Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Arastasia Rolain. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Arastasia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

If there’s anything I’ve learned in my journey as a creative entrepreneur, it’s this: life will absolutely throw the unexpected at you. Sometimes it’s exciting and full of momentum—those beautiful seasons where your ideas flow, clients are happy, and you feel unstoppable. But other times, life throws a curveball that knocks the wind out of you, and suddenly you’re navigating through overwhelm, anxiety, and self-doubt.

Over the years, I’ve faced my fair share of unexpected challenges. I’ve dealt with equipment malfunctions mid-session, client miscommunications that left me second-guessing everything, and—like so many of us—had to rebuild after the 2020 pandemic shut down my wedding photography business almost overnight. But nothing prepared me for what I faced at the start of 2025.

The year began with such hope. I hosted my annual vision board party, full of big dreams and fresh energy. I felt aligned and inspired, with clear goals for my art, podcast, and business. And then—just one week later—I got a phone call that changed everything. My sister called me to rush over. Our mom had unexpectedly passed away.

In that moment, my world shattered. The ground beneath me disappeared. Nothing else mattered—not business plans, not deadlines, not even my creativity. I was thrown into grief without warning, and it felt like I was drowning in a storm I couldn’t control or navigate.

And yet, somehow, I had to keep going—not just as a human figuring out how to grieve, but also as someone who runs a creative business, with responsibilities and commitments tied to my passion.

I won’t pretend to have all the answers—I’m still very much in the thick of it. But I can say with certainty that the struggles I’ve faced throughout my creative journey helped prepare me for this moment. Each challenge from the past—especially those unexpected, difficult seasons—taught me something that I’m now leaning on as I navigate this grief. The lessons didn’t come all at once, and I didn’t always recognize their value at the time, but looking back, they’ve become my foundation. And now, in the midst of this unimaginable loss, here’s what I’ve learned—and what I continue to lean on—to keep moving forward:

Give yourself grace.
We put so much pressure on ourselves as entrepreneurs and creatives. We’re expected to constantly show up, produce, and perform. But we’re also just people. We’re allowed to be messy. We’re allowed to pause. You can give yourself permission to not be okay—and still be worthy of success and growth.

Don’t abandon your passions.
Grief changed my relationship with creativity. I haven’t felt fully inspired or “on” since my mom passed. But I’ve still picked up my paintbrush. I’ve written poems, painted soft murals, and worked on little home projects. Not for content or profit—but because it helped me breathe. Creativity doesn’t have to be a performance; sometimes it just needs to be your safe space.

Be willing to pivot.
I used to think consistency meant sticking to the plan no matter what. But I’ve realized that sometimes, the most authentic thing you can do is change course. If something isn’t working—whether that’s your niche, your content, or your day-to-day schedule—it’s okay to explore something new. As creatives, reinvention is in our DNA.

Let your creativity help you, without the pressure.
During this time, I’ve been trying to bring creativity back into my life in ways that feel gentle. Painting without filming. Writing without needing it to be perfect. Creating for the sake of healing, not for performance.

And lastly—be kind to yourself.
We all mess up. We all have days where we feel behind or unsure. Learn from it, sure—but don’t linger in shame. When I’m spiraling, I ask myself, “What would I tell someone I love if they were going through this?” That question helps me shift from criticism to compassion. And that compassion becomes fuel for growth.

In the end, life will throw things at you that you never saw coming. But if you can meet those moments with grace, creativity, and curiosity, they can shape you into a stronger, more soulful version of yourself—both as a person, and as a creative.

Arastasia, 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?

Basically, I’m a creative entrepreneur, but more specifically, I’m a muralist, photographer, live wedding painter, and the voice behind the Your Artsy Friend podcast. My journey into the creative world has been anything but linear, but it’s always been rooted in one thing: the healing, transformative power of creativity.

I started my career as a wedding photographer, fueled by a deep love for capturing real, meaningful moments and telling people’s stories through my lens. For several years, I poured my heart into documenting love stories and milestone memories—but along the way, I realized there were other creative passions tugging at me. I loved painting, storytelling, and creating art that wasn’t just visual, but emotional. So, I followed that nudge.

Today, I specialize in hand-painted murals for homes, businesses, and community spaces, as well as live wedding paintings that give couples a one-of-a-kind keepsake from their big day. My work is colorful, whimsical, emotional, and deeply personal—whether I’m painting clouds in my little sketchbook to ease anxiety or i’m painting a mural in a domestic violence shelter to bring peace and hope to survivors.

What sets me apart isn’t just what I create—it’s the intention behind it. I create art that tells stories, sparks self-discovery, and encourages people to embrace their emotions and their humanity. I share openly about mental health, ADHD, grief, and the real behind-the-scenes of running a creative business, because I believe vulnerability connects us. My brand is about more than just making pretty things—it’s about using creativity as a tool for healing, connection, and empowerment.

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

Since I started my business back in 2015, my journey with social media has been a long and winding one. Back then, Instagram was just starting to become popular and TikTok didn’t even exist yet. I started on Facebook, eventually shifted to Instagram, and that’s where most of my audience growth has happened over the years. It’s been a slow and steady process—one filled with lots of trial and error, pivots, and learning as I go.

If I had to name the biggest factor behind growing my audience, I’d say it’s this: I bring the human into my brand. I don’t just share my work—I share the stories behind it, my passions, my struggles, and even the little things that bring me joy. I remind people to stop and look at the sky (because I’m obsessed with clouds), I share my favorite drinks, personal goals, and the meaning behind each project I take on. That honesty and vulnerability is what creates real connection—and that’s what keeps people coming back.

Here are some of the biggest lessons and tips I’ve learned along the way:

Bring the human into your brand.
Don’t just post your work—share your heart. Talk about what brings you joy, what your art means to you, your goals, your struggles. The more real you are, the more people connect.

Don’t overthink it.
We can talk ourselves out of posting so easily, thinking it has to be perfect. But in the grand scheme of things, one post isn’t make-or-break. Most of your audience won’t even see every post due to algorithms. So give yourself permission to show up imperfectly.

Stay consistent, even when growth feels slow.
Not every journey includes a viral moment—and that’s okay. Slow and steady growth is still growth. You never know what post or project might reach the right person, but if you’re not sharing at all, there’s no chance to grow.

Treat social media as a creative challenge, not a chore.
I like to stay curious—what worked, what didn’t, what was fun to make? Let the process of learning be part of the art, instead of letting discouragement take over.

Keep a running idea bank.
I use a Google spreadsheet to brain-dump ideas whenever they pop up. This has become a go-to resource on days I feel stuck or overwhelmed. It also helps reconnect me with my “why.”

Create a monthly content plan.
At the start of each month, I revisit my spreadsheet, plan a few days for content creation, look through old content to repurpose, and fill in my calendar. It doesn’t have to be rigid—but having a loose plan keeps me grounded.

Schedule work dates with like-minded friends.
Planning content with a buddy makes it feel way less overwhelming. We bounce ideas off each other and actually do the thing instead of putting it off.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A really big lesson I had to unlearn was the idea that success only comes from “niching down.” That message is everywhere—business books, podcasts, marketing courses. And for a while, I really believed it. I thought if I wanted to be taken seriously or grow my business, I had to be laser-focused on just one thing.

At one point in my career, I made a big announcement: from that moment on, I was going to be a wedding photographer—and only a wedding photographer. It felt like the “right” business move, and for a while, it worked. But what I didn’t realize was how much that decision would quietly chip away at my creativity, my curiosity, and my sense of fulfillment. I started to feel boxed in, uninspired, and disconnected from other parts of myself that were longing to be expressed—like my love for painting, storytelling, and creative entrepreneurship as a whole.

Don’t get me wrong—I still think there can be value in niching. It can help your audience clearly understand what you offer. It can give you structure. But for me—and I’d venture to say many other multi-passionate creatives—it was actually limiting. It stifled my ability to explore, evolve, and grow in directions I never could have predicted.

During the season of pivoting out of (solely) weddings and into a broader creative identity, I felt a lot of internal conflict. I questioned if people would take me seriously. I wrestled with shame and imposter syndrome about not sticking to “one thing.” But over time, I started to let go of that pressure and embraced who I really am: a creative entrepreneur with a few different passions that all feed into each other.

“I don’t try to offer every single thing I enjoy, but I do lead with intention and stay true to what lights me up. Over time, people have come to know me as Artsy Arastasia—a creative who wears a few different hats, isn’t afraid to evolve, and always brings heart and honesty to whatever she’s creating.

Unlearning the niche mindset gave me permission to return to joy and make space for inspiration again—and that has been far more powerful than trying to fit a mold that was never made for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.arastasia.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arastasia
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artsyairy
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arastasia
• Other: podcast: http://bit.ly/3SAOc7E