into other subjects, teaching classes, and attending art markets.
My art business has really catapulted over the last year, and now I’m a full time artist and was able to leave the healthcare field. I finally took the leap because I feel that making art is my greatest passion and I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life regretting not taking that chance on myself and my art. The healthcare field is an extremely difficult work environment and I realized that I wanted to spend my days doing something I love where the stakes aren’t as high.
Today, I create original art which I sell at art markets, host Paint Your Pet Parties and painting classes, and create custom art for my clients. I also make YouTube videos about my journey as an artist, as well as art tutorials and tips. I use acrylic paint, colored pencils, and alcohol markers to complete my pieces and my main subjects include life’s little pleasures: pets, food, nostalgic items, and pop culture icons.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Learning how to draw and paint was the easy part. What can be difficult about the art business is finding your audience, finances, and getting people interested in what you are doing. There are certainly some things I’m still figuring out.
I’ve only been in TN for about 3 years, so I started with zero connections. I’ve had to get out of my comfort zone and reach out to small business owners and artists who I’ve never spoken to before to see if they’d like to collaborate. Without them, I couldn’t do what I do. Everyone has been so welcoming and encouraging.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I use acrylic paints, colored pencils, and alcohol markers to create my pieces. My main subjects include life’s little pleasures: pets, food, nostalgic items, and pop culture icons.
I specialize in pet portraits, but particularly dogs. I also just enjoy painting the things that I have loved throughout my life, whether that be a Diet Coke can, an old Nintendo GameBoy, or Girl Scout cookies. I often see something mundane in everyday life and think “Oh, I have to paint that!”.
In my art, I merge realism and pop art. I’m always striving to make art that looks very impressive technically, but also gives the audience a chuckle. Life’s too short to have boring art in your house.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mom and dad have always been my biggest supporters ever since I was little. My dad would take me to all sorts of craft camps for kids and they bought me so many art supplies as a child. I was always making some sort of craft and definitely ruined the family coffee table with all of that work. They told me that I can do anything I want as long as I work hard enough for it.
My husband has been a huge supporter ever since I met him. Some of our first conversations were about my artwork. Plus, he tends to work for me for free at my many art markets. Whenever I’m in doubt, he always brings me back. He believed in my art career long before I even did.
Pricing:
- Prints ($12-$18)
- Original art ($70-$1000)
- Custom Pet Portraits start at $250
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.audreygaleart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/audreygaleart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/audreygaleartist
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@audreygaleart?si=glABy0YzlExUCb3Q
