Behind the Brush: Hayley Price of The Scouted Studio
Behind the Brush: Hayley Price
I am thrilled to spotlight the force behind The Scouted Studio, podcast host of The Art Coaching Club Podcast, & artist, Hayley Price, in our latest Behind the Brush feature! After graduating from Washington & Lee University, Hayley married her studio art and business backgrounds through her online gallery, The Scouted Studio, fostering artists’ growth & ensuring they shine in an ever-evolving creative world.
Hayley has meticulously curated an exquisite collection of artwork featured through The SS, bridging the gap between passionate art lovers & talented Southern artists. Beyond her curation, she’s a fervent advocate for making art accessible, living by the mantra "Art for All.”
The Scouted Studio is not just about selling art. Hayley’s mission is to alleviate artists from the business side of art & free them to simply create. Whether it's providing business coaching or orchestrating curated art releases, her passion is evident in all that she does.
Q&A with Hayley Price
I had so much fun interviewing Hayley & can’t wait to share her expert advice with you on collecting artwork (and trust me, she knows a thing or two, so her tips are worthwhile!)!
CZ: Hayley, tell us a bit about your journey. What led you to start The Scouted Studio?
HP: I have always been an artist at heart and always knew I️ was going to be in the art world in one way or another. Whether selling my own work, working at a gallery, or supporting the arts in some way, I️ had a calling to work in this field. I️ actually used to joke in college that I️ was going to open a wine bar art gallery when I️ grew up. I️ haven’t accomplished that yet, but hey, there is still time!
I️ studied Business Administration and Studio Art in school and graduated with a marketing internship supplemented by the money I️ made selling my own artwork. During that time, I️ connected with many talented artists and business owners in Charleston, South Carolina, where I️ then lived, and was presented with the opportunity to take over a small online arts management company called Straight to Art. I️ saw the potential in this company to become something larger, but was also aware that I️ needed a salary. As fate would have it, I️ had to decide whether to accept a marketing job or take over this small company with no guarantee for success all in a week. This gave me no time to overthink, instead I️ had to completely trust my gut.
I️ don’t know if I️ am the biggest risk-taker, but I️ am a big believer in signs and am confident in my strengths. I️ don’t think I️ was positive I️ could run my own company, but I️ trusted my knowledge of the art world, so I️ drew up a business plan and let fate take over. It is the best decision I️ have ever made and I️ can’t imagine where I️’d be if I️ took the other job.
That year, I️ rebranded to The Scouted Studio, changed a few things about the company model and started working with artists across the country versus just in Charleston.
All of this was happening around the same time that Instagram was becoming a very popular app for artists to showcase their work, so I️ was seeing all of this talent and knew that these artists needed a platform to better sell their work. Simultaneously, I️ was seeing a need for younger, fresher, and more affordable artwork in Charleston. The Scouted Studio began with the idea of connecting talented emerging artists with young art enthusiasts looking to begin their art collecting journey.
From there it just grew and grew. I️ did pop-up shows, opened a store on King Street, and began working with numerous interior designers. We then transformed into an online gallery featuring so many talented artists and I️ can’t wait to see how we continue to grow and evolve from here!
CZ: What are the top qualities you look for when choosing the artists & artwork featured in The Scouted Studio?
HP: I want artists that fit the overall feel of The Scouted Studio. I want someone to click on my site and feel like they could see all of the work living together in one home. The artwork should all feel authentic and original, but also blend and compliment the other collections on the site.
I also want artists that are willing to support each other, so I️ talk with every full-time artists and get to know them before we work together. I think of The Scouted Studio as a community of artists, so I️ want artists that will treat it that way.
CZ: Artists often speak of a personal connection to their work. How do you ensure that that connection is maintained when presenting it to potential buyers, especially online?
HP: First, I️ like to get to know the artists and their inspiration, so I️ can accurately showcase and talk about their work. Whether online, on social media, in an email, on a phone call, or at an in-person event, I️ want to be the best cheerleader for all of my artists.
I️ also worked with an incredible web designer when The Scouted Studio went all online. We discussed ways to have the gallery experience online. I️ wanted every artist to have a detailed page about them so the buyer could see all of their work in one place but also read about the artist and the collection. Social media and email marketing also play a huge role in sharing more about the faces behind the work. I️ want my clients to be able to learn about every piece and collection in a way that feels authentic and natural. For this reason, I️ probably spend the most time on crafting a strong social media and email presence so that every artist can properly have their story told.
CZ: What's been your proudest moment since establishing The Scouted Studio or in your art career?
HP: I️ don’t know if I️ can name one moment, but I️ think I️ am most proud of the fact that I️ didn’t give up. Starting a business of any kind is hard and there really isn’t a roadmap for success. I️ definitely had major ups and downs, but the fact that I️ am here makes me proud.
Also, I️ don’t know if other artists have “artist crushes” but I️ definitely had a handful of artists that I️ loved and wanted all of their pieces in my own home. I️ remember, one day one of those artists applied to work with The Scouted Studio. It was a complete pinch-me moment, and I️ still think, wow, they want to work with me. I am so incredibly thankful for all of the artists that I️ have worked with and am so glad to be able to work with such talent every day.
CZ: I feel like one hurdle I have run into a lot lately is first-time art collectors. What tips do you have for someone looking to incorporate art into their home for the first time?
HP: Great question! My one piece of advice is that your art doesn’t have to match your sofa. Buy the art you love, support the artists who speak to you, get the piece that makes a statement. You can find a place for it, you can make it work in the room. Art should tell a story, so buy the weird art and stress about the design later.
CZ: I’m always so intrigued as to what other artists' & art lovers’ art collection looks like. What was the first piece of art you ever purchased, & what was the story behind it?
HP: The first piece I️ ever bought was actually a Kimberly Zukley print. I️ am a huge fan of original art, but I️ was just starting my company and money was tight so I️ purchased her print and it is still one of my favorite pieces today. As an artist, I️ have such an appreciation for her work from a technical perspective, but I️ also love her playfulness and the creative subjects of her work. I️ actually have been eyes some of her recent originals lately and it might be time to add to my collection.
CZ: I absolutely adore Kimberly & the work she creates! What book or podcast (aside from yours!) has recently inspired you?
HP: I️ recently read Launch and it completely changed my business. It is an incredible book for any artist or business owner looking to sell.
CZ: That is on my list - adding to my cart after this discussion! Speaking of podcasts, could you tell us a little about your podcast? I am such a fan!
HP: I️ started The Art Coaching Club Podcast as a side project and a fun way to interview all of the different artists that I️ was working with and following on social media. As I️ started releasing the first few interviews, I️ realized these artists have so much advice to give just through telling their stories. From there it grew! I️ really do it because I️ love it, but to hear how much it has helped other artists is the icing on the cake. I️ love that it has become a free resource for so many other artists.
CZ: I don’t know how you do it all! Describe a day in your life. How do you balance the podcast/ Scouted Studio/ & own art-making?
HP: Lists, lists, and more lists haha! I️ am a to-do list girl. I won’t say that I️ am perfectly organized, but I️ am very efficient and constantly working to become better.
I️ typically wake up and create my short priority list for the day. I️ write down the three tasks that I️ absolutely have to do that day. No more, no less. It allows me to really prioritize and get the most important things done without feeling overwhelmed of a never-ending task list.
I️ also keep EVERYTHING in a google calendar. I️ recently have set some boundaries with when I️ am working, taking coaching calls, recording podcasts and it has completely changed the way I️ work. I️ used to think working all the time and being available constantly would lead to success, but now I️ know that I️ actually get more done and am a better worker when I️ batchwork and strategically do specific types of work at the specific times when I️ am best suited to do them.
So in terms of what my day to day looks like, every day is a little different, but I️ generally do my analytic work in the morning, take a few calls in the later morning, and do my more creative work in the afternoons.
CZ: Lastly, before we wrap up, what advice would you give to help artists overcome the intimidation factor of presenting their work to the world to get noticed?
HP: Don’t be scared to reach out. The worst thing anyone can say is no. I️ have received so many nos but they are completely worth it for the one yes. Know your worth and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
Wow, “Know your worth and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there” — these words hit home for me. I so enjoyed my conversation with Hayley. If you’d like to hear more from us both, she recently interviewed me on her podcast, & the conversation is a good one. It is so nice being able to connect with other like-minded creatives such as Hayley, & I was so honored to have been a part of her podcast.
I am just dying to make a trip to Birmingham to meet Hayley in person & to see art collection. Thank you so much for your expert advice, Hayley! Follow Hayley in the below links:
Instagram: Hayley Price Art & The Scouted Studio & The Art Coaching Club
Website: The Scouted Studio
Podcast: The Art Coaching Club Podcast
Stay tuned for our next guest feature soon!
Until next time,
Know an artist that should be featured on ‘Behind the Brush’? Please shoot us a message us at hello@cocozentner.com, as we’d love to connect!