I write, knit, make jewelry, and love spending the day behind my camera, snapping hundreds of photos.
But, I’ve always envied artists. I’ve spent many hours painting with acrylics, creating patterns in Illustrator and doodling in my art journal. And, while I enjoy all of those things and will continue to do them, none of them have felt like ‘my thing.’
For the past six years, I’ve been on the hunt for my medium. Because I enjoy making art so very much, I kept thinking that I just hadn’t found the right format because nothing clicked and felt completely natural.
Out of all of the options, watercolor was never on my list.
I thought I’d hate how unpredictable it is–how little control you have when painting with it. I avoided it, thinking that it was absolutely NOT my thing.
I don’t know why I finally decided to give it a go, but I told my mother-in-law that I wanted to learn how to paint with watercolors a little more than a year ago.
Since she’s an artist and taught art for many years, she gave me a lesson. I had fun that day, but it didn’t make me fall head over heels for watercolor. It became another medium that I enjoyed but didn’t adore to pieces.
I set aside the watercolors, not thinking much about it.
Months later, I checked out Yao Cheng’s Beginning Watercolor class on Creativebug and something stirred in me.
I realized that the more traditional watercolor painting I created with my mother-in-law might’ve been the disconnect. I also figured out that while the inexpensive watercolor cake palette I was using was financially a good choice, the watercolor paint itself would make a huge difference to my experience.
Because I’m an all or nothing person, I decided to invest about $500 in the best quality paints, brushes and paper. I had this tugging in my soul that told me I was making the right decision while my wallet screamed, “don’t do it.”
When I painted my way through the activities of Yao’s course, my happy meter exploded.
I finally feel like I’ve found my medium–the one that I get giddy over and sweeps me up and away for hours at a time.
I’m not a pro or watercolor artist by any means. And, I’m not trying to become a watercolor artist. Instead I’m using watercolor in areas of my business.
For example, I’m using many of my watercolor creations as the backdrop to workbook pages for my next CreativeLive course (eek! more details to come soon).
Throughout this process of trying to find my medium, I’ve learned quite a few things. Some of which might help you:
1) Play and experiment often.
You never know when you’re going to find your next passion.
2) Don’t dismiss things without giving them a try.
The thing you think you won’t like might be the thing you end up loving.
3) When creating your business, leave space for growth.
When I started Blacksburg Belle, I didn’t have a clue that it would include photography or watercolor or speaking engagements. I imagined business consulting and blogging. Thankfully, I didn’t box myself into a tiny casket with limited wiggle room. Although I don’t sell photographs or watercolor paintings (and I don’t think I ever will), I use them in my business. My photography is a big piece of my brand and I bet I’ll be saying the same thing about watercolor in a year or two.
4) Include all of you in your business.
So often I work with creatives who feel like they have to compartmentalize, leaving out parts of their personalities from their businesses. Your business becomes MORE unique when you put together more than one of your passions. I mean…I don’t know any other business consultant who has built her business around writing, teaching, photography and now watercolors. There might be another, but the more of ME I put into my business, the more unlike anything else it becomes.
Love this post, April!! Gorgeous paintings.
I’ve actually started diving into watercoloring, too. I took a class from a lady in the area, and I fell in love. I’m still looking for my watercoloring style, but know the more I experiment, I’ll get there.
I’ve totally been adding more of me into my business and website. I shied away from this before, but now realize that it helps make the connection with my audience. So, I talk about my newly adopted greyhound, my trips, and even my boyfriend (which makes for good stories)…ha. I’m even adding a little bit of video, too.
Thanks for the reminder to put more of ourselves into what we’re doing!
Thanks Jennifer!
Have you checked out the watercolor classes on Creativebug? You totally should! 🙂
Awwww…I wanna hear about your newly adopted greyhound. I want a picture! Yay for video…that’s a GREAT medium for you!
I have felt the same way about finding my thing as a creative and I felt the same with watercolors and painting too! I use them almost daily and have been finding more ways to weave them into other aspects of my business too. I cant wait to check out that class! I always love learning new techniques and just seeing how other people work. Im in the process of expanding and defining my brand. I started thinking I would just do craft stuff and have expanded to travel and personal insights and it has been a challenge sometimes to mold them all, but like you said it is the ‘me’ part in all of them that ties them together. oh and keep sharing your paintings they really are beautiful! When you are using them for workbooks are you photographing them or scanning them?I seem to have a problem with my light pink color not showing up correct on the scanners…
It can absolutely be a challenge for a while to figure out how to weave them all together, but if you give it enough time and experiment, it’ll start to fall into place. And, that makes the struggle completely worth it.
I’m scanning them for my workbook pages. I scan and then do a bit of color adjusting if needed in Photoshop. I haven’t had any issues yet but I just started to scan them so I don’t know yet!
I’ll definitely keep sharing. Thanks!
I’ve dabbled with so many creative outlets throughout my life. Art was my biggest passion in high school but life got in the way a bit over the years. These days it’s Scrapbooking that makes me happy and even that has morphed to suit my increasingly busy lifestyle.. To digital style Scrapbooking which has given my skills I can use in business, such as photoshop skills & a new area to branch out with digital products. I love the look of water colour but was never happy with my paint efforts… With the exception of a bit of mixed media Scrapbooking 🙂
I used to be big into scrapbooking but now I don’t do as much with it. It’s funny how these things change over time, isn’t it? I say go with what makes you happy now! 🙂
Congrats on the watercolor! I have taught painting classes for decades, and anyone can learn to paint with instruction and encouragement. They won’t believe it though, until you show them.
I bet…my mother-in-law taught art for over 25 years and I’ve seen her transform students from no art skills whatsoever to someone who creates beautiful things. 🙂
I like the idea of the more of ‘you’ that goes into your business, the more it is unlike anything else. I think people connect with you more, they are more likely to be your kinda people rather than drifters looking for their right fit. And especially for creative businesses or micro businesses its a massive advantage we have over big brands and corporates. I don’t think that can be underestimated.
Hiiiiiii Coral! You can’t believe the smile that burst onto my face when I read your name just now. Anyways…YES! Absolutely.
I love reading your emails…I just opened my shop on Etsy last Saturday after a year of preperation and new adventures in the world of creating tiny vessels from stoneware clay. I am an old stonecarver still in transition to the new medium of “mud” ,,,,,,,what a fun roller coaster this is!!! I am 63 years young,,,and as excited as I was at 6 when I first dreamed of being an artist, and spent a lifetime finding new adventures and mediums……now….I have just opened a window to the whole “world”,,,,,,WOW!!! I read constantly about this new world, am mystified ant the power and mystery of blogs, social media, twittering, pinning,,,,a lot to wrap these old arms around,,,,but I love the challenge and hope many more will take the plunge into this fascinating cyber art world.
Thanks you for your encouragement to us all
Thanks Janie! That’s so good to hear/read. 🙂
Congratulations on your Etsy shop opening. That’s huge. I’m so very happy for you.
Isn’t it amazing how art makes you feel like a kid? That’s one of my favorite things about it. I feel like my 10-year-old self when I’m creating something new.
Love this post April. It so speaks to my yearning artist. I too feel EXACTLY the same or did. Like I wasn’t an artist and couldn’t be because I did just innately know how to pick a brush or pen and draw or paint the Mona Lisa!
I too LOVE watercoloring. It’s fairly new to me, within the last year anyway. I am excited to be playing with it. I use it a lot with my stamps. I will have to check out the class you mentioned above.
Thanks! You should definitely check out the class. It’s really good! I’ve gotten my mother-in-law hooked…she just bought all the materials and we’re going to have a watercolor play date this week. 🙂
Yes, Yes, and Yes!
I am a designer but I am a writer non the less. So I have two jobs – a copywriter and a designer.
A couple of years ago I had to write a How To Etsy guide for a work project (since I have been an Etsy seller for over 4 years now). The project didn’t have a go and I was left with a Newbie Etsy Guide on my hands. I decided to just list it in my shop (totally unrelated recycled products) and well, it has been one of my best sellers so far to the point that I wrote a second guide related to SEO and now I am thinking of extending the series into a short online course.
It really is amazing to use all of your talents in your business, you never know what will work and what won’t!
That sounds so nice, congratulations! Good luck with your shop 😀
Your Etsy shop is so much fun! Love your photos.
Thanks for sharing your experience selling something totally unrelated to your other products. What a cool story! I love that you’re expanding it into a series…I always say, “do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.” Go for it!
Dear April,
Thanks for this post. Do you know how funny it is that a year ago I learned to crochet beads and now I can’t stop crocheting yarn, even though when I started my business it had nothing to do with yarn or clothing.
I think that I did try to separate my business from my studies, my writing and crochet, but I felt so torn, so unhappy doing it, that I decided recently, like you, that I should explore more and add it to my brand.
After all, like you said, this only makes our businesses stand out and every little thing you learn every day brings value to you, your loved ones and your clients 😉
Thank you for being awesome,
Andrea
That’s so interesting! I think all of these stories and experiences all mean the same thing: we shouldn’t be afraid of experimenting with something new.
So true! I think it’s better to differentiate ourselves naturally…by what we love. It makes our brands different and exciting.
Great post and lovely paintings, April! I am constantly combining my passions because I find that working across different fields allows me to find new ways to approach various tasks. I started as a painter, moved on to photography, design and video, but I utilise my painting skills when I create logos etc. When I set up a photo shoot, it often is just a big living canvas for me. Similar thing happens when I shoot a music video. I love exploring new areas. Thanks for inspiration, now I am lured by water colours:-) Michaela
Thanks Michaela! I think it’s so interesting how so many of us start with one thing, and then expand and expand, adding new creative mediums along the way. It makes the world a much more interesting place. 🙂
I love seeing your watercolor experiments on Instagram, and I’m so happy that you’ve embraced it as your medium 🙂
I’m a huge fan as well, and I’ve started incorporating more and more into my design work.
I’d have to mention though that Leonie Dawson also combines those elements (and video) in her business, but in the recent years it’s been mostly family & quirky selfies phone shots that she shares when it comes to photography 🙂
But she has her distinct style and you have yours, so your point is still valid.
I love incorporating art into our businesses because it helps you develop that style that helps you stand out.
Thanks Nela!
I would never compare myself to Leonie Dawson–mostly because we take very very very different approaches but I understand what you mean. And, by photography, I mean the styled shoots that I do for specifically for blog posts and speaking slides. A huge part of my business is photography…not photos of me but photos that I take. 🙂 Anyways, I think we’re both on the same page: that there are hundreds (if not thousands) of business coaches/consultants and the more parts of me in my business = less like any other business.
So agree! I’ve enjoyed incorporating photography into Blacksburg Belle from day one and now watercolor. Yay!
Hi April!
I’m so selfishly happy you found it! I mean it, because all that work I’ve been seeing at your IG really made me very happy. The colors, the shapes, the way everything fits together. You have a gift!
Thank you for this amazing post, it is very encouraging for me, I may even try watercolor (my mind has been secretly obssesed with it for a few months). In my nature is doodling.
I’m working on a way to mix all my parts together… we’ll see where I end up.
How intriguing that CL course!!! I’ve watched all of yours and will watch that one too. I wish I could be part of the live audience but I live soooo far… Someday maybe! 🙂
Awwwww…thanks Amelia! That makes me so happy.
Try out watercolors. Experiment experiment experiment! It’s how we find the stuff we love.
You should try to be a part of one of the live audiences. It’s an amazing experience (and you get lots of traffic and promotion for your own business by being in the audience). One of my audience members flew from Canada and she says it was definitely worth it. 🙂
These are beautiful! It’s obvious you’ve found ‘your’ way with watercolours. I particularly love that last image.
When I was just starting, I didn’t understand the concept of bringing all of myself to what I do. I actually don’t remember seeing anyone talking about it either. I couldn’t see how to bring in the things I love, that mean the most to me, that feel like essential parts of me, so I thought I’d just have to keep them separate. Gradually over the years I’ve been bringing more and more of myself into my work; I take a lot of photos of the sea and have found ways to bring that in, and to develop my website into the digital equivalent of a beach house where you can stop by and play with art supplies! I love that you’ve written about this and demonstrated it so well. It’s so worth staying open to ways to connect up things that on the face of it don’t seem to be connected.
Thanks Tara! I’m just starting out but I feel like I’ve found a groove already.
Thanks for sharing your experience. In the beginning, it’s kinda like a puzzle. You don’t know how to fit it all together or if you even can, but if you keep at it, it’ll start to come together. It took a while for me to fit all the pieces together, too. It’s not easy but it’s well worth it. I’m so glad that you’ve figured it out for yourself!
Your paintings are so happy! I can see you coming through in them.
I haven’t painted in watercolors since high school art class, but I did love it. Unfortunately I had one of those art teachers who told me I should find something to do with my life besides art so I dropped things for many years. Working in polymer clay revived my passion. There is something about find YOUR medium.
Thanks Marie!
Oh no…that’s awful. When I was student teaching in college, the teacher told me not to become a teacher and it’s one of the reasons that I got my master’s degree in social work instead. I wonder if mentors/teachers know how much the comments they make to us affect us and our decisions.
I’m so glad that you found your way back to creating. 🙂
Love your last point about putting oneself more in our businesses… isn’t that the point of owning a business… to have that freedom to be oneself fully in all parts? I definitely struggle with the issue of wanting to compartmentalize – maybe because people always say focus and think about that specific audience and perfect customer that likes xyz… it’s hard to shift out of that focus sometimes!
When I first started my business, multiple mentors/business leaders said something similar, “Focus on one thing.” “You have to pick ONE thing to build your business around.”
The first person I gave the opposite advice I came across was Marie Forleo. And, I love her for it. She talked about how she incorporated her love of dance and hip hop into her business. I thought, “If she can make it work, so can I.”
Now I know that it makes your business better–it helps you to stand out. 🙂
I thought I recognized Yao’s influence – she makes watercolor fun AND accessible. I love the personal style that is coming through in your work, too…
Blessings!
Cindy
I’m so grateful to Yao for teaching watercolor courses, because it helped me to realize how much I love it.
Thanks!
Beautiful!
I’ve been noticing your watercolour style emerging on instagram, and I LOVE it. It suits you completely: light and elegant but also sweet and fun. I think you *have* found your art soulmate.
xo
K
PS – CREATIVE LIVE!!
I’m so excited, and hopeful that I can come join the CL party again. So much has happened in my life and business since last November, when we all met in San Francisco for your digital products and unique biz courses, and even MORE has changed since I tuned in to your blogging course from my little office in Canada.
You’re an unbelievable booster, supporter and teacher. Thanks April! Now…I want to see those workbooks!
April! This is great news! I know its exciting to discover “new” passions for ourselves. And then to be able to share them with others through our business is the cherry on top! I’ve been telling people for years how therapeutic I believe watercolors can be. I use my own watercolor art in my Life Coaching business and can attest to how much soul and uniqueness it can bring to the table — offering something no one else has! Enjoy this new venture and I can’t wait to see how you decide to utilize more of your creative genius for your clients’ benefit! <3 Julie
Thanks Julie! For me, watercolors are definitely therapeutic. I get lost in them for hours and they make me so happy. 🙂
Thanks for sharing how you use art and watercolor in your business.
Thanks Kris!
I so hope you can make it to SF for my next CL course. It’s going to be a totally different experience…or at least I hope so. Starting with the workbook…I’ve already spent about 30 hours just on the workbook and it’s not even close to finished. YAY!
April, You just solved a dilemma for me! I adore _looking_ at watercolor – elements on the web, surface patterns, but also always shied away. My medium has been acrylics and BIG, FABULOUS 30×40 (or larger) canvases, because I love the scale and the movement involved in the process. But, this summer I’m going to be moving around on a small sailboat for a while, and my heart was aching a bit as I realized: no room for a huge canvas!
Now you’ve just inspired the next step and it clicked into place that the time is right for me to begin playing with watercolor. And yes, I’ve suspected it’s about the paint quality and colors – it is amazing what is available now.
I check in to see what’s happening in your business blogging world, but this so eloquently reminded me about how we need to nourish and grow ourselves as well as our business, hopefully both at once! And you “illustrate” that here beautifully.
I’m headed to Blick for supplies. Thanks again.
YAY!!! I’m so glad I’ve inspired you. I hope you really enjoy playing with watercolors this summer.
It’s very true that we need to nourish and grow ourselves. Something feels like it’s missing when we don’t.
Have fun at Blick!
Watercolor is absolutely my favorite! I just bought a travel watercolor set by Koi and am hoping to do some watercolor paintings on a trip to England later this summer. Most of my creative endeavors have been put aside while I finish my masters. No brain power or energy left to be creative after all that research. But I will be done on July 27th and can’t wait to get back to scrapbooking, drawing, and trying some watercolor!
Also, love that you encourage a broad spectrum of interests in a business! I am in love with so many things…writing, web design, sketching…and I was struggling trying to figure out how it all fit into my business plan wondering if I needed to narrow my focus. For now I’m just going to go with my passions, with what feels right, and what I love. “Love what you do. Do you what you love!” Thanks for the wonderful inspiration. I am forever a fan!
Oh how fun! I hope you enjoy your trip to England.
I understand having to set aside everything for grad school. Been there…done that! Congrats on finishing!!! That’s amazing.
Yessss! Don’t leave things out. You’ll figure out how to pull it all together. It takes brainstorming and you don’t always get it right in the beginning, but if you keep at it, you’ll definitely figure it out.
THANKS!
A big YES from me on all the things you said! As a multi-passionate, I’ve heard it over and over (and over) that I should concentrate on one thing at once, decide the one thing I wanted to do in life, and leave everything else to the side or as a hobby. And whenever I tried to do that, I felt like a piece of me was missing.
Now I’m trying to bring more and more of all my different passions into my business. Haven’t found the way to bring is my singing yet, but I’m sure it will become a part of it somehow :). B-school (and the mastermind with you guys) really shifted something in me, and I’m so glad it did. I’m more excited to build my own unique business than every before. And, for the first time the excitement overpowers the fear.
YES! I’m so happy to read this! I think we’ve all heard that advice. I know I have many times, but I love seeing the examples of successful people who don’t listen to it like Marie Forleo and Mayi Carles.
The more you = unique brand that no one can copy. 🙂
You’ll figure it out. It definitely takes time. I didn’t have it all figured out…and I’ll probably continue to come up with better ways to integrate my passions. It’s a learning process.
I’m rooting for you!
It’s so wonderful when we find something that brings joy into our lives. I totally get how it took looking at it a different way to find the joy in it. I love beads and beading, but the projects i was choosing to work on were very complicated and in depth, and even though i liked it, i dreaded starting projects because i didn’t feel i had the time it took to work on them.
Prepping for a big art festival, i had to come up with something that i could make a lot of quickly so i tried a couple of things and just fell in love with a new style (for me) of beading. It absolutely reinvigorated me.
Your watercolors are beautiful and i feel they really capture your gorgeous personality!
xo,
rs
Thanks for sharing this Richelle! I was wondering if other people found that to be true…that one way of doing something doesn’t connect with them the way another way does.
So happy to hear that a new style of beading reinvigorated you! 🙂
Thanks!
Beautiful!
I love how everything you do is so YOU. And I’m impressed that you bought proper supplies, because that really makes a huge difference.
Happy painting!
Thanks Ani! Yep…I’m a go big or go home kind of person. When I commit to something, I’ve got to do it right. (Sometimes drives my husband crazy but he’s learned to deal with it. Ha!)
Great post! Play is so important! And I think is instrumental in staying grounded. I wrote a bit about it this week to 🙂 p.s. Happy 1 year anniversary since your first Creative Live class! Looking forward to hearing about the next one and learning more from you.
YES! Thanks Shasta!
I’m excited to come back to San Francisco. 🙂
While I do consider myself an artist, though not a traditional one by any means, watercolor was never my go to medium. Until… I discovered watercolor pencils. I love them. I can apply the paint where I want it darkest directly on the page and then with a little water dilute the color around the page until it comes out how I like. Since I discovered the pencils, I have been incorporating them into my art more and more. It’s a lot of fun.
I’ve used watercolor pens but not pencils. It’s very interesting to me how one way of doing something appeals to one person but not another…we’ve just to figure out what we enjoy. It’s all about experimenting and not doing it one way just because that’s what other people do. Thanks for sharing!
YAY for this post! I’ve experimented with so many different crafts, (necklaces, light switch plates, journals, wine charms) but none of them were a perfect fit.
Meanwhile, I’ve always enjoyed writing, movies and self help and as you know, this was the year I peeked out of my comfort zone and took the plunge into combing all of those bits of me into one online space. Your business tips have been a huge part of that journey and I’m totally delighted to see you talking about it here. Get out of my head April!!! LOL. And keep your watercolor swirls coming. They make your blog and instagram such a pleasant retreat from the rest of the internet 🙂
Thank you so much, Julie! It’s so wonderful when we finally figure out the “right” thing for ourselves…and how to combine our passions into something we can share with others. So happy for you!
I love this sooooo much! I dabble in so many things, but I hardly mention them on my blog. But I started jumping in….and showing off my mug collection, and the nerdy things I pick up here & there, and the books I buy, etc. I show off my macro photos of flowers, and through it all I’m developing my voice just a bit more. Watercolor is on my list, but I’ve been stalling deciding what paints to buy…hahaha I’m ridiculous.
CreativeLIVE!?!?!?!? Oh my gosh I told my Mom the other day that if you do another one I need to be there somehow! 😀
Thanks! Yes…it’s so true that when we share more of ourselves, it helps to develop our voices. You should absolutely play with watercolors. They are so much fun. I bought the Winsor Newton paints and love them! They are pricey but they’re worth it if you’re going to do a lot of watercolors.
I KNOW! We haven’t nailed down the date yet but tentatively, we’ve blocked off September 27th through October 1st and then we’re going to figure out how much time we need. 🙂
It would be awesome if you could be there!
oooohhhhhhh be still my heart….okay I need to try and figure out transport, and approximate fundage needed! Yeeeeks how exciting!!!
Thanks for sharing your love for watercolor painting with your business. I know nothing about paintings but your work is beautiful! I’m a photographer, but I teach senior citizens about digital photo organization at a local community college and have talked about that on my blog before. And I’m also thinking of other random ways to include myself on the blog, such as my passion for running. So thanks for sparking some ideas in my brain. All the best!