Meet Taleen Nothnagle | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taleen Nothnagle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taleen, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The thought process of starting my own business was very sporadic and unprepared. I have been painting, creating logos, posters, and wall art for years. People encouraged me to start my own business and sell art to the masses. Sounded easy, right? After all, I was a stay at home mom and had a great opportunity to pursue my dream. This was partially true: I did have an opportunity; the “easy” part was the furthest from being true. Don’t get me wrong, it was super easy to register your business. I created an LLC for B2Art, payed a fee, and Voila! I had a legal business.

Family and friends supported me with commissioned work and it gave me the boost of confidence I needed to get my business rolling. This is when the real thought process started kicking in. My plan was to create videos and photos to post on social media. I know that social media is the best way to get the word out, so I joined groups that had a passion for art and wanted to make money doing it. I’ve read success stories and tips on how to market yourself, entered contests, signed up for newsletters, and have followed art gurus.

I believe that the biggest thought process of starting an art business was to endure. If I keep on keepin’ on, it’ll payoff. Perhaps in the terms of money, but mostly by sharing my art with those who will see it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Ever since I can remember, I have loved to create. When I was in elementary school I produced a book, which consisted of monster drawings, that was entered in the school library. In high school my art won the cover for the directory and I became a state winner for scratchboard art. I’ve designed logos, T-shirts, posters, wall art, murals, and many other artistic creations all for the love of doing it.

I didn’t go to college immediately after high school , but I went to the Art Institute of Colorado in my late twenties to get my degree in Media Arts and Animation. This was an exciting field to study because it had a broad spectrum of courses and right up my alley because my creativity felt very diverse and not in one direction. I was trying to hone in on what it was that I wanted to do and it fed into so many avenues. I had a great time learning many ways to express myself, until my brother passed away from Diabetes and I dropped out of school. Usually when I’m faced with difficult things, painting or creating usually helps me get through it, but this was different. For awhile I wasn’t me and I lost my creativity. It took some time and soul searching when I decided that I didn’t want to quit. I needed to graduate college and complete this portion of my life, so I returned and finished school. During this time I weeded out the things that I didn’t want to do and it looked like animation wasn’t my niche. I started my artistic career at American Furniture Warehouse to create animations for a website and commercials. It didn’t go as I anticipated, or as how Jake Jabs wanted it to go either, so I moved on.

It has been many years, getting married, having children, and growing into who I am today that I feel like I’m beginning to find my voice. My art has versatility and still isn’t one direction, but I have a style: fluid backgrounds, paired with realistic, character/cartoon design forming off-beat images. I want to believe that I’m somewhat of a surrealist artist, but not quite like the melted clock, upside-down staircase geniuses. More like a diluted version of that, although I love studying that era and admire the style. I’m passionate about painting and I love testing myself with different media, but mostly I truly am a lover of all art. I think what sets me apart from others is that I am diverse and can deliver images that make you wonder if it’s from the same artist, yet still see me in every piece. I’m commissioned for pet portraits mainly, but I have sold kitchen and bathroom designs as well. The mediums I use most are acrylic paint and alcohol ink, but I use the same thought process when creating digital art.

I started B2Art because my pet portraits were selling and I had an opportunity to focus on what I love: creating. I’m blessed with a husband who supports my decision to focus on having my own business based on art. He’s not someone who has a passion for art or believes that it’s a lucrative field to make money, but he knows it’s who I am and that I need to try. I got where I am today because of him and the support of my family. I just started, but I’m proud of what I’ve learned and what I continue to learn as I grow. The main thing that keeps me going through the challenges of being a creative is that drive to keep going. I know that I’ve missed opportunities, struggled with marketing, have been told that I won’t make it, have made many mistakes, and don’t have a consistent flow of work (yet) but I want to continue to create and learn how to overcome these shortcomings. Not only to earn money or get my name out there; it’s because I know that I can overcome obstacles and work for what I’m passionate about. Being creative is who I am and I want to make it happen.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I recently had my first show and had the time of my life! A friend of mine introduced me to the lovely artists of Sideshow Studio, a studio in the art district on Santa Fe, and they invited me to be their guest artist on July’s art walk. Prior to this amazing opportunity, I had never been to a first Friday art walk. I can’t believe it either. So if my friend came to town, we would definitely hit Santa Fe and go to the galleries. In my view, artists are the most fun and exciting people to hang out with. Perhaps I say this because I’m art fueled, but for real: artists kick ass.

I love Mexican food, so we would probably start out at El Noa Noa. We would have a couple of Margaritas, loads of chips and salsa, and their fine food for dinner. After that we would start at the Denver Art Society and make our way down and around to all the galleries, being sure to visit Sideshow Studio. Maybe we would plan on going to Street Hate Tattoo to get some body art before the night is over, visiting one of my tattoo artist as well.

We would absolutely check out a show at Red Rocks. I think everyone should experience music at Red Rocks at least once in their lifetime. Another place I would take my BFF is Larimer Square where we’d go shopping and visit Rioja for wine and Mediterranean food. Hopefully the Avs would be playing and we could go to Ball Arena to catch a game, or to Coors Field to watch the Rockies play.

Denver has such an amazing array of things to do with great people and amazing energy! I would try to fit in as much city life as I could but would also go camping. We would pick a spot somewhere near Snowmass or Crested Butte maybe, set up camp, hike, fish, and soak up the fresh air of the Rocky Mountains. I love the energy of the city, but the mountains are my home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First I’d like to shoutout to my parents, who encouraged me to keep drawing. They believe in me and think my art is the best ever created. Second shoutout goes to my husband, Jeremy. Without his support and willingness of me pursuing my dream, I would struggle to reach my goal in having a business in art. A huge shoutout to my kids, River and Evan! They keep me positive and inspired to make things happen. Finally, a shoutout to my friends who encourage me to keep believing in myself and promote my work to others.

Website: https://www.taleenart.com

Instagram: @taleenb2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taleenart