Business & Tech

Art by Lauren Kuhn: Growing her Business Through 'Power of Facebook'

Emmaus-based oil painter Lauren Kuhn left her "real job" as a graphic designer last month to pursue her art full-time.

As a regular Patch feature, we've asked business owners in and around Emmaus to tell us about themselves. Today, we're featuring Art by Lauren Kuhn.

Business: 
Art by Lauren Kuhn
Address: 4841 Skytop Drive, Emmaus
Email: laurenkuhn@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 610-283-0127
Submitted by: Lauren Kuhn, independent artist, oil painter

When and how did your business get started?
I've always taken commission work for portraits most of my adult life, but only in October of this year did I decide to leave my full-time "real job" at Penn State Abington (where I was a graphic designer) to pursue my art more seriously. Thanks to the power of Facebook, I've completed more than a dozen oil paintings since October, most of which were "Christmas commissions." I work out of my home, so all of my business is done via email; interested clients can contact me via email or on Facebook, and after sending me a photo or idea of what they have in mind, I can provide pricing and a timeline.

Editor's Note: Kuhn also has a mini gallery of her work on display at The Creamery on Main in Emmaus. 

Why did you choose the town you did to open your business?
We moved to Emmaus about five years ago.

What is your business best known for?
I work exclusively in oil paint, painting on hard boards called gessobords. I primarily prefer to paint 'moments instead of portraits' but lately I've been accepting more complex and full-face portraiture projects for clients, in the hopes that someday I am comfortable and able to paint just about anything. It's all a learning process and I'm still evolving--and will always be--but I'm excited for what the future will bring. (The more I learn about painting, the more I realize I need to know!) 

What's something interesting about your business your customers might not know?
Aside from taking a few art classes in college and only two in the 10+ years since college, I am self-taught. And although I've been mostly 'winging it' over the years, I give my mother lots of credit, as she, too, is an artist and always has been my biggest supporter, cheerleader, and sounding board. I usually share with her my paintings so she can give me an idea or instant feedback on making it better. (She doesn't think she knows what she's talking about, but she does.) 


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