Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Durst.
Hi Mariana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been an entrepreneur for a little over 20 years. And as anyone with a creative vision and a desire for independence, the road to here has been winding. It started shortly after getting my BFA from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Across two decades, I opened a handmade tile company, then an Etsy print shop, and even had a stint crafting and selling herbal goods out of my kitchen. I’m always up for a challenge, and building businesses was a way to give legs to my creativity while keeping my brain locked in. In 2018, I sold my herbal business. I was at a point where I was itching for something new. So I took everything I’d learned building my businesses and put it to work for artists.
The work now is coaching, creative direction, and web design for fine artists, but the real job is closer to helping artists see themselves as they truly are, and stepping into that version of themselves confidently.
I also paint, seriously, which I think keeps me honest. It’s harder to coach someone out of hiding when you’re still finding your own nerve in front of a canvas.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have always been bumps in the road. Each new business model required creativity and flexibility. I used to look at other businesses around me to try to emulate them, which was a hassle.
Eventually, I realized that the best business model for me is one that is intentional at every point… from how I interact with my clients to how I manage my business finances. I haven’t been afraid to make changes to help support my vision every step of the way. This means implementing new processes, hiring experts when needed, and investing in professional development. It’s been a long journey to go from being afraid to pay myself to where I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I run a studio that sits at an odd intersection — half brand strategy and web design, half something closer to creative business therapy for artists. Most consultants pick a lane. I never could, because the two problems are usually the same problem in different clothes: an artist’s website is more than a digital presence — it’s tied to so much beneath the surface. An artist is way more than a brand. Selling art requires creating resonant connections with the right people while staying true to your goals as an artist. The strategy that works for the artist who wants to sell their work directly to collectors isn’t the same as one who wants to work exclusively with galleries.
What I’m known for, I think, is refusing to treat those as separate jobs. I built a framework I call the Liberated Artist Blueprint specifically because I got tired of watching talented people optimize themselves into blandness in the name of “marketability.” My job is to help them have a brand that helps them expand and develop.
One of the things I’m most proud of is the relationships I’ve built with artists all over the world. People who started off as casual Instagram connections and eventually became clients or friends. The connections that my work has enabled have been life-changing for me. These exceptional artists that I work with have given me a blueprint for my own artistic development as a painter. They’ve shown me what can be possible when one doubles down on their creative vision with curiosity and integrity.
What sets me apart, if I’m honest, is that I don’t believe strategy and artistry are in tension. Most of the industry is built on the idea that you have to choose — sell out a little to survive, or stay pure and stay broke. I’ve never bought that. The artists I work with best are the ones who were already suspicious of that bargain too.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m so excited to keep meeting and working with artists who are ready to put their artwork out into the world.
I’m also working on a small release of portraits that I’ll put out on my artist website, marianadurstart.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marianadurststudio.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/marianadurststudio
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/marianadurststudio
- Other: https://marianadurststudio.substack.com/
