Creative Entrepreneur Interview with Herb Dickinson

Creative Entrepreneur Interview with Herb Dickinson

Herb started out in the art business working as a graphic artist and illustrator. He has worked for a national food store chain eventually heading up layout design for general merchandise ads in one of their districts. He started getting free lance work offers and started his own graphic design and illustration business working on packaging projects for Krispy Kreme to Saks Fifth Avenue as well as architectural renderings for prestigious home builders in the Charlotte, NC area.

After 10 years of Herb Dickinson Commercial Art, Herb was drawn to picture framing. Eventually that evolved into framing original art and prints of his own work. Herb enjoys all styles of art, however, modern, abstract and impressionism in acrylic provide an outlet for mixing texture, colors and nature together.

Herb's paintings are in private collections internationally and local galleries. Some paintings are commissioned to a print publisher.

 

The Interview

What inspired you to become a creative entrepreneur?

The feeling of accomplishment. Knowing that I've been a part of a creative process that produces a product or service that attracts someones interest.
 
What would you say contributes to your success?

You have to keep on keeping on. The market and/or business in general is not affected by your personal emotions. For example, if things seem slow or bogged down to you and it gets you discouraged, you have to remember, your emotions on that particular day aren't being felt by the market. So, you have to ignore the negative feelings and put in a days work just the same.

 
Share one business goal.

I would like to have a good residual or passive income in my retirement years from royalties.
 
What is a typical working day like for you?

Get up early. Do marketing on the internet for an hour or two. Work on a painting. Sometimes, I have to stop to go make deliveries to a gallery or buy supplies, then back to painting.
 
What has been your biggest struggle as a professional artist?

Me personally, I feel like not living in a large art market like LA or New York.
 
What has been your biggest accomplishment with your business?

I would say getting my art published.

What  advice would you offer to someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?

In regards to being an artist, I think most people would be happier if they have a career in another field or related field. Be successful in that and then pursue your passion.
 
What resources would you recommend to help other creative people stay organized?

In regards, to art I would say, use an office program to create an master inventory and individual inventories for each location you have your art at. You would be surprised how easy it is to loose track of where your art is. Also a copy of the book, "Fine Art Repressentatives & Corporations Collecting Art" by Directors Guild Publishers.
 
What are you currently working on?

A piece called "Coastal Waters"
 

You can find out more about Herb and his artwork at www.onesourceart.com and on Facebook.

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I want to Thank Herb Dickinson for taking the time to participate in the Creative Entrepreneur of the Month Interview . Share this month interview with other creative entrepreneurs you know.

 

Comments

[Dr. Cris Green]

I love the interview series that you are doing. Not only does it put the person's work on display but also lets us, as readers, learn what steps they took to success.
Plus, I loved Herb's advice.

[Extreme John]

His creative artworks for me are very unique and you can really feel the things that they are expressing. This post is truly interesting and extraordinary since the interviewee is a graphic artist and a businessman. I think it is a brilliant idea to combine art and business.

[Eugene@mobile app development companies]

Interesting, why he doesn't like to live in big cities. I agree that there're may be too many distractions but at the same time there're plenty of opportunities to be published. He certainly can use his talent in decorating business (and in LA, for example, I think it's easy to find something to decorate).