How Cora B. Built a Successful Art Business: A Journey of Creativity, Community, and Strategic Growth

In this episode of The Art Coaching Club podcast, we sit down with Louisiana-based portrait artist Cora B., the talented creative behind Cora B. Gallery. Cora shares her inspiring journey from starting her custom portrait business in 2019 to becoming a full-time artist over the past three years. We delve into how she built her brand, organized her commission process, and connected with her local community to grow her art business. If you're an artist looking to expand your creative career while staying true to your personal style, Cora's story offers valuable insights.

Cora B.’s Background: From Passion to Full-Time Artist

Cora B., the artist behind Cora B. Gallery, started her journey like many artists: with a deep passion for painting. Initially, she focused on celebrity portraits and expanded into various gifts and merchandise. However, her true niche emerged in commissioned child portraits, which now make up the majority of her work.

Based in Louisiana, Cora runs her business from her home studio, where she creates her signature portraits that blend vintage aesthetics with contemporary styles. The decision to transition to full-time artistry in 2020 was fueled by her growing demand for commissions and her desire to focus solely on what she loves most—capturing the beauty of childhood through her vintage-inspired portraits.

Building a Brand: The Power of Authenticity and Content Creation

Cora’s success isn’t just about her talent with a paintbrush. She has strategically built a strong brand by investing in the right tools to showcase her work effectively. One of her key decisions was investing in a high-quality camera and taking photography classes to improve her content creation. This not only allows her to capture her artwork in the best light but also provides her with high-quality content to share across platforms like Instagram, where she connects with clients.

Her branding journey didn’t stop there. Cora recently revamped her brand to reflect her personal style and the type of artwork she wants to create. She emphasizes the importance of showing up authentically in her brand and artwork, which helps her build trust with clients and create meaningful connections.

Mastering the Commission Process with HoneyBook

One challenge many artists face is staying organized with their commissions—Cora B. is no exception. To ensure a seamless experience for her clients, she uses HoneyBook, a customer relationship management (CRM) tool, to keep track of her entire process. From initial communication to invoicing and project timelines, HoneyBook allows her to stay organized and deliver high-quality work.

Cora’s commission process is deliberate and can take months, as she is selective with the projects she accepts. She prioritizes commissions that align with her style, allowing her to spend more time perfecting each piece. This selectivity ensures that she’s creating work she’s passionate about, while maintaining the creative freedom that attracted her to painting in the first place.

Milestones and Future Aspirations: Refined Focus and Greater Selectivity

Cora’s artistic journey has been filled with proud moments, but one that stands out was being featured on the cover of a local magazine. This moment of recognition helped boost her visibility and solidify her place in the local art community.

Looking forward, Cora is focused on refining her craft even further. She plans to be more selective with the commissions she takes on, allowing her to concentrate on developing her vintage-inspired portrait style. By doing so, she aims to create even more meaningful and impactful pieces, ensuring her work continues to resonate with her clients and community.

Cora B.’s Advice to Fellow Artists: Find Your Support System

Cora B. stresses the importance of community and support for any artist building a business. She encourages fellow artists to find supportive friends and colleagues who can offer advice, brainstorm business ideas, and provide moral support.

Cora's network has been instrumental in her success, providing her with fresh ideas, new opportunities, and the encouragement to push forward even in challenging times.

Final Thoughts: Learn from Cora B.’s Journey

Cora B.’s story is a powerful reminder that building a successful art business requires more than just creative talent—it takes strategy, community, and an authentic approach to branding. By investing in the right tools, building strong relationships, and staying true to her style, Cora has created a thriving career doing what she loves. Her journey offers inspiration for artists at any stage in their career, showing that with the right mindset and support system, creative dreams can become a reality.

Be sure to follow Cora B. on Instagram at @corabgallery and check out her stunning portrait work on her website, corabgallery.com.