Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Maria DeVito Palmer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

For 27 years, essentially my entire prior professional life, I worked in Retail Operations for a major supermarket. I loved my job. It revolved around a very entrepreneurial corporate mindset and I enjoyed the mentorship and empowerment of a fast paced, excellence driven company. I thrived in the everyday world of providing an amazing customer experience in a nourishing cultural environment and I adored the team that I worked with and for.

Then Covid happened. The retail world (especially the food front lines) changed dramatically. I had always spent my free time creating and even sold some art as a side hustle. As the pandemic progressed, I found that my art was no longer a sometimes hobby; it became a therapeutic release from the stress of my full time job and the more I painted, the more I embraced art as a celebration. It was the light I needed at the time and sharing that was so rewarding. As I poured more of myself into my art, and began sharing it more through social media, demand grew. The first seeds of the idea of creating as a full time job sprouted.

As the pandemic wound down, I was presented with an opportunity to take the next step in my career in my current job or step away and into something different. I took a huge risk, left my corporate career and picked up my paintbrush full time. I had just about six months to make my art into a full time career before deciding if I needed to seek another full time position.

That was 2021, and three years later, the risk has paid off. I have carved out a space for myself in the New England maker market scene and love what I do every day. It’s been challenging, and I will never let go of what I gained (and learned!) in my previous life but, this transition continually reaffirms for me that taking that risk was worth it.

Maria, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am a self-taught artist & designer embracing vibrant colors, inspiring words and everyday subjects in colorful expression. My work includes original art and prints, custom commissions, event décor and details, and an extensive line of stationery and gifts. I work mainly in watercolor and acrylics, although I reserve the right to swerve unexpectedly.

Growing up in Woodstock, VT, my parents afforded me the opportunity to pursue creativity and art. I leaned into this and explored every medium I could. About eight years ago, I focused on watercolor and joyful art as an expression of everyday celebrations. My body of work is a love letter to the places, people and experiences that have shaped my journey. My goal is to bring joy to the everyday through colorful, uplifting art and design.

I work with clients to design, or utilize my existing catalog, to bring color and curated design to personal, business and celebrations through art. I currently offer a selection of stationery and gifts that feature my work. I work with clients that would like to customize their special events with details incorporating art that expresses their personalities, favorite places, and vision. This includes wedding invitations, correspondence, gifts, and event accessories. I love working with clients to develop their vision into a final product that brings them joy and shares their love,

I am most proud of the moment when a client sees their visions of the perfect gift or event come to life. ” This is just what I envisioned! ” Being the conduit to provide a highly personalized experience both for my client and their guests or gift recipients is what brings me joy. I strive to make the process a true collaboration with a final product that feels authentic to your voice, brand or special occasion.

I work for my art to express the celebration of the everyday in all the products in my collection. Whether it is details for a once in a lifetime event, a simple thank you note or print to hang in your home, I work for my art to express joy and uplift. I enjoy the in-person experience of meeting my customers and seeing firsthand their enthusiasm when they find the perfect card (“my aunt loves birds!”) or a print for their home (“we love these landscapes! they look just like where we were married in VT!). These moments are incredibly rewarding for me, and I work to make my art approachable and accessible so these moments can happen all the time! I love when customers make requests (please paint pasta! we need more dogs!) and the ongoing internal conversation about what to create next is heavily influenced by these conversations.

I currently live in New Hampshire, and having grown up in Vermont, a lot of my work embraces the vistas of Vermont and the coastal vibe of the east coast. I’m also never not dreaming of my favorite place in the world (St John USVI) so there is definitely a tropical spin on a good portion of my original art. Being an East Coast girl, there is also a healthy dose of irreverence and humor in a lot of my art. After all, joy and laughter are best friends.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Find your people!

Early on in my artistic journey, I felt this was a solitary pursuit. My art, in my time, alone. After a career where I never worked alone, once I began this journey full time, I was immediately starved for a collaborative workspace. I struggled with motivation, inspiration and executing my vision without a team.

Luckily, I found the Women’s Business League, and as uncomfortable as networking had always been for me, it was a life saver. I found a support system that nourished and empowered me to embrace my ambition. Through seeking out like-minded, female small business owners I found connection, accountability and support.

The commitment to supporting others has only grown for me since then. I have built a market family through the community of other creatives in my area. I think it is so easy to look at others who do what you do as competition, but it is just the opposite- building these relationships has expanded and enhanced my business exponentially. The consistent feedback loop that this provides, as well as an abundance of love that comes with it, is one of the best parts of this creative life.

Being vulnerable and seeking a support network as a small businesswoman is the most valuable investment I have made in my growing company and myself.

Is there a mission driving your creative journey?

The mission of my creative journey is to embrace the celebration of the every day. Through art that is approachable and authentic, I work to emphasize the idea that the things that surround us in the everyday should provide joy and uplift. I believe, and work to provide, an experience that makes special occasions (large and small) a memorable and highly personal event- for the giver and recipient. I hope that my art makes you smile, my cards help you share love and support, and my gift items and event details help you create an experience that brings joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: mariadevitopalmer.com
• Instagram: mdpdesigns mariadevitopalmer
• Facebook: MDP Designs
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-devito-palmer-a6ab147/