Why I Nearly Gave Up My Art Business

There was a point when I nearly threw in the towel on my art career because I felt like a fraud.

It wasn’t about the paintings themselves. It was about the person I felt I was presenting alongside them.

I talk a lot about calm. About slowing down, finding stillness and creating a comforting Australian country home. Those feelings are at the heart of my artwork, and I love sharing them.

But somewhere along the way, I started to feel as though I was coming across as an expert in living that way. As though my own life was peaceful and unhurried, and I had it all figured out.

The reality? I’m a bit of a whirlwind.

The Life Behind the Paintings

As you may already know, I’m a mum in my mid 30s (well almost closer to 40 😉) with what feels like every family member’s planner stored in my brain. I’m building and running Young by Design, coaching other artists as they build their own art businesses, and helping run our small farm.

There’s a lot going on. And I’m often overstimulated, overtired, with a mind already moving on to whatever needs doing next.

Farm life is wonderful. There are quiet, still moments here that inspire my paintings. But those moments aren’t my reality all day, every day.

For a while, that difference really troubled me.

I felt like I was wearing a hat that didn’t quite belong to me. How could I talk about slow living and peaceful homes when I was finding it so difficult to slow down myself?

It became uncomfortable enough that I questioned whether I wanted to keep doing this at all.

What Happens When I Paint

When I paint, though, I can feel something shift.

The quiet gives my mind enough space to settle. I can hear my own thoughts again, instead of constantly keeping track of what everyone needs and where we all need to be.

Painting brings out the stillness and peace in me that I crave.

That feeling is real. It’s there while I’m creating the mist, the countryside and the gentle light in my landscapes. And it’s the feeling I hope someone else finds when they spend a moment with the finished painting in their own home.

I’m becoming more comfortable saying that I have a chaotic life and that I find peace in my work. Both are true, and I can share both honestly.

Finding Calm in My Australian Country Home

There are moments at home when I feel it too.

I’ll have a little time to myself, sit down and look around at the comforting Australian country home I’ve created. For that moment, I feel completely at peace in the space around me.

For me, country style is about the things that make a home feel personal and lived in. Natural textures, grounding colours, pieces with a story and an appreciation for the craftsmanship that went into making them.

Our home still holds our busy family life. There are things to do, and someone will need something from me soon enough. Country living certainly doesn’t mean everything moves slowly. But in those little pauses, I can appreciate the comfort of being here.

That’s the feeling I’ve been trying to share when I talk about creating a calming home. I can see now how easily that might have sounded like a picture of my whole life. I feel much more confident and comfortable being open about everything around those moments too.

Art That Becomes Part of Your Home’s Story

One of the most heart warming parts of being an artist is knowing that a painting I created during a quiet moment here, can become part of someone else’s home.

Perhaps it’s a heritage home filled with memories, or a newer home where someone is finding their own expression of Australian country style. Either way, I love knowing my artwork can sit amongst the things that make that space theirs.

An heirloom piece passed down through the family. A well-loved chair. Something handmade, chosen for its craftsmanship. And a landscape that reminds them of somewhere they feel most themselves.

Collectors have shared with me time and time again how their artwork has become a meaningful part of their home. They tell me what first drew them to the landscape, the place or feeling it brings to mind, and how much they enjoy seeing it every day. Hearing their stories has shown me how a painting becomes woven into someone’s life.

It's an incredible feeling knowing the peace I found while painting carries through into the homes where my work lives. Hearing about how one of my artworks brings a sense of calm to their space and gives them a moment to pause. Knowing that something I created brings that comfort to someone else is one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist and why I am so thankful I didn't give it up.

So if you are still here reading this blog, thank you! 

Thank you for your continued support and allowing my art to help tell your story in your homes.