JoAnne Sharman, a recently retired manager from the Corning Museum of Glass, has successfully transitioned into a full-time artist by combining her decades of sales expertise with her passion for fluid art. At the Keuka Arts Festival in Penn Yan, New York, Sharman demonstrated her unique approach to selling art when a potential customer hesitated over purchasing a coral-themed diptych painting. "Don't let it be the painting you almost bought," Sharman told the woman. "Be happy, spend the money, and you will always love it." The strategy worked, and the customer purchased the artwork for her office.
Sharman, who became a full-time paint-based artist in December 2024 after turning 60, credits her success to applying sales techniques she previously taught others during her career at the Corning Museum of Glass. "It means not taking no for an answer too quickly, and being confident in one's artwork and talking with customers to make them feel comfortable asking questions," she explained. "There's as much sales skill needed as art skills." Now based in her Auburn, New York studio, Sharman says she is "not a sitter" and sometimes spends entire days painting.
With over 35 years of experience in high-end commission sales across jewelry, furniture, interior design, and glass art, Sharman brings a unique perspective to the art world. During her time as a store manager at the Corning Museum of Glass, she developed a deep understanding of glass art by watching demonstrations and taking glassblowing classes. "In any form, it's fluid," she said about working with glass. "You have to turn it and spin it and manipulate it because it's like working with honey." This experience with the fluid nature of glass inspired her to pursue pouring acrylic paintings, where she pours colors onto flat canvases, allows them to move naturally, and then manipulates the colors in layers.
Sharman's artistic approach emphasizes spontaneity and intuition. "I love the spontaneity of it," she said about her painting process. "Let the paint dictate what comes next." Her close friend Terri Wise, who has known Sharman since the 1990s, recalls how the artist would find old furniture at flea markets, paint it, and give it new life. "The universe heard her calling, so it gave it back to her so she could be an artist," Wise observed, noting how retirement has allowed Sharman to flourish in her artistic work.
Wise also praised Sharman's creativity in both arts and business, recalling how during her time working for Sharman at Littman Jewelers during the Christmas season, Sharman once set up a wedding venue inside the store to attract customers interested in wedding jewelry and engagement rings. "She would always create fun atmospheres to bring in the people," Wise said. This innovative marketing approach carries over into Sharman's art career, where she planned to use a bubble machine at Florida art shows to complement her bubble-themed paintings, though she later adjusted her strategy when the smaller paintings didn't sell as well as expected.
Sharman's boyfriend, Steve Donigan, who assists with logistics during art show travels, has observed her unique ability to connect with customers. "I'm her laborer," he joked about his role in supporting her art shows. Donigan noted that people are particularly drawn to watching Sharman paint on-site, asking questions and engaging in conversations that often lead to sales. "I think she builds relationships with people that way," he said. "The shows are what sells them." Sharman leverages her interior design expertise during these interactions, discussing delivery details and placement options for paintings in customers' homes.
To address customer hesitation, Sharman has implemented an innovative return policy that reflects her sales training. "If someone hesitated, she would say, 'Nope, take it home. I'll even bring it to you. See how it looks in the room. And if you don't like it, bring it back to me tomorrow,'" she explained. This approach demonstrates how she applies the sales strategies she once taught others. "I think that I have to go back to being a student also, you know, and the teacher listening to my own lessons," Sharman reflected.
Recognizing a significant challenge in the art industry, Sharman has identified what she calls "a profound gap between people attending the art shows and those buying the art." She believes that many artists don't make enough money to sustain long careers in the industry because they lack basic sales skills. Sharman hopes other artists can learn from her experience and develop the sales techniques necessary to succeed financially while pursuing their artistic passions.
Despite her sales success, Sharman acknowledges the emotional aspect of her work that goes beyond financial transactions. "While she could convince people to buy her art, she could not convince them to love it," she noted. When her artwork does sell, however, Sharman experiences a deep sense of validation. "When you know your work has a home that someone has bought and will enjoy themselves," she said, "it's just a cool feeling." Those interested in learning more about JoAnne Sharman's studio and artwork can visit her website at ladylooart.com/about, where she operates under the label Lady Loo Art.
