We were lucky to catch up with Kate Eliza recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I think anytime an artist shows their art, it can feel risky. Will it be perceived the way it was intended? Will people like it? Will it sell? I have taken a break from showing my paintings for the past few years while I have built up my other business; making handmade art supplies for other artists. That felt a bit safer than trying to make a living off my paintings. Now I have started dipping my toes back into showing my work, with a little local show this summer and a larger, First Friday Opening at Mirrus Gallery in Denver in October. Even though I choose work I am proud to show, there still is a little bit of bravery involved every time I go to openings of my work. As an artist, I think we thrive off risk taking, exploring, and seeing what happens when… Artists are risk takers by nature.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been a painter at heart for most of my life. On a river rafting trip at 16, I was introduced to plein air painting with watercolors and have been painting along rivers, mountains and campsites ever since. Originally from the prairies of Illinois, I came to Colorado to attend CSU for college, earning degrees in both Painting and Art Education. I am enthralled by the mountains and wide open skies of the West. After teaching art in public schools and summer programs for over a decade, I finally decided to pursue my own artistic dreams full time.

In 2017, I opened Ruby Mountain Paint Co. where I sell handmade watercolors, sketchbooks, watercolor pastels and other handmade art supplies. I create small travel paint sets and inspire artists to create more art through my unique art supplies.

Using my own handmade paint, I create watercolor paintings that celebrate the magic of the land and sky. I offer both my paints and paintings online and in local Colorado shops.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is being in control of my own schedule and my own life. When I taught art, my schedule was very rigid and allowed for hardly any flexibility. Working as an artist means I now work all the time, but I choose when, where and what I work on. It allows be to be home for my kids while also working on my own ideas. I choose which ideas to investigate, which colors to create or paintings to paint, and that freedom is really important to me.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

Some people might wonder why I would spend so much time making my own paint before I even begin painting. It’s time consuming, its costly, and it would be so much easier to just buy commercial paint. Creating my own art supplies connects me to the materials in my art practice in a way that is impossible with commercial supplies. I can create the exact colors I need, and I love the mindfulness of slowly mulling each color in my studio. I am inspired by color and place, both of which I find connections to through my handmade art supplies. There are no fillers, extenders or toxic substances in my paints and that is really important to me as an artist and as a mother. I work in my home and stopped using toxic paints years ago. I love inspiring other artists through my handmade supplies and through the connection created when I have returning customers who become artist friends.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kateelizaart.com
• Instagram: @kate.eliza.art
• Other: for my handmade art supplies: www.rubymountainpaintco@rubymountainpaintco