Sullcher Creative Design is home to fluid alcohol ink artwork, homewares and jewellery. Custom created by Stephanie Reynolds in the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia. Stephanie’s artworks are bold, vibrant and would look amazing on any wall. We spoke to Stephanie to learn more about how she got started.
The passion: What inspired you to set up your business?
I have two young boys. Archer, four, and Sullivan 18 months. I decided after I had Sullivan that it was time to step up and be a the best role model for my boys that I could be and show them that they can do what they love if they are passionate and work hard. I still work part time in operations at a family and children’s community hub which I also love, but decided to take a step towards creating a life out of my other passion – which is creating art.
Growing up, my mum and dad were amazing parents and I had a fantastic childhood, but if you had asked me what they did for a living when I was eight I would have not had a clue. Now when someone asks my eldest what his mum does he responds that “she paints all the beautiful in the world”, and this makes my heart melt. The first time I heard that I got quite emotional. The long hours, the sweat, tears and frustration were all worth it when I heard those words leave his lips.
The Launch: How did you start out in the beginning?
I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset thanks to my dad, so once I found my passion, keeping it to myself was never really an option. I started out with my Facebook page. Just posting the things I had painted on my personal page to see how it was received by friends and family. I found a name I liked from there I launched my business Instagram page followed by a Facebook page.
The innovation: What was the biggest breakthrough for you with your business?
The best advice I had been given was from another artist who told me that I needed to discover my bread and butter and that once I had found that the rest would come – and she was right. Once I started delving into homewares and décor things picked up and my artwork funded itself. Once I knew that side of things was being looked after, I was able to focus more of my time growing my commission base and I was able to be more selective about what I took on. I love a challenge and thrive of pressure so I love this job with the kind of sleep deprived exhausted love that only a mother understands.
Social media has also played a major role in my journey. When I first started out I used Instagram as my main platform and my following grew, which was exciting but it didn’t result in a lot of sales, and I was continually asked if I had a Facebook page. Once I finally had my Facebook page up and running the opportunities started rolling in. Although my following is a lot smaller, the relationships and networks I have gained through my page have been invaluable.
