Meet Sarah Simon | Artist and author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sarah Simon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
In many ways, it wasn’t incredibly thought out. It was more of a hope, a dream, a “I’ll try this, take a leap and we will see how it goes!”

I have always been creative and I have always enjoyed with my hands – whether it’s drawing or weeding in the garden. It’s when I feel the most like ME. Growing up I always wanted to be an artist, but when I went to college, I chose a ‘sensible’ degree because I’m the oldest of five kids and frankly, I had a lot of bills and debt to pay.

I needed a career path that felt solid, and secure – with a promise of a job at the end of my studies. So I chose Economics (which I also really enjoyed!) and worked for several years in different firms. During that time I didn’t create much. At that point in my life I didn’t yet understand the intrinsic value of creating art, that there was value in pursuing dreams, taking a leap of faith. It’s amazing how inside my heart there was always just a little sadness. I would see other creatives living their joy and being in art shows, and I was so happy for them on the outside, but I felt like I died a little bit inside because I wanted to do it myself so badly.

It took me falling: actually breaking my foot and spraining my ankle, to finally get back to creating. I was wearing flip-flops and missed half of a stair on vacation in the Florida Keys with my fiancé. When we flew back to Seattle, with me in a boot and crutches, in the dead of winter, I was not able to get around on weekends. I had to sit still…and to this day, I am so thankful for this! My best friend, who happened to actually major in Fine Art, dragged me to the art store and took the cart around as I crutched behind her. She kept saying, “You need this, you need this. Sarah, you’ve been broken and now you get to create.”

She got it right and really reignited the spark in my heart to begin creating again. There are so many obstacles in a creative’s path. It really took that fall to begin again and start my art career. And then, after a few years of painting on the side, our entire Human Resources department was laid off. Collecting unemployment, as a young wife and new mama, it felt like the right time to really give Etsy and painting a chance. My plan was to start my art business, then whatever money I made I would use to pay for my supplies. I felt too guilty using money that should be paying bills for my art. Again, I didn’t understand then how important mental health and investing in your creativity for its own sake was. Now I know better, and I would encourage anyone and everyone to always invest in themselves, even if it won’t “pay the bills!”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I want watercolor, and art in general, to be approachable. That was one of the obstacles I just could not face when I had stopped creating and then was trying to get back into the art world. It felt incredibly overwhelming, like a cool kids club that I didn’t have the secret handshake for. Investing in the supplies and tools takes time and expense, and when you’re investing money in a new skill set, you want to be successful right away. But really, like we all know, the best way to be successful is by allowing yourself to play. And anything worth doing well, takes time, and a LOT of grace with yourself as you learn. In order to allow yourself this freedom to play, your materials have to be affordable. That way supplies don’t feel precious, so we can play, make mistakes, take risks – and when we make a LOT of art in this playful state, that’s when we start to really find something that feels good.

I strive to make art accessible to as many creatives as possible so I love the idea of removing obstacles. Often, sourcing the best and correct materials for a new art form can feel more daunting than the act of painting itself. Paper is the most important tool when it comes to watercolor, so it was a dream to build the Watercolor Workbook series with such incredibly high quality wood-free watercolor paper actually bound in the book. By adding the best paper on the market to my books, I was able to remove the obstacles of finding paper on your own, and we made it affordable. It feels so good to make a book like this! Inviting everyone interested in watercolor to the table is my jam!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Charleston, and the surrounding areas, are some of my favorite places on earth! In the city, I’d suggest 82 Queen or Frannie & the Fox for brunch, strolling along Queen and King street for shopping and taking in the beauty of the homes and local culture. Shop Candlefish and Juliska’s are two of my favorite shops. A stroll down Rainbow Row is mandatory, and I do love the timeworn little Stoll’s alley as a fun cut through to discover, because you feel a bit like you’re traveling through time. When people visit it’s always fun to hop on a carriage ride, and enjoy the city from another perspective, plus the history you hear during the tour is insightful and adds depth to your time here. Dinner at Church & Union or Poogan’s Porch is always wonderful, and if you can swing Husk in beforehand for a delightful happy hour – it’s a must! Bin 152 for wine and cheese afterwards is a wonderful way to end the evening.

For other event-filled days, in the areas surrounding Charleston, I’d suggest:
– a picnic at Sullivan’s Island beach, with dinner at the Wreck of Richard & Charlene
– exploring the small town of Summerville. Bexley’s and La Rustica are two of the BEST restaurants anywhere!
– Cypress Gardens for a self-guided row around the swamps to spot and enjoy the local flora and fauna.
– Audubon Gardens at the Magnolia Plantation

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
SO MANY friends and family members, and now my online creative community. I would not be here without them!

I’d like to shoutout to my online painting club community on Patreon: The #flowerpaintingclub. They are the first lovely little group of people that try out my painting tutorials, attend my art retreats, and show up to support me in all of my endeavors. patreon.com/themintgardener

Website: themintgardener.com/links

Instagram: themintgardener

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sesimon/

Facebook: facebook.com/themintgardener

Image Credits
Photographers: Mark Mandi and Steph Bailey