Meet Lisa M. Edwards Fine Art
FOUNDED BY
THE INTERVIEW
Written by Boston Women’s Market & Lisa Edwards
BWM: Can you tell us a bit about what led you to begin your journey with your business? Was there an aha! Moment?
Lisa Edwards: Looking back on my life it seems so obvious that I would, someday, start an art business.
I’ve always loved to create. Scribbling, drawing, and painting were in my life as early as I can remember. My parents enrolled me in local town art classes, art teachers in school were always my favorites, and I loved every single family trip to museums. Plus, I never outgrew the childhood game of playing shopkeeper. Organizing, planning, logistics, and being in charge of my own little world have been a constant.
After studying marketing and studio art in college I was determined to find a way to keep the artistic spark in me alive. Living in the Boston area I’ve regularly visited curated shops and attended countless art markets, all of which have long inspired me to create a business unique to me and my life’s experience.
The exact business format, artistic style, and strategic scale was not always clear until recently. Hopefully that will continue to shift over time, but for now I’m happy with where I’ve landed.
BWM: For many women starting out in the entrepreneurial world, there can be a lot of self-doubt. Do you have any personal stories about how you conquered self-doubt? What guidance would you give to others?
Lisa: The mantra “do it scared” has served me well. And, knowing in my heart that when I’m old I’d rather reflect back on my life and think “At least I tried” than “What if I gave it a shot? What did I miss out on?”
If you’re up for a two season podcast experience I highly recommend “Dead Eyes” from actor Connor Ratliff. What starts as an investigation into why Tom Hanks last minute fired him from a tiny part in “Band of Brothers” turns into an inspiring series of interviews with incredibly successful creators (e.g., Ira Glass, Elijah Wood, Jon Hamm, etc.) about all the moments they felt they weren’t good enough, thought their careers were over, or would never take off.
BWM: A mentor can play an integral role in someone’s career progression and personal growth. Did you have a mentor that influenced where you are today?
Lisa: I was lucky enough to grow up with a mom who was always painting. Watching her process from a young age and finding wonder in her creations was such a gift, and inspired me to do the same. Her mom, my grandmother, is a fiber artist who started a sewing business creating and selling clothes, quilts, dolls, toys, and more at consignment shops all over New England when she became an empty nester. My mom still paints, and my grandma still sews with a passion.
Having both of them to look up to growing up and into adulthood has been such an inspiration.
“At the end of the day, the best advice I ever got was to just start. Kill your inner perfectionist – you’re not going to get it all right on the first try. Get started with something that gives you a spark, iterate, and move forward until it feels right to you.”
BWM: Many women begin their small business journey as a way to seek fulfillment they may not be getting in their 9-5 job. Others aren't sure where to begin and need help "digging deeper" to find what it is that fills their cup. What are some steps someone can take today to begin that journey of discovery?
Lisa: Reflect on what makes you happy. What do you think about while at a stoplight, falling asleep at night, or in the shower? When out in the world, what do you admire? 5 years from now, what do you want to look back and be proud of accomplishing, or proud of trying and failing at? What makes you feel like you?
At the end of the day, the best advice I ever got was to just start. Kill your inner perfectionist – you’re not going to get it all right on the first try. Get started with something that gives you a spark, iterate, and move forward until it feels right to you.
BWM: We think the stories of failure are just as important as the stories of success. Can you talk about a time that you failed in an entrepreneurial venture or objective? How did you face and overcome this failure? What was the lesson learned?
Lisa: I was selling at an outdoor market last summer that had a torrential downpour in the last 2 hours. My tent roof was leaking, I didn’t have any proper walls, and the wind blew the rain all over the place. The panic was overwhelming. I managed to keep my composure while saving as many products as I could from the rain until the market came to an early end and my family helped pack everything up.
As soon as we finished packing I looked at my mom and my sister and burst into tears. I cried for at least an hour. I felt so defeated and emotionally exhausted. This was during a particularly vulnerable moment in my life and I did not handle it well. I left that day thinking I was done -- I couldn’t bring myself to apply for another art market for five or so months.
But my family encouraged me, and the joy of sharing my art with the world along with some time healed me and kept me going.
BWM: Do you have a favorite moment so far with your business? Where you really felt like you were on the right path?
Lisa: Anytime someone walks into my tent, looks at a painting, and smiles. That’s the best feeling in the world.
BWM: How have you continued to manage the growth of your business while also finding time and ways to invest in yourself?
Lisa: I’ll admit, this is tough. Especially as someone who works a full time job outside of my art business plus juggling a few other hobbies -- time management can be tricky. It’s easy to get overwhelmed.
One thing I like to do is keep a running notes doc on my phone to jot down ideas for new products, displays, or efficiencies that come to mind while I’m actively at a market. Then, I try to commit to creating or investing in at least one new thing per market. If I try to tackle it all at once it’ll never happen. But if I can write ideas down before I forget them and pursue one at a time then I’m always growing. Baby steps at a sustainable pace is key for me!
BWM: If our community wants to dive deeper into empowering their own journey, what resources do you offer?
Lisa: I don’t offer any personally, but I would highly recommend following Emily Jeffords,LaurieAnn Gonzalez, and Jenna Raineyon instagram to learn from their art businesses.
Plus, check out the podcast “Art Juice” with hosts Alice Sheridan and Louise Fletcher. This podcast ran from 2019 to 2025, has 279 episodes, and covers everything from developing a creative practice to marketing, studio habits, the human side of running a business, and so much more. I couldn’t recommend it enough.
BWM: From one small business owner to another, what is your favorite go-to business tool or resource you can recommend to our community?
Lisa: The “Art to Print” course by LaurieAnn Gonzalez. This course teaches you everything you need to know about making and selling art prints. It’s a gold mine!
BWM: What is your go-to Podcast or book of the moment?
Lisa: I love listening to the podcast “The Big Picture” from The Ringer to debrief the latest movie I’ve seen in theaters. That crew is so fun!
