We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Niki Welch. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Niki below.

Niki, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

Growing up, I thought artists were golden apples on trees – chosen ones, special, and with a lifestyle completely out of reach. Though I have always been most at peace when creating, I held on tightly to the belief that the responsible thing to do was to get a corporate job with a stable income and that working my way up an invisible ladder towards conventionally recognized success was the best way to provide for my family. It was much later in life, after I became a wife, mother, and successful manager in the healthcare industry, that I realized that the “starving artist” concept is a fallacy and that my family deserves me at my best. My best self does not emerge from behind a desk or computer screen after 8-12 hours a day, but starting over at that stage is even more difficult because it comes with pressure to replace a corporate income. I wish I would have realized that I could support myself through my creativity much earlier in life. When I think about my artistic practice now, and how much farther along it would be had I been creating all along, I definitely feel the sting of wasted time. While it’s never too late, I do have respect for those who are self-aware and courageous enough to start living authentically within themselves at an early stage.

Niki, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Unlike many, I never planned on becoming an artist, and I didn’t start painting until I was in my thirties. Every year on my birthday, I set out to learn something new or do something adventurous that I have put of. One year, I decided to learn to paint. I started with watercolor, and felt the world around me disappear for those moments sitting with my paint and paper. As a busy wife, mom, and full time employee, it became something I did just for myself. I quickly realized the benefits I was feeling mentally and emotionally, and I have been clinging to it as a calming practice since. I began, like so many, through tutorials, but quickly grew into myself and fell in love with creating watercolor abstracts and loose landscapes with expansive skies. I am still so humbled that people are interested in the work that spills from my mind, out of my hands, down through my brushes.

In addition to creating art that serves as a peaceful place to rest for my collectors, I feel passionate about sharing the experience of quiet creation with others. I offer a line of art supplies that were developed specifically to encourage others in their own creative practices by taking away the pain points of many hobbyists and emerging artists. My supply line includes items such as a Starter Kit with everything you need to get started, a watercolor paper sample pack so people can find their preferred paper without spending a small fortune, a host of beautiful synthetic squirrel paintbrushes, a reusable towel to cut down on paper towel waste, and hand bound sketchbooks using upcycled, vintage book covers. For those who don’t want to create from their own minds, I offer postcard kits which allow people to paint on pre-drawn outlines and actually share their art with others through the mail.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Putting value into the side of me that has always been there, quietly waiting to be acknowledged, has been the most authentic thing I have done for myself. Embracing the creative and artistic side of myself allows me to learn and grow freely in a way that feels both professional and deeply personal.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Especially in the world of art, there are trends everywhere you look. It is incredibly easy to get caught up in those trends and feel like you have to be doing what everyone else is doing, especially if there are signs that others are achieving success because of that. One of the most important things I could tell those just starting is to stay authentic and true to yourself. Building a following based on trends will not lead to connection and community, which is truly the point of social media. Create what feels sincere for your artistic journey, and you will find that those who feel a connection to what you are doing will follow along and genuinely cheer you on. This is a process can feel slow, but gradual progress is more sustainable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nfinityarts.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nfinity_arts/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nfinityarts/

Image Credits
Portrait – Kira Whitney Photography