Meet Scout Dunbar | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Scout Dunbar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scout, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
How much administrative work there is! Once you begin viewing your art practice as a business, you quickly realize that making the art is one of many components needed for it to successfully run. Simply making the artwork isn’t going to make the business grow, especially when you are an emerging artist. I also believe people are unaware that many artists are really great business-minded entrepreneurs. We are often dismissed as being only able to function within a free-spirited studio environment, but in fact many of us enjoy using the pragmatic and mathematical side of our brain. Who doesn’t love a good spreadsheet?

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I graduated from Alfred University in western New York in 2011 and have working as an artist ever since. My education was incredibly influential on my practice. My professors taught me how to think critically and problem solve through experimentation, curiosity, and discovery.

Choosing to be an artist was easy as it’s more of an identity for me than anything else. The hard part has been growing into the roll while also having to afford the expenses of life. I spent my twenties in NYC working part-time odd jobs so I could spend time in the studio. It was a meager existence as I was essentially trading money for time in the studio in one of the most expensive cities in the world. I got through it by knowing the feeling of not making artwork felt worse than the risk of having unreliable income.

After NYC, I moved to New Mexico, followed by Tucson! I continued working part time as I developed my artwork until the pandemic hit in 2020. After loosing my substitute teaching job, I focused all of my energy into my studio work. Luckily the stimulus helped me stay afloat and funny enough, I noticed an increase in sales as people stuck in their homes wanted new artwork. I eventually built up a large enough savings that by the time markets and in-person events opened up, I had the financial resources to invest and participate in more opportunities that allowed me to grow the business.

One important lesson I learned along the way is that it only takes a small amount of financial support to get your business going. I had never had real savings before the pandemic, and because of that, the business component of my art practice always felt stuck in the mud.

I also learned that it really helps to know people who understand money. It takes a lot of brain re-wiring to graduate from your old habits and develop a healthy relationship with your finances. For me, that came in the form of reluctance to spend. However, I’m learning that to make money is to spend some, and investing in your future and business is a really important method for growth.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Morning coffee and stroll at Exo in the barrio Viejo neighborhood followed by hiking or trail run at Madera Canyon, Starr Pass, the Arizona Trail on Reddington Pass, various trails off of Catalina Highway. Lunch at 5 points, Tumerico for my vegan friends, Los Chipilones for some authentic tacos. Drinks at West Bound in the annex with a side of Kukai Japanese food. Cocktails at the Coronet or Night Jar if we’re feeling fancy. Stroll around the presidio, maybe pop into La Cocina for a bite and Art Centro for some local gifts. Head to the Tucson Museum of Art to check out their exhibits. Take the trolly to campus and check out the State Museum and walk around campus. Find a show at 191 Toole. Check in with some artist friends and have studio visits or see if they’re offering any fun workshops. Go to a few estate sales and see what offerings they have. Check out the Desert Museum and share knowledge about local plants and wildlife.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family deserves a big shoutout. I’m the third generation of female artists on my mom’s side. My grandmother, aunt, and mother have dedicated large portions of their careers to the arts, and growing up in their studios was so helpful in directing me towards a similar path. Also, my dad for keeping up with us the entire time!

Website: www.scoutdunbar.com

Instagram: scoutdunbar