meet our webinar guest
STARLA BROWN
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I am a hand lettering and watercolor artist from the Pacific Northwest. I began lettering in 2016 as a way to immerse myself in scripture, finding that being creative was an amazing way to connect my head with my heart. Soon after, I began dabbling with watercolor as a way to draw attention to the scripture lettering posts on social media. My passion in watercolors is definitely loose florals, often putting those into wreathes. Having retired from my full-time social work career last fall, the fact that I get to devote much of my time now to this pursuit is both a surprise and a delight to me!
Instagram: @hopeinbloomstudio
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HopeInBloomStudio?ref=hdr_user_menu-shop
Facebook: Hope in Bloom Studio
Instagram: @hopeinbloomstudio
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HopeInBloomStudio?ref=hdr_user_menu-shop
Facebook: Hope in Bloom Studio
Can you tell us about your introduction to art? How did you know you had a creative gift?
Quite honestly, I have never felt like much of an artist. I apparently did not impress my elementary school art teachers with my dazzling talent! In fact, I distinctly recall some rather discouraging comments that caused me to conclude I was not at all artistic. I did try my hand at traditional calligraphy as a teenager and continued to dabble in that here and there. Then, in late 2015, I noticed a friend posting some of her brush lettering on Instagram and I reached out to her to learn more. I was hooked! I loved that when I lettered out scripture creatively, it seemed to connect my head with my heart. It was really a form of meditation on these beautiful words. About a year later I began branching out to try watercolor florals to pair with my lettering and was completely captured by this combo! The florals seemed to call even greater attention to the words and my posts on social media platforms began producing comments indicating that people were being encouraged by these pieces. And they also used words like “gifted” and “talented!” I slowly began to believe that God had really called me to be creative after all!
The year 2015 also was the year that my husband, an RN, became disabled. Art, which was a passion of his also, was an activity I could do in the evenings after work, being in the same room with him and spending time that way. I was actually doing just that the evening, this past September, when he suffered a heart attack here at home and unexpectedly (to me, at least!) went home to be with Jesus. It has now become a way to work through that loss and to honor him as well.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
Selling my art was not even on my radar when I first began hand lettering. I did give into a request to teach a workshop fairly early on and I did so because I wanted to help others discover what I had discovered - that lettering scripture was an amazing way to spend time in God’s word and that each of us were created to create by our Creator. I was blown away when 30 women showed up at that workshop!
I was equally surprised when I began to get requests for custom orders. Eventually, through taking Shelley Hitz’s Etsy Entrepreneur online course, I mustered up the courage to open my Etsy shop with a few offerings.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
One of the most common misunderstandings I encounter is that because I am able to letter and paint that I am able to draw and produce, on demand, any style of art they request. I am having to constantly explain that my focus is fairly narrow in scope and that if they are looking for something outside of that, they probably need to seek out another artist who’s scope is wider!
Quite honestly, I have never felt like much of an artist. I apparently did not impress my elementary school art teachers with my dazzling talent! In fact, I distinctly recall some rather discouraging comments that caused me to conclude I was not at all artistic. I did try my hand at traditional calligraphy as a teenager and continued to dabble in that here and there. Then, in late 2015, I noticed a friend posting some of her brush lettering on Instagram and I reached out to her to learn more. I was hooked! I loved that when I lettered out scripture creatively, it seemed to connect my head with my heart. It was really a form of meditation on these beautiful words. About a year later I began branching out to try watercolor florals to pair with my lettering and was completely captured by this combo! The florals seemed to call even greater attention to the words and my posts on social media platforms began producing comments indicating that people were being encouraged by these pieces. And they also used words like “gifted” and “talented!” I slowly began to believe that God had really called me to be creative after all!
The year 2015 also was the year that my husband, an RN, became disabled. Art, which was a passion of his also, was an activity I could do in the evenings after work, being in the same room with him and spending time that way. I was actually doing just that the evening, this past September, when he suffered a heart attack here at home and unexpectedly (to me, at least!) went home to be with Jesus. It has now become a way to work through that loss and to honor him as well.
Did you ever think you’d be selling your art, or teaching art?
Selling my art was not even on my radar when I first began hand lettering. I did give into a request to teach a workshop fairly early on and I did so because I wanted to help others discover what I had discovered - that lettering scripture was an amazing way to spend time in God’s word and that each of us were created to create by our Creator. I was blown away when 30 women showed up at that workshop!
I was equally surprised when I began to get requests for custom orders. Eventually, through taking Shelley Hitz’s Etsy Entrepreneur online course, I mustered up the courage to open my Etsy shop with a few offerings.
What are some of the biggest challenges you have in explaining what you do to others who don’t find themselves in a creative background or field? Life family/friends/strangers?
One of the most common misunderstandings I encounter is that because I am able to letter and paint that I am able to draw and produce, on demand, any style of art they request. I am having to constantly explain that my focus is fairly narrow in scope and that if they are looking for something outside of that, they probably need to seek out another artist who’s scope is wider!
How do you encounter the Lord in your creativity?
As I’ve already mentioned, it is truly an opportunity to steep in His word. He also quiets my heart and helps me to listen as I paint. And He also uses my art to speak to others who need to hear the words that I’m lettering.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
Some of my favorite things to paint are watercolor wreaths into which I can insert a verse or quote. And loose watercolor florals bring me a lot of joy!
Are others in your family creative too?
My husband was an amazing watercolor artist - naturally talented and our daughter inherited his artistic gift. Although she is busy raising three boys right now, she can seemingly effortlessly sit down and whip out a watercolor piece or a drawing, and she does lettering also!
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I continue to ask Him to use whatever I do to bring glory to Him and to share His word with people who need to hear it. Now that I’ve retired from my full time social work job, I look forward to putting more prints in my Etsy shop, selling my art locally and possibly doing some small workshops to teach lettering and watercolor.
How did you become productive and abundant in your artwork/and where do you see it going from here?
Making a practice of creating something every day. Drawing inspiration from artists I admire and taking their workshops, watching their tutorials and process videos.
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
There are wonderful classes and books both for learning watercolor and lettering and for learning the business side of things. I recommend checking out Jenna Rainey, Peggy Dean, and Amanda Arneill to name just a few.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Remember that your creative journey is not going to look like anyone else’s. Resist the temptation to compare yourself with others. God has called you to do what you are doing - don’t try to walk in someone else’s calling!
As I’ve already mentioned, it is truly an opportunity to steep in His word. He also quiets my heart and helps me to listen as I paint. And He also uses my art to speak to others who need to hear the words that I’m lettering.
What are your favorite ways to express your creativity?
Some of my favorite things to paint are watercolor wreaths into which I can insert a verse or quote. And loose watercolor florals bring me a lot of joy!
Are others in your family creative too?
My husband was an amazing watercolor artist - naturally talented and our daughter inherited his artistic gift. Although she is busy raising three boys right now, she can seemingly effortlessly sit down and whip out a watercolor piece or a drawing, and she does lettering also!
What do you feel God is calling you to in this season with your creativeness?
I continue to ask Him to use whatever I do to bring glory to Him and to share His word with people who need to hear it. Now that I’ve retired from my full time social work job, I look forward to putting more prints in my Etsy shop, selling my art locally and possibly doing some small workshops to teach lettering and watercolor.
How did you become productive and abundant in your artwork/and where do you see it going from here?
Making a practice of creating something every day. Drawing inspiration from artists I admire and taking their workshops, watching their tutorials and process videos.
Some practical steps you'd encourage other creatives to take to become productive and learn business skills etc.?
There are wonderful classes and books both for learning watercolor and lettering and for learning the business side of things. I recommend checking out Jenna Rainey, Peggy Dean, and Amanda Arneill to name just a few.
Any encouraging words, words of wisdom from what you've learned to help other creatives on their journey to being abundant and thriving artists/creatives/makers?
Remember that your creative journey is not going to look like anyone else’s. Resist the temptation to compare yourself with others. God has called you to do what you are doing - don’t try to walk in someone else’s calling!