MEET A  GLOBAL ARTIST: Jody Bergsma

Jody began by creating illustrations for children and has become a veritable one-woman art industry, producing paintings, greeting cards, collector’s plates, children’s books, t-shirts, towels, figurines – the list goes on and on. Internationally known, she maintains a showroom in the Haskell Business Center in Bellingham. When she’s not busily producing art or running her global art business, she can often be found on horseback, a favorite way to unwind.

Q: What prompted the move from Discovery Park to your present location?

A: After years of retail I was needing a change. I spent 20 years selling on weekends and being present for the customers. Wholesale sales and the internet became my new focus.

Q: What is the address of the gallery?

A: I now have a showroom in the Haskell Business Center; 1301 Fraser St in Bellingham.

Q: How is your business doing?

A: The business is still vibrant with a new expansion in our product lines. We are also preparing a new Blog and Video website for the launch of a series of 40+ mini art lessons for beginners. I will be offering art books and beginner watercolor kits; trying to fill some of the void in our young people’s art education.

Q: How does business compare to previous years?

A: The recession has affected everyone. With 8 million jobs lost there is less money for people to spend on the "extras” in life. Recently a gallery owner said that the middle class has stopped buying expensive art. I always had a niche because I spread my price points across the spectrum.

Q: Any recent successes that you might want to highlight?

A: I was chosen and executed a 100 year Anniversary painting to celebrate one of Taft’s sculptures (Lorado Taft’s Black Hawk sculpture, located in Oregon, Illinois). I travelled to Illinois to sign for the event on July 16th.

Q: What kind of connections in the community do you have and how have they factored in to your success?

A: The community was my first opportunity to really succeed; the incubator of my success.

Q: What impact does your location have on business?

A: No one can find me!

Q: You have multiple channels to sell your work – what are they and what percentage of total revenue does each account for?

A: Wholesale 80% Retail 20%

Q: What do you like best about owning the gallery?

A: Being your own boss, there is no option for my odd personality!

Q: In your opinion, how does art add value to the local economy?

A: Buy local, be local is a favorite phrase around Bellingham. What is at the heart of this phrase is the knowledge that a community and a country that produces goods and products creates wealth - keeping money within a shared loop. Art gives a young person the experience of "creating” something of value from personal vision and ultimately adding value to themselves and to the culture.

Q: Future plans for the gallery?

A: I am always painting and creating for the future. The gallery is the house for my personal expression as an artistic entrepreneur.

Q: What is your sense of the local art community?

A: Without art, a community has no soul. Bellingham has an abundance.

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