We were lucky to catch up with Angie Scharrer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Angie , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I wish I would have returned to painting sooner. I painted all the time as a kid through high school and stopped when I went to Architecture School. Looking back, I think was too worried about how bad my work looked compared to my college classmates’. I let my fear and embarrassment of being an untrained artist stop me altogether.

I didn’t really attempt to paint all through my twenties. In a way, I’m glad the Covid quarantine gave me an opportunity to pick it up again. Many of those early paintings were rough, but it’s cool looking back through my portfolio over the last 3.5 years. I can track where I was exploring new techniques and mastering others. It’s a good reminder to not be embarrassed of where you’re at, but to recognize the progress you’ve made through discipline and willingness to keep trying.

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 am a full time Architect and a Watercolor Artist on the side. I’ve been growing my watercolor business steadily for the last 3.5 years. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off. I didn’t know how long it would last and I really needed a creative outlet during that incredibly stressful time. My friends encouraged me that I could sell my art. Of course, imposter syndrome hit hard, but I gave it a shot. In the beginning, my bread and butter was custom house portraits. I did a lot of closing gifts for real estate agents, and eventually paid off my student loans with that extra income.

It was very exciting to see what traction I was gaining, and in 2022 I began participating in artisan markets. I had/ have a huge inventory of giclée prints I wanted to share with people, and markets were a great way to do that. The creative community in Charleston took me by surprise. They welcomed me with open arms and completely assuaged my fears about not belonging. I’m very lucky to be a part of this community!

Over the last few years, I’ve tried to hone in on what sets me apart. I think my experience as an Architect informs every painting I do. I use my drafting tools to develop the undersketch- that really lays a good foundation for how I want the painting to feel. From there, I work carefully to preserve the light areas in the painting and add layers of color and depth to the rest. I’d say that’s the number one thing I wish I figured out sooner as a watercolor artist- you have to preserve the light.

I take a lot of pride in my work and want my clients to feel a connection to the piece when it’s complete. While I cannot control how my clients feel when they receive their commissioned art, I work very hard from the beginning to establish expectations and make sure I understand which details are important to capture.

Today, I still offer custom house portraits, as well as any other kind of place someone might want painted. I’ve been painting a lot of engagement spots and wedding venues in the last few months. I love helping people preserve special memories through my watercolors. It is a true honor to be included in something so personal.

As far as non commissioned pieces go, I sell online through my website and at several businesses around Charleston. Most recently, I’m thrilled to be selling my work at Southern Ruetz Maker Mall in downtown Charleston!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

An emotional reaction to a commissioned painting, hands down. There have been several instances where a grandchild has gifted their grandparent a painting of their family home and the reactions have been heartwarming. Whether the grandparent was losing their memory and the painting helped bring them back even for just a minute, or it just reminded them of a time when the whole family was together under one roof, it means so much to me.

A friend of mine was looking for a particularly special Mother’s day gift this year for her mom, as her grandmother had just passed away. She asked me to paint her mom’s childhood home, so I did. On Mother’s Day, she sent me a photo of her mom opening the gift, sitting next to the grandmother’s grave. It was such a powerful photo, and I was so touched to be a part of that moment, even hundreds of miles away.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I worked remotely for a company for several years and stayed out of convenience and comfort despite some growing resentments. Not having a commute to and from work gave me so much extra time before and after the work day to spend growing my art business. I loved those early mornings in my studio, but I wasn’t growing as an Architect, and I felt disconnected.

It took me years to summon the courage to interview at other companies and ultimately leave. I was so scared, but made myself do it. Six months later, it’s the best thing I ever did. The new company I work for is so supportive of my professional growth as well as my art business. I didn’t even realize I had been slowly losing my sense of humor those last few years until I got around my incredible new coworkers. For years, I was too stubborn and closed off to opportunities, all in the name of comfort and familiarity.

I feel like I got a huge piece of myself back and I’m so glad I did.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://riverlightartstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverlightartstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095227946264