Not many people get to claim two careers in a lifetime. Kay Woolard has become one of the few, melding her years of office administration instruction at Beaufort County Community College with her true love: art.

Woolard opened her studio and gallery, Art on Market, in March, branching out on her own after the closure of Inner Banks Artisans’ Center, a combination art emporium and artist studio spaces, last fall. Woolard was part of IBX from its opening in 2009, but when it came time to move on, she decided she more was the way to go.

“I was looking for a place to have more public visibility,” Woolard said. “When the Inner Banks Artisans’ Center closed, I was evaluating what my needs were. I decided I needed space to show my works. I needed to be able to open and close the door when I could — put a note on the door and come back and forth.”

It turns out, moving into the Market Street space, with its large, multipaned front window that lets in plenty of natural light, was a good move.

“Remarkably, my business has been better. My sales have been good and I never get bored because if no one is in here, I’m always painting,” Woolard said.

The walls are filled her original acrylics, bins with prints and giclees of bestsellers, racks of cards — scaled down versions of her art — and a display case of Woolard’s miniature paintings, tiny landscapes set atop equally small easels.

Fifteen years ago, Woolard took up painting while she was teaching office and medical office administration at the community college. She retired in 2010, making art her fulltime job — an unusual change of career.

“For me, it’s a blend of both worlds: I get to blend my left brain/right brain careers,” Woolard said. “Business administration had order. Art is kind of disorder. … I like all parts of it.”

But being equally able in both business and creativity doesn’t necessarily make for sales. While Woolard paints what many eastern North Carolinians would consider familiar landscapes and scenes, the appeal of art is truly subjective.

“The business of art is pretty hard to figure out. I’ve figured out that it’s impossible to figure out,” Woolard laughed.

As far as the business of art is concerned, Woolard has made sure any art lover can find something at Art on Market in his or her price range: the miniature original paintings range from $25 to $40; her other original work, from $65 to $1,200.

Art on Market is located at 112B N. Market St. in Washington. For more information, visit kaywoolardart.com or call 252-943-1016.