Local artists who need perspective on how to turn their creative work into income have the opportunity to learn from a fellow artist.
Michelle Pier, artist and owner of Creative Indeed, has been hosting a series of workshops that resulted from several questions about her career that allowed her to relate to other artists and provide them with insight.
“The clarity you receive by having the space to identify what your challenges are and create solutions is valuable, especially with the guidance and support of someone who has been through similar experiences,” Pier said.
Pier started the workshops on Oct. 16 with the topic, “Business of Art on Guam,” where she shared perspectives on the general art market on the island, where art is shared, and whether they are used for showcase or for sale.
They also engaged in writing exercises and reflections on the type of artists they are.
“The hope is that the attendees come out of the workshop with some inspiration, ideas, and clarity about what it’s like to be an artist on Guam, and how they might like to pursue their own artist path,” Pier said.
That initial workshop was followed by “Inspiration, Motivation, and Discipline” on Oct. 23.
Pier’s workshops are intended to be intimate — limited to 10 attendees per session, and they’re held on the third floor of Slowalk Coffee Roasters in Maina.
On Oct. 30, she covered “Messaging on Money and Value”.
Workshop attendees come from a wide variety of backgrounds, with different interests, lifestyles, and reasons for attending.
One of them was Haezel Mae “Lezeah” Macaoay, who is a disc jockey who is also still thinking about what type of art to focus on.
She’s taking a local adult art class and has created acrylic, watercolor and gouache paintings, as well as abstract art. She has even dabbled in pottery making. She said she’s gained valuable insight from Pier’s workshop so far.
“I think the biggest takeaway is the fact that the market for art exists on Guam and it is definitely expansive. I also liked learning about all the different resources and ways that artists can sell their art on Guam,” Macaoay said.
Creating art for 15 years now
As for Pier, she’s been creating, sharing, and selling art for 15 years now. She took a couple art classes at the University of Guam with Ric Castro and then took a few art-related classes at the City College of San Francisco.
“I am mostly a self-taught artist and have been drawing and creating since I was a child,” she said.
Pier used to have a studio above Mosa’s Joint for a few years, but closed it in 2019. She has been working from home since 2020.
Her work is viewable on her website, creativeindeed.net or on Instagram and Facebook. She continues to participate in local exhibits and events from time to time.
Pier said there’s no regulated system for pricing artwork on Guam, and it’s completely up to the artist’s discretion.
Some artists price by size, some by time or difficulty, or they factor in the cost of supplies, or any other considerations. Pier said she prices her work by size as a general baseline, and then it varies from there depending on the other factors mentioned.
She said she’d generally price a 16”x20” acrylic painting on stretched canvas at about $320, but it can be higher or lower, depending on the scope of the design, materials, time, and other considerations. It can also be priced higher if it is a commissioned artwork.
More room for artists
“In my experience, Guam has a growing market for artists to share and sell their work as a living. This will of course vary by every individual’s unique circumstances, physically, financially, and personally. I believe it is possible, with the right approach, to be a full-time artist on Guam,” Pier said.
The art market on Guam features local culture, history, and scenery, she said. People also have a wide variety of tastes in artwork, as it can be a very personal experience, or as simple as matching their home decor.
“Whether someone is just visiting Guam, or is from Guam but living in the states, they often want imagery that reminds them of Guam and what they love about Guam,” she said. “It could be a scenic image of our beaches and jungle, or could be a painting of a can of spam. It really spans a wide spectrum.”
Prior to attending the workshop, Macaoay had feelings of intimidation about art and even questioned if the market was saturated. She’s since had a change of heart.
“I now feel excited to pursue art. I feel a lot more confident with all I’ve learned, especially learning it from Michelle Pier who definitely talks the talk and walks the walk when it comes to this subject,” Macaoay said. “It’s great to know that although there are many artists on Guam, there’s even more room for more artists.”
There’s still a chance to attend Pier’s ongoing workshop series.
On Nov. 6, she’ll introduce “People and Policies”.
Each workshop costs $40 to attend. To register, visit creativeindeed.net.
One can also follow Pier’s Instagram account at @creative_indeed.
