INTRODUCING
Name: Ros Gervay
Business Name: Ros Gervay Creative
Website: www.rosgervaycreative.com
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND HOW YOU CAME TO BE A BUSINESS OWNER.
Hi everyone! My name is Ros Gervay (pronounced r-o-z j-er-v-ay). I am a contemporary artist and mentor.
My husband and I have two daughters and we live on the north shore of Sydney Australia.
I trained in design many moons ago, retrained in time to become a primary teacher… and have since made the move back into the world of art and creativity.
I feel so much more at home in the art world and being able to share my love of art and creativity with others through my artmaking kits, my online art lessons and my upcoming e-course makes my heart sing.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU MAKE THE JUMP FROM A HOBBY TO A BUSINESS?
This is such an interesting topic in the art world.
At what point does a hobby change into a business?
s it the first time you sell an artwork? Is it the day that you get an ABN? Is it the day that you leave your day job?
Either way, I made the jump the second I realised it was my true calling and that I wanted to make art right for the rest of my life.
HOW DO YOU STAND OUT IN YOUR OWN NICHE? WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE?
I like to think that my design and teacher background give me an edge… but to me, it is authenticity that matters the most rather than any edge per se.
There are many authentic artists out there. Artists who create from their heart, because they love creating, because they value beauty and want to share their visual expressions with others.
All artists, if they are true, are on a journey and their art will shift and change over time.
Currently I am focussed on abstract botanicals and explore these in watercolours, acrylics and sometimes incorporate mixed media elements too.
I am very much driven to share my love of art and to help others to access the hidden benefits of art practice, and this is evident in my online art lessons, my upcoming e-course and my artmaking kits for both adults and children.
I also have a burning desire to start a membership to support fellow creatives and aspiring artists.
WHAT IS ONE HABIT THAT YOU DO, THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE SUCCESS OF YOUR BUSINESS?
When I began to use a planner regularly, this helped to shift many things in my business.
When you have your own business, you are the one that does all the many things that need to be done!
Having a planner helps you to get those things done… but more importantly, it helps you to prioritise the jobs that will help to move your business forward rather than just keep things running.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE WORK/MUM LIFE?
This is the hardest thing about having a business, that’s for sure! For me, I have leaned a great deal on my daycare, preschool, husband and friends… especially during the startup period of my business.
In order to be present with my children during their days at home, I get the bulk of my work done after the bedtime routine.
I have also just engaged a virtual assistant to help with the more administrative parts of my business (this is lifechanging by the way and highly recommended!).
WHAT IS THE BEST BUSINESS ADVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED?
To focus! I am not amazing at this though!
I am sure some of you can relate to wanting to do all the things.
This excitement is both a blessing and a curse. I am so lucky to have such a beautiful network of business friends to help me when I have so many things going on and to give me a little shake down occasionally, reminding me that I am not actually superwoman. Haha.
A FAILURE OR LESSON YOU HAVE LEARNT ALONG THE WAY?
The biggest lesson that I have learned since I have started my business is to start as you intend to go on.
I wish I had have started with the online platforms that I am now utilising, so that I didn’t have to migrate the data and set email sequences up all over again, for example.
I also wish that I had have engaged a virtual assistant earlier on before I reached the levels of stress I was experiencing at that point in time. Start out as you intend to go on!
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?
Gosh this was a while ago now! My first job was as an interior designer in an architecture firm in Ultimo, Sydney.
I was the junior there so got all the fun jobs of creating the finishes boards and drafting the Finishes Plans.
I had a few of my own projects there too including a residential project with a very quirky owner! That’s a story for another day!
WHO ARE 3 OTHER MUM'S IN BUSINESS THAT YOU ADMIRE?
Definitely Michelle from https://www.instagram.com/michellesorrensen/. Her respect for her own wellbeing, her prioritisation of her family and her passion for lifting others up is beyond words.
Also Sue from https://www.instagram.com/helpmychild/ . She is another woman who is passionate about empowering and serving others.
And Sarah from https://www.instagram.com/sarah_sampana_coaching/ for her authenticity, passion and straight-up style.
WHAT IS YOUR TOP SELLING PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
My abstract watercolour botanicals sell very well.
Currently I only create one-offs of these.
All of my art is made from a place of passion and authenticity and this medium in particular seems to captivate my deep appreciation for nature and it’s power to keep us grounded.
