We recently connected with Erika Barriga and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Erika, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I had a lot of resistance with watercolor painting because I wanted to jump straight into making beautiful work and avoid the messy middle learning curve part. So that kept me on the sidelines, watching from a distance and not taking action. I always heard that watercolor was the hardest medium and that kept me frozen.

I read about watercolors, talked to my friends about watercolor work I loved and eventually a friend of mine invited me to go to a painting class with her at a local arts and crafts store. We painted two subjects: a birthday flower and a landscape. It was amazing! Afterward we were running around the store buying supplies and then I kept buying books too; trying to piece the essentials from the books together for making watercolor illustrations instead of figure drawing or realistic portraits. I watched YouTube videos and studied the work of artists I loved but what helped me learn the most was taking the time to paint.

When I stopped being precious about “wasting paints and paper”, that was when I really started understanding what was happening on the page. Having that change in perspective was huge because the time and materials aren’t wasted, it is all a learning process and that process gets you closer to improving in your craft. My friends, also caught up in demanding tech jobs, were craving more creativity and fun in their lives. I started showing them individually how to watercolor paint and that’s why I started an online art membership called The Playful Painter Art Club where other women can learn how to paint in an easy, fun and playful way. It’s everything I wish I knew when I started painting instead of buying way too many paints, brushes, books and more.

I think having color mixing skills is the most essential because the sky is the limit. The more muscle memory you have while painting, the more enjoyable it is. And the more satisfied you will be with your work. When I started, I approached paintings like crayons. Using every color I had. But now I know how wonderful a limited color palette can be and how many colors you can get out of a sky blue, a peacock blue, a navy, a yellow ochre and a coral.

The obstacles that stood in my way of learning more was thinking that I didn’t have enough time. I would wait for a perfect stretch of at least 2 hours to really sit down and create. That just isn’t a reality for me, especially as a mom, so I purposely have my set up simple and easily accessible on my desk so I can sit and create whenever I have time.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Erika Barriga and I am a watercolor illustrator, painter and I teach how to watercolor paint as well. I live in Denver, CO with my husband and two little girls. I have alway wanted to be an artist but I took the telecommunications path instead. When I worked in corporate I still created often and I even had an Etsy shop/website/etc, but as my workload increased and I became a mom, that was when my time really got split thin and I wasn’t creating at all. It affected me in so many ways. Not having that creative release decreased my rest and recovery time. I was on a hamster wheel of getting kids up early for daycare, driving across town to work, getting things done so I can leave work on time, picking the kids up and then get things ready for the next day. Rinse, repeat. Without my creative time, the stress increased like a pressure cooker.

I realized how much I needed my art practice and started figuring out how to fit it in again. After going through my schedule, I found I didn’t have any time to create except for during my 15 minute break and 30 minute lunch at work. Once I got over the fear of breaking out my watercolor supplies in the lunchroom, I did just that. The next day I planned to eat my lunch at my desk and spend my actual break painting. I remember having a meeting before my break that day and feeling wound up a bit. But once I started painting, I think it was after 5 minutes where I forgot where I was. I was already breathing easier and just getting into a calming flow state. All responsibilities were on pause for 30 minutes and it was decadent. When my timer went off, I was brought back to reality and all I could think of was, “Why did I wait so long to do this??” This was now my new routine and I felt so much more like me and less like a robot going through the motions, checking off tasks on my to do list.

My new found art practice gave me breathing space again. Time to think and assess what really matters to me. It was time for me to fully pursue my art career full-time and I started making moves to make that happen. I had my quit day in late September 2019 and now I make original art, digital planners, surface designs and I teach others how to watercolor paint with The Playful Painter Art Club online art membership. As women, we tend to put ourselves last and my mission is to help others by teaching them how to watercolor paint as a calm and creative outlet. It’s a great medium because it is easy to start and stop and it can be a fun little hobby or grow into an art career. The sky is the limit.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

That I get to slow down. Things can get extremely fast paced in life if you aren’t careful. But being an artist forces me to really look at things around me and observe. That’s the only way I can try to reinterpret things in my art is to really see; like fall leaves and noticing how the colors blend. It’s a gift because it’s like seeing the world through the eyes of a child, there is so much wonder everywhere. Sometimes it’s overwhelming but in the best way.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Atomic Habits by James Clear changed the way I work and live my life everyday. Understanding that everything is a habit and how to stop bad habits while creating new ones, that was a major key for me. I’ve never been good at sitting down and making plans for the year, month, etc because I didn’t have a system. But once I was able to figure out what I wanted and the habits/routines that could make those things happen, it was easier to reach my goals and have more time to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.fluximagery.com
• Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/fluximagery
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fluximagery
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-barriga-44020b7/
• Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/fluximagery
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@fluximagery6500
• Other: Podcast: The Playful Painter Art Club