Student art sale leads to LLC business

Kayleigh Riker's art was available for sale at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) annual spring art sale 2023, and the sale inspired her to form Steadfast Joy Art and Photography, her own business.

Riker is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in painting.

"Through college, I would sell every semester and now I own a business and my LLC," the Buford, Georgia, resident said. "I started doing artisan festivals where you apply to participate, show what you would be selling and then, if they accept you, you pay for your own booth."

The 2024 annual Spring Art Sale in the Roy C. Moore Art Gallery at UNG's Gainesville Campus runs from April 23 through May 1 and offers other students a platform. The sale is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays during that time. 

"We have some amazing student art in the sale," Victoria Cooke, director of art galleries, said.

So far, Riker has hosted two art sales at the Gainesville campus and participated in the Braselton Art and Antique Festival three times.

Artisan festivals, Riker said, are a big way of having her work available to people. The Braselton festival has about 300 vendors.

The UNG art sales were how Riker became comfortable pricing her work, familiar with setting up her space and talking with people buying and selling. That experience enabled her to feel at ease and confident.

Having people purchase her artwork is "very encouraging" because "someone enjoys my artwork as much as I do, so it inspired me to make more."

Riker credits her art mentor, Lynne Davis, and Erin McIntosh, associate professor of visual arts.   

"I'll ask Lynne for any advice or what I should do. I meet with her every few months," Riker said. "The last time I met with her, she encouraged me to subscribe to magazines like 'New American Painting' or other popular artist resources, so that I can be submitting my work and know what's going on in the art world."

McIntosh taught Riker about abstract artwork.

"She's been very encouraging with everything that I've done. I'm always able to ask her questions about anything. Whether it's a painting that I'm working on, or my taxes or things like that, she's able to give me her advice and her experience because she's been in the art world," Riker said.

Riker and classmates painted a mural at the Avita Mental Health Center in Gainesville. She has another mural on the wall of a thrift store in Utah, and a woman from New York has purchased one of Riker's paintings.

"So, they're everywhere," Riker said with a smile.

Photography and painting, along with woodworking and some welding, are the components of Riker’s inventory. She recently added wedding paintings.

"I saw that wedding paintings were getting popular in the wedding industry. And I was like, 'I know how to paint, so let me start to do that,'" Riker said. 

Riker encourages business owners to "be an advocate for yourself and be excited for yourself."

"When you own a business, be as efficient as you can, which sometimes is hard. Once you get your foot in the door, it can get a little bit better. Selling my paintings is not always the thing that makes the most money, but it's very enjoyable to me," Riker said.  "These paintings are a reflection of me."