We were lucky to catch up with Kate Tipton recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kate, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
The biggest risk I’ve taken so far is betting on myself!
About two years ago, I decided it was time to finally leave my comfort zone. I left my hometown, quit my stable job that I actually enjoyed, moved to my dream city, started a new job, quickly realized that job caused too much stress & anxiety, which is what led to the decision of starting this business, Purpose Under Palms.
To make a long & detailed story short, I only had two days to make a decision to quit my stress-inducing job, leave my dream city, and start a business, or stay in that job a little while longer in order to buy a house & keep the beach city dream.
Why can’t I have both? Truthfully, I can…one day! I chose to temporarily sacrifice the beach city dream to move back to my hometown that has a lower cost of living and make a bet on myself so that I could chase the dream of owning a business as an artist full time! Climbing the corporate ladder is exhausting if you’re heart’s not in it, and I wanted to put my time & energy into building something that I KNEW I could accomplish & would fulfill me creatively. Working for yourself takes a lot of self-discipline and I’ve had to make many sacrifices to chase this dream, but I am the happiest & most fulfilled I have ever been! The reward is worth the risk.
Although my business is only a few months old, it has already grown so much! I have so many ideas for the future, so it’s only getting better from here!
Kate, 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?
I’m Kate – owner, watercolor artist, and creative designer behind Purpose Under Palms!
I have always had a natural talent for creativity, but it wasn’t until 2021 that I discovered my love for watercolor. My favorite type of gift to give is something handmade, so I painted a portrait as a gift with some watercolor paints that I was given for Christmas many years ago, and was immediately in love. Though I’ve tried many creative mediums, watercolor is the only one I’ve been able to stick to without getting bored!
I have wanted to own a business since I was just 10 years old, but never knew exactly what type of business until that watercolor painting. So, I started Purpose Under Palms as a way to live my purpose by using my God-given talent to create sentimental keepsakes that brings a smile (and sometimes tears of joy) to so many people! Having the opportunity to create something so special, whether it’s adding a loved one that passed to a wedding portrait, a rainbow baby portrait, or even a simple house portrait, makes this the most rewarding & fulfilling job!
I now offer more than just commission paintings, including stationery, art prints, mugs, shirts, candles, + more! I will also soon be offering live watercolor portraits of guests for weddings and events!
You can shop & find out more at www.PurposeUnderPalms.com.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Absolutely! No matter what field you’re in, there will always be someone that will have doubts. Not necessarily because they don’t think you can do it, but because they don’t see the big picture or the reward that can come from it.
I am thankful to say that I have not had anyone specifically say they don’t think my career as an artist will be a success, but there have been many conversations and instances where you can just tell by the questions they ask or the look on their face that they just don’t see where it can go. I can’t say I’ve never had second guesses or doubts through this journey of building a business, but I know what I am capable of and that the dreams I have for Purpose Under Palms are possible.
Carving your own path and creating opportunities for yourself take hard work, consistency, and lots of faith, but it can also come with doubts and questioning from others. Your priorities are not always going to be the same as everyone else’s – you may measure success as being able to pay the bills and live comfortably, while others may see success as millions of dollars and multiple houses.
In other words, don’t let someone else’s small mindedness or definition of success alter your journey as a creative in a negative way. Your dreams are possible, even if others can’t see them!
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Share, share, share! Word of mouth and experience are two of the most effective forms of support, in my opinion, because it’s trusted! That includes leaving a review!
Even if someone’s creativity or art is not your taste, simply sharing on social media, spreading the word, or sharing us as a recommendation are more effective than a lot of people realize. Many of my commissions have come from someone they know recommending my art to them!
As a small business, even just one transaction makes a difference! So whether your shared post reaches 1 person or 1,000, that’s still one more set of eyes that hadn’t seen our work before, and we’re always thankful!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.purposeunderpalms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purposeunderpalms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/purposeunderpalms
Image Credits
Branding photos by TiaJenkinsStudios