From Corporate Life to Creating Artist Tools: A Full Circle Journey
"When I grow up, I'm going to be an artist!"
I announced this to my kindergarten class with the kind of unshakeable confidence only a 4-year-old can muster. My path to actually becoming an artist? Well, that turned out to be a bit more complicated than tiny-me imagined.
The Scenic Route to Art-Making
For 20 years, I navigated the corporate world of retail visual merchandising. From department store displays to regional directing, I climbed that ladder like it was my job (because, well, it was). But somewhere between floor plan presentations and quarterly merchandising audits, that little kid's dream kept tugging at my sleeve.
When I finally stepped away from corporate life, I thought I knew exactly what kind of artist I'd be. I had visions of paintbrushes, printing presses, and illustration work. Pottery? That wasn't even on my radar. In fact, it was the one art class I never took.
Life's funny that way.
Finding Clay (Or Did Clay Find Me?)
You might already know this part of the story - how making ceramic buttons for a knitting pattern book led me to fall head over heels for clay. How one small project snowballed into a full-time pottery studio. How corporate skills turned out to be surprisingly useful in building an art-based business.
But here's the thing about being an artist - you never really let go of any of your creative loves. They just shift and evolve.
Coming Full Circle
That's exactly why I'm so excited to introduce our newest additions to the Gravesco family: handcrafted brush cups and a curated collection of Push/Pull artisan watercolors.
The brush cups were born from my own experience returning to painting as a meditative practice. There's something so special about sitting down with beautiful tools and materials - it turns an ordinary creative session into a ritual. Each cup is thrown on the wheel with gentle ribbing for grip and a notched rim that cradles your brush between strokes. No more brushes rolling away while you're in the zone. Available in gloss white, cream matte, and black matte, they're designed to make your creative time feel as special as it is.
And those Push/Pull watercolors? They're the real deal. Made by artists in Seattle who share our dedication to quality and sustainability, each color is handcrafted using pure artist pigments, honey, essential oils, and natural binders. They're packaged in recycled bottle caps - a perfect blend of eco-consciousness and indie spirit. It's like punk rock for your palette.
Why These Matter
When you're juggling life, work, and creative pursuits, it's easy to put your art on the back burner. I know - I did it for years. But having beautiful, thoughtfully made tools can be the nudge you need to make time for creativity. It's not about being fancy - it's about honoring that part of yourself that still wants to make things, just because.
That 4-year-old who declared she'd be an artist? She didn't know the path would include corporate careers, clay-covered aprons, or creating tools for other artists. But I think she'd be pretty pleased with how things turned out.
Ready to Make Some Art?
Our brush cups and Push/Pull watercolors are available now in the shop. Each piece is made by hand, with care and attention to detail that only other artists would obsess over. Because when you finally carve out that time to create, your tools should be as special as your creative spirit.
SHOP THE COLLECTION
Want to see these pieces in action? Visit our studio at 1501 E Michigan Street in Indianapolis. We'd love to show you how these tools can enhance your creative practice.
