We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ash Swenson. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ash below.

Ash, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?

Until recently, I would have never described myself as a risk taker. I preferred comfortability and familiarity, often choosing the easier option over a challenge. Unfornintaly, this tendency often led me to jobs where I was working in toxic environments.

I was in one of these toxic work environments when I decided to take the risk of pursuing my dream to make a living from my art. Despite knowing I needed to get out of the toxic work environment I was working in, I was terrified of the financial uncertainty that came with leaving my nine to five job. With the support of my partner and despite my fear, I started working to build my brand and online following with the goal of leaving my job.

In 2022 after a little over a year of growing my business while working full time, I took a leap and left my full time job. I replaced it with a part time job that allowed me more time and flexibility to devote more energy to my business. I remember this time in my life to be filled with excitement and anxiety as I grew my business more. I am still filled with anxiety when I have a low month of sales or I push myself to learn something new, but I continue to learn so much about myself and about being a business owner as I pursue my dream.

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.

I designed Beyond Color Art as a business for paint night events. I am passionate that art is for everyone. I love creating an inviting atmosphere where people can relax and enjoy themselves, while being creative. When you come to a Beyond Color Art paint night you come for a good time. I give step by step instructions and make classes easy and fun for any skill level. We strive for progress not perfection. I always encourage people to be creative in class. There is always freedom to go on your own creative journey, whether that means changing the colors of your painting or going completely rough with your painting. I have partnered with other local businesses and teach multiput events each month as well as doing private events. I have events for all ages. You can see all my upcoming events on my website beyondcolorart.com or on my Instagram @color.beyond

Ever since I was young I have dreamed of making a career from my art. Art has always been a therapeutic outlet for me. Art has helped me to process difficult emotions and I have found it can do the same for others as well. It is so amazing to see my dream come to life. I am so passionate about the positive effects art can have on our lives. I enjoy sharing that passion with others.

My first full time job out of college I worked at a residential treatment center. This is where the idea for my business was born. I started painting pictures for each of our clients when they left the program to celebrate their journeys. With the encouragement of a co-worker, in 2015 I started teaching painting classes for our clients. I sold my 1st commision piece that year as well. I remember feeling so excited by this. I felt like a “real” artist.

Shortly after, I moved into a charming little house with some friends. The house had a beautiful sunroom that became my art studio. I spent hours creating new paintings and processing difficult emotions through my art. It was so magical to have a large space to create in. In this space I started hosting paint nights for family and friends. It was so fun to teach classes and start to hone my skills as an instructure.

For a short time, I worked for a painting night company. I learned helpful skills that I am grateful for. However, I remember being told that our clients were paying to paint the exact painting shown on the listing. This did not sit well with me as an artist. I felt it limited creativity and praised perfectionism. I told myself when I had my own business I would do things differently. I am proud to say today I help my clients creative problem solve when faced with a challenge in their painting. We do not have rigid constraints with our paintings in my classes.  I know how challenging it can be to learn a new skill and adults tend to be hard on themselves when they are not good at something right away.  I encourage creativity and help my clients face challenges while encouraging them to give themselves grace while they are learning to grow their skills.

In 2018, my partner and I moved from Indiana where we both grew up to southern Utah, in pursuit of new adventures and sunnier weather. We settled into our new home town. I continued to work in the mental health field for another year. I then transitioned to working in the finance field after that, until I started to seriously pursue my dream of making a career from my art.

In 2021, I started building my business to a larger scale as well as selling my personal artwork. I taught my first paint night in St. George, Utah at a quaint co-op. Shortly after I started partnering with other businesses and teaching more paint nights. I love partnering with other local businesses. I am so grateful for the connections and opportunities I have experienced so far. Currently, I am teaching about 8 paint nights a month. You can see all my upcoming classes on my website beyondcolorart.com & on my Instagram color.beyond

Since leaving my full time day job I have expanded my personal art as well as my paint nights. I now sell art prints, stickers as well and original paintings. You can check out my artwork on instragram @art.by.ash.bca and buy my art on my Etsy shop here: Beyond Color Art Shop

I am beyond grateful for my journey so far and for the support I have received from amazing humans in my life to help make this dream possible.  I am incredibly excited for the future of Beyond Color Art!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I officially started my business I was artiest, not a business owner. I did not know the ins and out of running a business, budgeting, licenses and taxes were so intimidating to me. At the beginning of me deciding to make my dream of having a reality, a friend said “You are never going to feel ready. It will never be perfect, do you just have to embrace that. Do the thing. Work through it in real time.” This has stuck with me. I have had many difficult moments on this journey. I have had paint nights where I did not sell any tickets. I remember in the early days of my business setting up for a paint night and feeling like a kid who didn’t have anyone show up for their birthday party. I have had months when my income has been embarrassingly low. I have to figure out ways to make extra income and how to make the next month better. I have had to figure out how to make a website, market my classes, and broaden my range of skills as an artist. I get so frustrated when I am learning a new skill or program and I am not instantly good at it. I have struggled through all the aspects of becoming a business owner. In the past when faced with a difficult challenge I would have given up. When faced with a challenge now, I tell myself, “I don’t know what I am doing and I am going to do it anyway.” The more I work on improving my skills as a business owner and artist the more proof I have from past experience that I am capable of handling the next challenge.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me the most rewarding aspect of being creative is seeing an end result that I am proud of. That pride comes from knowing the struggles and frustrations I went through to bring to life the idea in my head. It is something magical.

Contact Info:

• Website: beyondcolorart.com
• Instagram: color.beyond
• Other: Personal Art on Instagram: @art.by.art.bca Etsy: Beyond Color Art Shop