The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (223)
Mary Erickson doesn’t wait for opportunities to come her way.
When she started her art career, she worked a full-time job at a frame shop, painted before and after hours, and sold 500 watercolors before she was brave enough to go full-time.
Since then, she has built a thriving business through selling art and investing in real estate.
She’s done it all with heart, discipline, and a deep respect for her work and the people who support it.
This is an encore episode of The Art Biz—originally recorded in 2018, and just as inspiring today. Mary and I talk about how she:
- Transitioned from a frame shop job to painting full time
- Got her start with prints—and how she knew it was the right time
- Built lasting relationships with 8 galleries by treating them as partners
- Uses her earnings to invest in real estate and buy art from other artists
- Created a property in North Carolina that serves as an artist retreat and sanctuary for wildlife
- Keeps her financial life simple, debt-free, and aligned with her values
This conversation is full of timeless wisdom about making a living as an artist, and I’m thrilled to share it again—especially for newer listeners who may have missed it the first time around.
Mary’s story is a powerful reminder that financial freedom as an artist is possible and deeply connected to how you manage your time, money, and opportunities.
Listen
Take one small step to become more financially savvy in your art business.
This could mean tracking your income more consistently, reviewing your expenses, setting aside savings for future investments, or simply getting more curious about your numbers.
Mary Erickson Quotes
“I paint so that I can buy real estate so that I can collect art.”
“I didn’t want [the sales] to be about me—I wanted to see if the art could stand on its own.”
“If you take care of your money, it will take care of you.”
“You shouldn’t do prints until you can’t paint fast enough to keep up with original sales.”
“Galleries are partners. You depend on them and they depend on you.”
“When you’re out there and your feet are grounded, and you find the silence—you find God.”
“Freedom brings responsibility. I can’t just paint what I want; I have commitments to my galleries and to the land.”
“We’re not competitors. We’re allies. We’re all in this together.”
Mentioned
Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Revisited
Woodson Art Museum’s Birds in Art competition
Related Episodes
These episodes feature stories about the role of galleries in your art career.
About Mary Erickson
Mary Erickson is a devoted plein air painter, and has traveled extensively across the U.S. and abroad—creating field studies in Spain, Ireland, Argentina, and beyond.
A lifelong conservationist, Mary plans to leave her 39-acre North Carolina property as an artist retreat and bird sanctuary; it is already listed on the North Carolina Birding Trail.
She is the co-founder of the American Tonalist Society, founder of The Nanatuck Group, and a Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists. Her work is also recognized by the Oil Painters of America and the American Impressionist Society.
Mary was recently honored with the Richard M. Carrell Distinguished Artist Award (pictured here) for her contributions to the Forgotten Coast En Plein Air event, now in its 20th year.
Follow Mary on Instagram: @mary.erickson.art
Photo of Mary Erickson by Jacques Drouin.
This article was originally posted on August 16, 2018 and has been updated with original comments intact.
The post The Investing Artist: Art, Real Estate, and Legacy with Mary Erickson (223) appeared first on Art Biz Success.