We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Talcott a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kate, thanks for joining us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

Growing up I never considered myself an artist. I always loved art class and creating art, but I fancied myself a performer (hello musical theater fans!) Then I became an English major and like every English major graduating amid the recession, I had no idea what to do with my very fancy degree. Long story short, I meandered through a Masters of Education to teach English to middle schoolers, then I worked in a restaurant, then public libraries, then a second Masters in Library Science, and back to a middle school and then I had my first child.

I was so excited, I had finally arrived at the job I had always dreamed of, the job of MOM! My school year had wrapped up and timing made sense that I didn’t return to the classroom. Instead I started nesting and preparing for baby. I was so looking forward to being a stay at home mom. I knew this was the perfect role for me. I knew I would just love it.

Of course, as all great plans, the baby came, she was healthy, she was perfect (honestly after my second, I realize that she was a very easy baby) but all that being said, I was not okay. I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was suffering from postpartum depression and anxiety. I was constantly in my head, struggling to feel anything other than panic, and definitely not thriving as I had initially planned when thinking about being a stay at home mom.

Desperate for something that would give me an ounce of peace, or semblance of feeling like my former self, I broke out some paints I had from an online workshop I took the year before. I started painting. I can’t say that it was at that moment that I realized I was meant to be an artist, it was a pretty gradual journey to that realization. I just started painting because it felt good, because it gave me time to let my mind be calm, it allowed me time to sit and think of something other than diapers.

What started as stealing little moments during nap time began to morph into something more. I started painting portraits for friends, and then I started posting about it online, and then more people wanted to pay me for paintings. Even then I wouldn’t say that I knew I was an artist, or felt like a real artist. I still felt like I was just someone playing pretend. Finally I started showing up on social media introducing myself as “Hi I’m Kate and I’m a watercolor artist”. Fake it til you make it, right?!?!? I can’t quite pinpoint the moment, but at some point I started to believe it!

Now I can proudly say that I am a watercolor artist and educator as well as the owner of Splatter & Bloom –a watercolor stationery shop where I create DIY watercolor kits, stickers, prints, and punny greeting cards. My greatest goal is to make watercolor feel accessible, doable, and FUN so other folks can experience the restorative power of the wild and wonderful world of watercolor.

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

Hi! I’m Kate and I’m a watercolor artist and educator behind Splatter & Bloom, a watercolor stationery shop where I sell watercolor paint kits, stickers, prints, and punny cards! Think of me as your very own personal Bob Ross with a coffee obsession and volume control issues! I love creating colorful watercolor art and teaching YOU how to paint too!

No matter what stage you are in your watercolor path, from never having picked up a brush, to I paint every day, I can’t wait to join you on this journey! I offer tons of watercolor tips and tricks on social media, as well as through virtual and in person workshops. Come find me on social and say hi!

I also love to paint bold, vivacious florals to help you live more colorfully.

If I’m not in my backyard studio shed in Woodinville, Washington, you can find me chasing after my two adorable kiddos and two wild doggos.

A few of my favorite things include, coffee, flowers, books, dogs, rain, parenthetical phrases, wearing slippers to work, and color explosions.

We are a woman-owned, family-run small business and all of our packaging is completely compostable, so you can feel peachy about keen working with us!

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I know a lot fo folks complain about social media, but honestly I kind of love it! Since I started painting, I’ve been building a nice community of followers on Instagram, finding other creatives with whom I could connect and swap advice with. It’s been such an amazing tool for networking and for sharing about my work.

I got on TikTok as a whim when I took some time off after having my son and I don’t really even know what happened, but I feel like it really exploded. People seemed to really resonate with me getting super duper excited about art and art supplies! I don’t do all the hip things on there (I’m a true granny at heart) I don’t do the dances, I don’t use trending sounds, I just talk really fast about art things that I love. I’ve found that the more authentically I show up, goofy sayings, spilling coffee, geeking out uncontrollably about things that matter to me has been the best experience. THAT is how you find your people. And I really do feel like I’ve found my folks! I am so grateful for each and every person who chooses to join me in this wild adventure of watercolor.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

When I started making the watercolor kits where we provide everything you need to start painting – high quality watercolor paper with designs already printed onto the paper, professional paints, and watercolor brushes (PLUS video tutorials for each of the three designs!!) I feel like I had unlocked something in my business, and if I may be cheesy, my heart!

Giving folks an entry point for their watercolor practice with great supplies and educational support has felt so rewarding. I knew I felt strongly about the value of this watercolor kit, but then folks started going out of their way to seek my out, emailing me just to say how much my kit meant to them. I’ve had folks finally trying watercolor for the first time in their 70s, I’ve had new moms start painting as a way to have some “me” time. I’ve had folks recovering from surgery saying how nice it was to paint. I’ve had moms sharing how it’s been a lovely time connecting with their tweens!

Hearing how watercolor has brought folks so much comfort and joy has been the absolute best feeling in the whole world!

Contact Info:

• Website: splatterandbloom.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/splatter.and.bloom/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/splatterandbloom
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCowHf_PZthdPj2K8wvvWnNw
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@splatterandbloom?lang=en

Image Credits
Emily Keeney and Marissa Ciccarelli