When people ask me about becoming an artist, I often start with a confession: I first picked up a paintbrush in 2015 and then promptly put it down two weeks later. Not the inspiring beginning you were expecting, right?
Like many aspiring artists, I had bought into the familiar lies. You know the ones - that creativity requires natural talent, that everything needs to be perfect from the start, that some people just "don't have what it takes." After all, as we often tell ourselves, "I can't even draw a stick figure."
But sometimes life has different plans. 2016 turned out to be the hardest year of my life, and in the midst of that struggle, something unexpected happened - I picked up a paintbrush again. This time was different. The need for perfection had fallen away, replaced by simple joy in the process.
Watercolor became my lifeline. I would sit at my kitchen table for hours, listening to audiobooks while watching colors swirl and blend on paper. There was something deeply healing and peaceful about it that transformed my life in ways I never expected.
An Unexpected Path
Life has a way of surprising us. I went from pursuing a master's degree in international humanitarian law to selling paintings and teaching small in-person workshops. By the end of 2019, I had transitioned to teaching full-time, discovering a passion not just for creating art, but for sharing the joy of creativity with others.
Then 2020 happened.
As my carefully-built business ground to a halt during the shutdowns, I pivoted to teaching online.
It took time to figure out this new digital landscape, but in 2021 I launched The Garden Studio, my private botanical watercolor membership.
Today, I release new content weekly to hundreds of amazing members who constantly inspire me with their enthusiasm and growth. Their progress proves what I've always believed: hard work plus desire is the formula that makes anything possible.
Beyond the Canvas
My creative journey has expanded beyond teaching. I paint and release collections of artwork, license art and patterns to companies and stores, and remain committed to continuous learning and growth. But perhaps the most significant change has been in how I tell my story.
I used to emphasize the external achievements - the travels, the experiences, the milestones. But lately, I've been learning the power of authentic connection. I'm embracing all aspects of myself: the confident and the uncertain, the humorous and the serious, the perfectly imperfect human being behind the paintbrush.
Finding Purpose in Creation
My experiences have given me unique insight into how perfectionism can constrain creative dreams - and the freedom waiting on the other side. Through personal experience, I've discovered that the joy and peace found in creating points to a deeper truth: we were created to create.
At the center of my story is my faith - the understanding that I was created by a loving God who planted creativity deep in my heart. Through Jesus, I've found sufficiency beyond my own limitations, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.
By resting and recharging through acts of creativity, I’m leaning into my purpose and doing exactly what I was designed to do.
Life as a Creative Entrepreneur
These days, no two days look alike - and that's exactly how I like it! You might find me painting new collections, filming courses, answering student emails, or experimenting with new supplies. Sometimes I work from a cozy spot on the couch with my laptop, but more often I'm in my home office with music playing, coffee at hand, and trying to keep my two pups Ranger and Charlie from seeing the squirrels out the window.
I love helping other creative entrepreneurs navigate their own journeys, showing them how to share their unique gifts with the world. I love hearing stories from my students about how the practice and peace of watercolor has changed their lives. Because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that when you embrace your authentic self and purpose, the most extraordinary things become possible.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, Alex Kincaid is a watercolor artist, teacher, and founder of The Garden Studio. Through her work, she helps others discover the joy of creativity and build fulfilling artistic lives.
