Today we’d like to introduce you to JoAnn McCoy.
Hi JoAnn, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My name is JoAnn McCoy, and I’m the owner/operator of Room for Art Gallery in Washington, MO. Since I was a little girl, I’ve been exposed to art in one way or another. My father, Jim Peters, is a watercolor artist and my mother, Betty, is also an artist in her own right, making beautiful quilts that everyone enjoys seeing. So as a child, it was a natural segue for me to start my venture, J & J Yard Ornaments, where I made cute art to decorate a yard or wall. While in grade school, I entered art in every category at the Washington Town and Country Fair. Winning top awards kept me motivated to keep on creating. I was thrilled to be voted “Most Creative” student in high school. So, my early years were formative in instilling a love of everything involving art. Later, I started a career in the family sign business. I was president for almost 20 years of the 35 I was there. That helped a lot with learning the practical side of the business. I also juggled another career as a Mary Kay sales director, helping women to look their best. Some clients have said I’m a natural makeup artist, which is a nice compliment. I still enjoy working in this field today. It’s fun to see clients enjoying the products, not to mention the wonderful people I meet. And if that’s not enough, I also have guest homes and rentals. You can say I keep busy! Since I have helped my father with art shows since I was a kid, we started doing pop-up shows a few years ago. We enjoyed using our current downtown Washington space. That led to signing a lease and trying out the space for 10 months. Room for Art Gallery started with 15 local artists at the time. We have now grown to showcase 50 artists!
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I feel that I have been truly blessed because, yes, it’s been pretty smooth sailing. I’m fortunate to have had a strong background in art and business. I’m also a people person: Working with and forming relationships with others comes naturally to me. I love this part of the business. The artists who show their work here have varied personalities and backgrounds. It makes my job fun. On any given day, artists are in the shop displaying new work or just coming by to chat and visit. My only real challenge here is that I strive to create a balance of different types of art displayed in the gallery. For this reason, I have to limit the number of certain genres of art so that we don’t lean too far into, say, oils or sculptures. I also have had to create a waiting list for artists interested in displaying their work here.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As I mentioned earlier, the gallery has grown quite a bit since it was first opened. My focus is to showcase our community of artists and support local talent. The gallery is a feast for the eyes. We have everything ranging from cards and bookmarks to bronze sculptures. Other types of art featured include paintings, photography, blacksmithing, jewelry, pottery, woodcraft, ukuleles, fiber art, airbrush, metal craft, baskets, succulents, and more. New art arrives weekly. The artistic talent here is truly inspiring. Besides art, the gallery also offers classes. Painting, clay shaping, basket making, succulent planting, and care are all offered here. It’s fun to see the students enjoying themselves. Also, every Saturday from 1-3 pm, one of our local artists demonstrates their medium. People enjoy watching and visiting with the artists. It’s a time to see what artists do and get to know the artists on a more personal level. Working with the artists and the community is a wonderful job because I truly enjoy supporting local talent. I’m very thankful for the support of family and friends in this endeavor, especially that of my husband, Andy McCoy, who is also a very talented metal art artist.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
First, it’s important to hang out with successful people. They’re successful for a reason-find out why, ask questions, and be bold. What have they done to get where they are today? Most people are very willing to share their stories with you. Whatever you take from that might be the thing that gives you a jump start. I think it’s also a good idea to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people. These folks have contagious enthusiasm, and that’s what you want. Lastly, advocate for yourself. Put your work out there in a variety of places. The more people see what you do, the more positive feedback you’ll get.
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