Times Square Ad Feature

Vista Prints "Small Business Spotlight" ad in Times Square, New York. May 25, 2018.

​               I’m still convinced that this is all a dream I constructed in my head and that I’m going to wake up any minute. Today I was featured in an ad in Times Square, New York. Vista Print was running a small business spotlight promotion, and they picked my business cards to be one of the featured businesses! My cards have a picture of “Bed Head” on the back, so that means my painting was up in Times Square. Let me say that again. My painting was up in Times Square today! Unreal. 

​               I had posted a picture of my new cards on the Instagram account I have for my artwork (click on the Instagram icon at the bottom of the page to follow!) and tagged Vista Print. A few days later Vista Print commented on the picture asking if I’d like the opportunity to be featured – which of course I said yes to! As an emerging artist who is just starting out, I can’t pass on the opportunity for this kind of publicity. 

My business cards that Vista Print featured. (I blocked my phone number with the stickers)

​               On Friday, May 25th, I woke up and immediately got on Instagram. I followed the link to Vista Print’s live footage of their Times Square Ad. The ad was on one of the large electronic screens on the south end of Times Square. I sat and eagerly waited as other small business’s cards appeared on the slideshow. Then, it happened. I recognized “Bed Head” on the screen and I felt my stomach drop. It couldn’t really be happening. My painting couldn’t actually be on a larger-than-life screen in Times Square. I am a homebody from Spokane, WA, not an established artist who has their work shown in New York. But here I was, up on the screen in front of thousands of people. 

Full image of Vista Print's live footage of the south end of Times Square. May 25, 2018.

​               My card was on the screen for no more than 10 seconds, but the fact that I was included has completely overjoyed me. I am only 2 months post-graduation and am still getting my footing as an emerging artist. To be featured in such a monumental location this early in my career as an artist is such an enormous opportunity. I am so humbled, grateful, and honored. Deciding to pursue painting after racking up almost $30,000 in student loans on two business degrees was unnerving. I think this feature is a big fat sign that I am heading in the right direction. 

Never ​let small-minded people tell you
​that your dreams are too big.