Meet Sharday Aka Artmomshay | Visual Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sharday Aka Artmomshay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sharday, how do you think about risk?
Risk to me is exposing oneself to the possibility failure. Overtime I’ve learned that failure and success go hand in hand. Failure teaches you a lesson and in time if you learn from that lesson, whether you have to fail a couple times or once, you eventually learn. The problem is we allow fear to stop us from exploring risk. Fear of failing is something that held me back for years. I would come up with innovative and creative business ideas all the time for myself but because I don’t have the business education or the finances to fund it I would shut it down as quickly as it came to my mind. I did attempt two businesses , one as a seamstress straight out of college and later on an event decorator. Both businesses thrived for a small time but never blossomed into anything bigger due to lack of business management and inspiration to continue to create. Both business began to feel like a job and became more stressful , when in the beginning I just wanted to offer a service that was also fun for me to create.

My art was never suppose to develop into a business. Though I studied art from junior high to college I didn’t expect any financial gain especially after not painting for 9 years since college graduation 2010. I picked up a paint brush for the first time in 2019 to paint a gift for a family friend who was extremely ill. That one gesture I made in 2019 has now developed into a full art business for me today. People from all over wanted to know if they could get a custom painting. Though I had failures in the past I knew and those around me knew art was the business for me. Art was the most extreme risk I decided to take, I stopped work to be a fulltime artist as a single mother of 3! But I took note of my previous failures and was determine do things differently. I never would have imagined being as successful as I have been thus far with my art, had I allowed fear of potential failure especially as a single mother to discouraged me I would not be as fulfilled as I am today. Art still doesn’t feel like a job for me it still feels fun and I’m never overwhelmed because I set my timeframe for each commission and I’ll turndown business if that means I have to rush to meet the clients deadline. Trying to accommodate a client despite my lifestyle is one thing I learned from previous businesses I can not do. I know my limit, its about quality of my work not quantity of work I’m producing. I feel that what I do is not only a business, my art touches many who have lost love ones. I go beyond the physical connection and I reach my customers emotionally and spiritually, and I can do that because I took the Risk!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is meant to make the viewer feel good. Whether its a painting of a deceased love one or an abstract painting to decorate a space in your home, my goal is to have the viewer have warm thoughts. What sets me apart from other artist besides the fact I went to art schools for 11 years of education, are the paintings I do of a deceased love one’s. This is something I’ve grown to specialize in, and its something that can be challenging because you want to do justice to who that person represented when they were alive and all I have to go off of is this one photo. So. when I get it right, its the most amazing feeling as an artist to see the tears of joy on the person face, or the text messages of how the person loved it. I got to where I am today by just painting a gift for family friend who was sick after not painting for 9 years. I saw how my paintings could bring joy to others. Then I started doing paintings for people who lost love ones and this blossomed into a business once people began to share. Getting to where I am now hasn’t been easy by any means I could probably write a book. I dealt with hardship of all kind from housefire, repossessions and more. Being a divorced single-mom alone was enough to make life difficult. Deciding to completely rely on art to finance my household after all I been through and was going through still, people thought I was crazy. At moments I had financial struggles but was determine not to get another 9 to 5. So I reframed my thinking and I said how can I have multiple streams of income with my art?Even when my commissions are coming in slow or when clients are only purchasing smaller, cheaper paintings. I needed to come with other ways that I can make art profitable for me. So now on top of painting commission portraits I do abstract art, I host and travel doing paint parties for kids, sip and paints for adults and couples, customers can purchase paint kits. I also was hired by Art for Learning Maryland where I teach art integrated Math and Literacy as an t
teaching artist. I get to be apart of developing the next generation of artist which is amazing to me. I have more things in the works that I want to do as well and its all under the umbrella of art. Unlike when I tried to develop businesses before I now seek out business help from others for the things I don’t know so my business can advance to the next level. So the world can soon look out for my art paint studio where I will be teaching, tutoring, hosting paint events and more. I want the world to know that artmomshay is literally who I am, I am Shay the mom who is also striving to be a successful artist. There was a lack of representation of woman artist when I was in school even black artist. So the idea of me being a Black Female Mother Artist is foreign to the young girl I once was. Despite lack of representation, I am now that! I stand in the gap for generations to come behind me that see they have a gift of art and they doubt or people doubt that they can be successful, I am living proof that its possible despite the odds.

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?
If someones coming to Baltimore the first thing you have to do is have crabs of course cause your in Baltimore. You can go to spots close to Baltimore Harbor like Mo’s or LP Steamers or places a little further out like Skip Jacks. If you want to do something fun like bowling and drinking strongly suggest Mustang Alleys, I love to go there and they have good food as well. If you want to do something super fun and different you can join me on Thursday evenings at Noir Restaurant and Lounge where I do Sip and Paints everyother thursday.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I always have to recognize God first of course I’m grateful that his hand has always been on my life. I been through so much I’m just amazed how I haven’t lost my mind and he kept me and blessed me do something I love and be paid for it. Nobody but God! Ok! Of course my family, Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Mr Brooks, My sisters, Aunts and cousins my late cousin Porsha. They always supported any business venture I had and continue to encourage me daily. There would be no success for me in any area without them. Family friends that were always encouraging like Tia that I did my first painting for as a gift, she was a start to something great. She also spoke into my life and confirmed that this art thing is where I would flourish. Authors and speakers that I listen to for encouragement were and are Bishop TD Jakes and Lisa Nichols. Their books remined me that faith without works is dead and to go for the life I want.

Website: Artmomshay.com

Instagram: @artmomshay

Facebook: artmomshay