We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cecilia Batzer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cecilia, appreciate you joining us today. Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?
Picture this: a bride one month out from her wedding, completely consumed with wedding content, when she suddenly has this idea, what if instead of a photo booth… it was paintings?
News flash: that bride was me.
It was definitely too last-minute to bring that idea into my own wedding, but it stuck with me. I had already built a foundation as an artist, and I remember thinking, this could be something more. I started looking into it and realized that while live guest portrait painting wasn’t entirely new, it also wasn’t something widely offered in Michigan. Most of the artists I found were out of state, and that made me feel like there was space to create something locally.
So I got to work. I started practicing quick, sketch-style watercolor portraits, literally timing myself while using random celebrity photos as subjects. But I quickly realized–painting fast is one thing, painting fast in front of people is another.
So I decided to throw myself into it.
I bought a small folding table, packed up a basket of my paints and supplies, and headed to a local lakeside restaurant where I had connections through my soon-to-be husband and friends. I set up my little table and, honestly, nervously walked around asking people if I could paint their portrait.
Some people chuckled and politely declined, it was definitely something they had never seen before, I didn’t blame them; but a few said yes.
I would snap their photo, walk back to my table, and just go for it. As I started finishing these quick portraits, something shifted. People began stopping to watch, asking questions, getting curious. And I found myself confidently saying, “I paint your portrait live as a memory of your time here! Something you get to take home with you.”
At that point, I was only working for tips, but I started to realize something bigger—people genuinely valued this. They loved seeing themselves translated into paint and ink instead of just another photo. It felt more personal, more unexpected, and more lasting.
After that first day, I posted a few photos on social media, and the response was overwhelming in the best way. Friends and family encouraged me to keep going—so I did. I went back again, and again. Even though I was still just working for tips, I was gaining something way more important: confidence, experience, and proof that this idea had something behind it.
And then came the moment that really changed things.
A friend from high school reached out and said, “I’ve been seeing what you’re doing with the live guest paintings—would you want to come to Chicago to do it at our wedding this fall?”
Cue the excitement, the happy tears… and also, the fear.
I remember thinking, “what if I’m not ready for this? What if I’ve only been good at this because the stakes have been low? What if I disappoint them?”
But in true “me” fashion, my response was basically, “Oh my gosh, YES, I would love to!”
That opportunity pushed me from experimenting into actually stepping into this as a business. From there, I had to figure out everything—how to structure my offerings, how to communicate the experience to clients, how to price it, and how to show up professionally at events.
After that first wedding, I knew this was something I wanted to pursue further. I created a more professional contract, continued researching fair pricing for both myself and my clients, and invested in more professional tools.
About a year later, after a few more weddings and events under my belt, a neighbor I grew up with reached out and invited me to do live paintings at an event at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. That moment felt significant, this wasn’t just any venue. It made me realize that what I was creating wasn’t just a novelty, it was something that could stand alongside spaces where people experience art every day.
I did a private event there, and after meeting the Gardens’ CEO, he personally invited me back to paint at their largest holiday event, “Sparkle!” in December 2025.
That was a completely different level. It required more preparation, more confidence, and a deeper trust in myself than ever before. But after that experience, something clicked even further.
It became clear to me that this isn’t just something I do–it’s something I want to grow and share on a much larger scale. My goal now is to bring this form of art to more spaces, more events, and more people than ever before.
Art, in all forms, has always been my passion and calling. And if starting a brand new business venture one month before my own wedding is any indication of my excitement and commitment, then I think it’s safe to say I’m all in.
Cecilia, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I’m a watercolor artist, live event painter, and creative educator based in Michigan, and at the core of everything I do is connection–helping people feel seen, celebrated, and creatively inspired.
My journey into this space didn’t start with a perfectly mapped-out plan, but rather something much more personal. Painting has been a constant for me through seasons of highs and lows–it became a place where I could slow down, process, and find a sense of joy again. Over time, I realized I didn’t just want to keep that to myself. I wanted to create work that allows others to experience that same sense of joy and carry it with them into their everyday lives.
Starting this business wasn’t just a career decision, it truly felt like something laid on my heart to pursue.
I have a background in teaching Art to lower elementary and middle school, which deeply shaped how I approach my work. It taught me how to meet people where they are, make creativity feel approachable, and create an environment where people feel comfortable expressing themselves, even if they don’t consider themselves “artistic.” I later continued teaching in more creative spaces, including leading classes and workshops, while also building my own art business.
Through that, I developed three core areas of my work: commissions, original pieces, and live event painting.
My commission work is very personal to me. Most pieces are rooted in meaningful moments, places, or relationships in someone’s life. I work closely with clients to understand their vision, then translate that into a watercolor piece that feels both elevated and deeply sentimental. My goal is always to create something that feels like more than just a painting, it should feel like a memory you can return to.
My original work allows me to explore more freely, often leaning into layered watercolor and gouache textures, movement, and many vibrant colors–the colors I use also deeply reflect a sense of joy and brightness I want people to feel when looking at them. These pieces are a reflection of both my artistic style and my belief that art should feel personal to the viewer, something that invites interpretation and emotional connection.
One of the most distinctive parts of my business, though, is live guest portrait painting at events.
I offer this experience at weddings, corporate events, and private gatherings, where I create quick, sketch-style watercolor portraits of guests on-site. It becomes more than just a service, it’s interactive, it’s engaging, and it gives guests something truly unique to take home. In spaces where so much is carefully curated, this adds a personal, human element that people don’t always expect.
For my clients–especially those planning elevated, detail-focused events, this offers something both refined and meaningful. It blends seamlessly into the atmosphere while also becoming a memorable highlight for their guests.
What sets my work apart is that it lives at the intersection of art and experience. It’s not just about the final piece, but about how it’s created, how it’s received, and how it makes people feel in the moment. There’s something powerful about seeing yourself captured in a way that’s expressive and imperfect, especially in a world that often leans toward polished, digital perfection.
I’m incredibly proud of how this business has grown; from small, informal setups where I was simply testing an idea, to being invited into larger events and spaces that truly value art and experience. Every step has been built with intention, persistence, and a willingness to say yes before I felt completely ready.
More than anything, I want people to know that my work is rooted in purpose. Whether I’m painting live at an event, creating a custom commission, or teaching a class, my goal is always the same: to create something meaningful, approachable, and lasting.
For potential clients, I want them to know they’re not just hiring an artist, they’re bringing in an experience that their guests will remember and a piece of art they’ll keep.
And for anyone following along who feels a pull toward something creative, I hope my story is a reminder that you don’t need everything figured out to begin. Sometimes the things placed on your heart are there for a reason, and they’re worth pursuing.
Have you ever had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life came when I stepped away from formal elementary teaching.
I had spent years teaching Art and STEM to young students, and in many ways, it was a role that made sense for me. I loved working with kids, I loved creativity, and it offered something that a lot of people value deeply-stability. A consistent income, a clear structure, and a very defined path forward.
But over time, things started to shift. There were budget changes within the school system that impacted my position, and at the same time, I found myself asking harder questions about what I really wanted long-term. As much as I appreciated what teaching had given me, I knew deep down it wasn’t where I was meant to stay.
That realization was both freeing and terrifying.
Walking away from something stable to pursue a creative path isn’t always the “safe” choice, and there were definitely moments where I questioned it. But I also knew that I had already started building something of my own, through my watercolor work, commissions, teaching in creative spaces, and eventually live event painting.
So instead of seeing it as something I was losing, I started to see it as an opportunity to fully step into what I had been slowly growing on the side.
That transition wasn’t overnight. It took intention, planning, and a lot of trust in myself. I had to become more disciplined in ways I hadn’t before; structuring my time, building systems, developing my client process, and treating my art not just as a passion, but as a business.
Looking back, that pivot was one of the most defining moments in my journey. It pushed me to choose growth over comfort and to take myself seriously as both an artist and an entrepreneur.
It wasn’t just about leaving something behind, it was about stepping fully into something that felt aligned with who I am and what I’m meant to do.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think one of the hardest things for non-creatives to fully understand is that for many artists, what we do doesn’t feel optional-it feels like a calling.
For me, painting is something much bigger than a skill I’ve developed. It’s something I genuinely believe is a gift from God. It’s been a constant in my life, something that has carried me through difficult seasons, and something that allows me to connect with others in a way that words sometimes can’t.
Because of that, choosing to pursue this path wasn’t just about following a passion, it was about honoring something that was placed on my heart.
From the outside, it can look like a risk to step away from a more traditional, stable career to pursue something creative. And I understand that perspective. But for me, doing something solely for the sake of stability, while ignoring this part of myself, felt like I was doing a disservice to who I am.
It almost felt like denying a piece of my identity.
I think that’s where the disconnect can happen. For some, a career is primarily about income or security. For creatives, it’s often deeply tied to purpose, expression, and impact.
This journey has required my support system, my husband and family, and a lot of faith, not just in a practical sense, but in trusting that I was meant to use this gift and share it. And in doing that, I’ve been able to show up more fully, not just as an artist, but as myself.
If anything, I hope that perspective encourages others, creative or not, to pay attention to the things they feel called toward. There’s usually a reason those things don’t leave you alone.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ceciliaraeartistry.com
- Instagram: @ceciliaraeartistry
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575806920938
- Linkedin: Cecilia Batzer
- Other: TikTok: @ceciliaraedewysart
Email: ceciliaraeartistry@gmail.com
Image Credits
Abby Fox Photography
Rachel Noel Studios