Today we’d like to introduce you to Steph Moraca.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My art journey started at age 10 when I had a strong interest in drawing. I’d check out books about animals and nature from the library and sketch what I saw in those pictures. My mom recognized my interest and put me in formal still life drawing classes at an art studio. Jump ahead to high school – I enjoyed acrylic painting so much I was going to the art room 2-3 periods per day (taking lunch into the art room and skipping a study hall). My art teachers were very motivating and encouraged me to try oil painting. In college, I knew I wanted to continue to make art, but I wasn’t sure how I’d make a living as an artist. I grew up being told that I need to work in a science or medical field to be successful. I tried an internship at a children’s hospital and it was the most depressing career related thing I ever did, so that crossed the medical field out of my mindset. I decided to pursue a degree in geology so I could travel and be outside for my work. I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 with two degrees – a BA in Studio Arts, and a BS in Geology.
I started working for an environmental consulting firm in Downtown Pittsburgh, where I had lots of field work related to groundwater/soil sampling and some geotechnical oil and gas projects. I worked for a couple consulting firms the first five years out of school, and I was starting to get very burned out from the travel and work hours. I was stationed at field sites in ugly industrial areas working over 80 hours a week sometimes. And the work didn’t feel rewarding. It didn’t feel like I was helping anything, and I didn’t feel like I was recognized for my efforts.
I finally hit my breaking point and drove home from a job crying on the phone to my husband. On that phone call, we developed a plan for me to get out of that work. I decided I’d give my other degree a shot.
I continued working as a geologist for 8 more months, working on paintings from my hotel rooms after spending the day working at the field sites. I was also reading art business books and books about starting your own business. I was looking at successful artists on social media and noting what seemed to work for them. All this prep work led to the day I put in my two weeks notice at my consulting firm with a big smile on my face.
The first year or two of creating art and marketing my art professionally was a lot of trial and error. I wasn’t sure who my niche was yet, and I was painting anything and everything to try to sell art (landscapes, birds, flowers, houses, pets, abstract stuff). I was trying to sell art at local craft shows next to a lady selling stick-on nail polish and another lady selling makeup… yeah that day didn’t work out well for me.
After failing for a while, I learned what was working and what wasn’t working for me. I had data on what subject matter/compositions were selling and what was gathering dust in my studio. My golf landscape paintings seemed to sell quickly, so I focused more on painting golf courses. I sold art at golf trade shows, joined golf collector groups, and reached out to country clubs to do live paintings for their members to watch. At this point, I was starting to make an income of about what I made as an entry level geologist fresh out of school. I knew I had room for growth, but I was proud of myself.
Then covid happened.
And surprisingly, my business took off like crazy. A couple other artists out there were doing live paintings at weddings and other events and posting their work on TikTok. This ignited a new demand in the wedding industry- live event painters. I already painted live at a few weddings, and posted my work on my website. And lots of people started searching for live wedding painters online, and they found me and liked my style! I was booking 35+ weddings a year by 2022, which shot my income up into six figures. But again, I was starting to feel burned out, and it was physical this time. My back and shoulder were killing me from standing and holding my arm out to paint so much.
Due to the high demand of my live wedding paintings, I was able to raise my pricing and take on less live painting events while making more income. Today I paint live at 20-25 events per year. I can give a quality finished painting to my clients and enjoy the process at the same time.
In addition to live wedding painting, I love traveling to national parks with my family (I have a husband, a toddler, and 2 doggies). We got a travel trailer in 2020 and did several cross-country trips since then. The beauty of our national parks really inspires me. I have had several solo painting exhibitions in PA showcasing my landscapes of our national parks.
Today, I have a very fulfilling career creating art that I love. I get to travel to beautiful places just to make paintings. I get to paint to the upbeat music of a wedding DJ or live band at weddings a couple times every month. I have control over my schedule, I’m my own boss, and I can determine how much work to take on. People really appreciate what I do, and it feels so rewarding. I’ve inspired a few friends and family members to leave their corporate jobs and start their own businesses. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it!!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Finding my niche and learning how to market my art to the right people was the biggest struggle in being a financially successful artist.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create realism landscape paintings of national parks and golf courses. I also paint portraits of the wedding couple live at their weddings. I use oil and acrylic mediums on canvas.
I am proud that I get to paint subject matter that inspires me and people appreciate the artwork that I create for them. I’m proud that I’m more successful financially as an artist working for myself than I was as a project geologist at a consulting firm.
Reasons my clients book me/continue to order artwork from me are my unique painting style, my attention to detail, my passion for what I do, and my thorough communication while creating custom paintings for them.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Art, Money, & Success by Maria Brophy – I am grateful for ordering this book when I was starting out my art business.
I like to do yoga each morning to stretch/help me to feel more alert in my body/clear my mind/motivate myself for the day. I’m not big on using apps or podcasts for motivation, but I have found that texting or talking to close friends about your goals can help you to become the best version of yourself. It doesn’t have to be a competition, but more of a way to encourage each other.
Pricing:
- Commissioned Paintings – $500 to >$5,000
- Live Wedding Paintings – $3,300 to $4,900
- Original Paintings – $200 to >$5,000
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.stephmoracafineart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steph_moraca_fine_art/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thepaintingstoof/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePaintingStoof
