We were lucky to catch up with Joan Batchelder recently and have shared our conversation below.
Joan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, so you had your idea and then what happened? Can you walk us through the story of how you went from just an idea to executing on the idea
I had been in the travel industry for 25 years which provided almost no creativity in my professional life. However, it provided a good living and a way to supporty my family. I had been watercoloring since age 10 and was an art major in college. I have always had a deeply creative yearning.
In 1999, my husband (co-founder) and I incorporated Cottage Garden Studio in Wyoming which is where we currently live. So, the “guts” of Cottage Garden were created and ready to establish. Fast forward to 2018, when we were living in Vermont. For years, I had already formed ideas in my head as to what I would like to create and use to start up Cottage Garden Studio.
We made an appointment and visited one of the best printers in all of New England in Maine, J.S. McCarthy. I brought with me a number of designs I had already painted. We met with a lovely gentleman, who explained the process of printing my designs on notecards. This is where it all began. He truly was the catalyst I needed to get started. He printed up samples of all of my 18 watercolor designs on paper I selected. And, so it began.
Within the following year, my family and I moved back to Wyoming. We located another printing company in Salt Lake City who we placed a large order with to print my notecards. One of the most daunting steps was researching an appropriate web designer. Serendipity took over and in June of 2020, I was furloughed from my job of twenty years with the same travel company. After the panic, disappointment, fear and the sheer unknown of it all passed, I saw an article in the local newspaper about a company in Wyoming that was offering grant money to artists to create a website. I grabbed the opportunity and my website was born, https://www.cottagegardenstudio.com. In February of 2021, my website was launched.
The second most daunting step was getting involved with my local art community and learning everything I had to know and purchasing all of the equipment to participate in the summer art fairs. What a learning curve. I exhibited my notecards and artwork every Saturday last summer from June until September and am doing the same this summer. I have learned so very much from my co-vendors and fellow artists. I am also beginning to sell some of my original framed watercolor paintings.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
One of the best things my parents ever did for me when I was a child was enroll me in art lessons at age 10. There I learned the very basics of painting with watercolors. Subsequently, I was an art major in college. Soon after, I moved to Boston and got into the financial industry (banking then securities) so I could support myself. My art had to take a back burner.
Decades passed as I got married, had my two fabulous children. Once they were in school, I entered the travel industry, where I have been since recently. Covid 19 took over the planet, I was furloughed and subsequently forced into retirement. I am now devoting myself full-time to growing my art business. I currently sell notecards which are printed from my original watercolor designs as well as some of my original watercolor paintings.
I think what sets me apart from others is that my artwork is very whimsical. I want people to have a smile on their faces when they encounter my art. I have had only positive feedback from clients who tell me they enjoy my sense of humor and my clean, simple and gentle designs.
I am most proud of the progress I have made in the past five years. The learning curve has been steep and I have been able to embrace each obstacle and challenge that has presented itself. On a very personal note, I would like everyone to know how grateful I am to be able to present myself to the world in an art form and have others appreciate my journey, but most of all, enjoy my artwork.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had been in the travel industry for almost 30 years, most recently with the same company for the past 23 years. In 2019, we bought a house in Wyoming and eight months later, I was furloughed due to COVID 19. I was fortunate to have been earning a healthy salary and in June of 2020, my income was diminished. Sheer terror took over, fear of the unknown, an uncertain future, etc.
Instinctively, my creative drive took over and I dove head-first into launching my art business.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I vividly remember in some of my studio art classes in college that I was terrified to hang my art on the wall to be critiqued by my peers and my professors. Being an artist is such a personal thing. An artist creates from the soul and others who view one’s art is viewing a very personal space. At best, an artist has to have a “thick skin” to share his or her art with the world. It is a slow process learning how to confront those who do not appreciate my art. It certainly takes a fair amount of resilience to continue to put my art out into the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cottagegardenstudio.com
- Instagram: @cottagegardenstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cottagegardenstudio