We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Sexton a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
Self-taught in this delicate art, I’ve been amazed at how quickly it captured my heart and transformed my creative world. Every brushstroke has been a rewarding challenge, and the dedication to learning and practice has brought so much growth. What started as a personal journey is now blossoming into a business. I’m loving every moment—especially finding the perfect frames to complement each piece. My mind is filled with ideas to create products with my art and, one day, to teach and share this passion with others. This journey has only just begun, and I’m eager to see where it takes me next.
Looking back, there are definitely a few things I would have done differently to speed up my learning process with watercolor. First and foremost, I would have focused on understanding the techniques and unique properties of watercolor before diving into painting. There were many simple methods I missed early on that would have saved me from some initial struggles. For beginners, I recommend starting with exercises to get familiar with how watercolor behaves—like swatching colors, practicing water control, exploring value scales, and learning color mixing specifically for this medium.
Watercolor is a completely different way of painting compared to other mediums. Unlike many painting styles where you work from dark to light values and can add white, with watercolor, you begin with light values and preserve the white of the paper. It requires a bit of a mental shift. I also spent a lot on expensive paints in a wide range of colors, but I’ve since realized I can create a huge range of shades by mixing a limited palette. Learning to mix your own colors is truly empowering!
Second, I recommend investing in good-quality paper and student-grade paints. Using the right materials can make a big difference—it helps you see better results from your efforts and reduces the challenges that often come with learning a new skill. For guidance, there are plenty of free tutorials on YouTube. Additionally, I’m beginning to offer in-home workshops for both youth and adults. As an art teacher, I am as passionate about sharing my knowledge and teaching others as I am about creating my own art.
Lastly, if you want to learn a skill, you need to practice, practice, practice. Silence feelings of doubt and inability, and be brave and vulnerable enough to make mistakes and try something new. There are countless resources and materials available today—we have no excuse not to venture into new ways of creating if we have the desire. Everyone has the ability to learn watercolor. I recommend painting daily! Even if the final product ends up in the trash, the process itself is valuable. Through the act of creating, we learn and discover more about ourselves. Sometimes, that exploration leads to art worth sharing with the world.
Kelly, 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?
Currently, I’m a faith-filled wife and mom of three, living in the charming city of Clarkston, Michigan. By day, I’m an art teacher at a lovely private school for junior high and high school students. I’m passionate about my faith, my family, and all things creative—and you’ll rarely find me without my trusty kitchen coffee mug in hand. After all, coffee and creativity make the perfect pair, don’t they?
I’ve been creative as long as I can remember. As a child, I’d make dresses from bed sheets and try my hand at painting, sewing, drawing, and ceramics. In college, I studied fine arts, photography, and graphic design, loving every moment. Funny enough I NEVER tried watercolor! At the end of my college years, I became a Mother, which changed my career path forever. I had a strong desire to stay home with my kids but still felt a deep pull to create as well. Driven by faith and passion for both my craft and my family, I launched a graphic design business from home with no formal training.
Many years into my at home career and three children later, the design industry had shifted to digital, I found fewer clients who valued the hands-on creativity I offered. During COVID I slowly stopped taking design clients and we enrolled our kids into a small private school, where I unexpectedly was asked to be the art teacher for junior high and high school. Teaching reconnected me with traditional fine art and practicing the fundamentals again. It felt deeply refreshing—so much more therapeutic than digital work and teaching was really rewarding.
This shift sparked a new passion: helping others embrace their unique creative style without fear. I focus on nurturing a love for the process over the pressure of perfection, all while emphasizing that practice makes progress. Though some may feel naturally inclined, I believe anyone can grow in art with dedication, just like any other skill. Today, I’m thrilled to share this journey with my students, watching them discover their own creative voices.
As I started teaching, I found more time at home to explore watercolor painting. All these life changes held challenging years, and painting became a source of peace and healing, helping me spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. I set up a small home studio where I could create my lessons and practice daily, challenging myself to paint every day, no matter what.
Over time, my work began to improve quickly, and I shared it with others. I found inspiration in nature and the scriptures. I loved painting landscapes or florals and finding vintage frames for my work. Soon, I was offered a spot to sell my art at a local farm! I jumped in, quickly creating a website and marketing materials. That’s how *Faded Fields* was born. My background in design and marketing helped me hit the ground running, though I’m still learning many things as I go and the unknown can still be intimidating in this new career. I’ve realized that waiting for the “perfect” moment often means missing the moment entirely, so I am embracing each challenge and keep moving forward. I was pleasantly surprised that my art sold at my first event and received a lot of encouraging feedback! That positive start motivated me to keep working on selling my art to this day. I have my first boutique that has allowed me to offer my art pieces for sale and I am looking into farmers markets and art shows in the future.
What sets my work apart is the care and thought I put into creating original, vintage-style art that’s ready to be displayed the moment it arrives. I often pair my pieces with beautiful frames—either charming vintage finds or elegant brass floating frames—so customers don’t have to worry about framing and can simply enjoy their new artwork instantly. My best-sellers are my unique, tiny framed paintings, measuring just 1″x1.5″, each one carefully hand-painted with intricate details.
Every piece I create is original, stamped, and signed, a small piece of my imagination brought to life in a way that ensures no two are exactly alike. Painting from my own ideas keeps each work fresh and uniquely personal. As my confidence grows, I’m beginning to explore larger paper sizes and have plans to expand my offerings into new products in the coming year. It’s an exciting journey, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me and to continue sharing my art with others.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is the joy it brings to others and my family. Either by inspiring others to create or purchase my art. There’s something magical about seeing someone connect with a piece—whether it brings them a sense of peace, stirs a treasured memory, or simply resonates in a way words can’t capture. Watching this unfold has been surprising and deeply fulfilling, inspiring me to create even more.
The other greatest reward this art career allows me to involve my family along the way as they each have their own creative part in the business. One really enjoys the photography part (at 12 he took most of my images submitted here!) and my other son creates wood stands for my art with his woodworking skills and shout out to my husband for working in the background of my creative messes and rescuing me from all the technical issues.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Pricing art can be so challenging, but it’s so much more than putting a number on an art piece. It’s about valuing the time, skill, and love poured into every brushstroke. When you invest in a piece of art, you’re not just paying for the final product—you’re supporting countless hours of practice, the refinement of a unique style, and the passion that drives the artist to create. This process has also deepened my appreciation for other artists’ price points because there’s so much more behind a piece of art than what you see.
Creating art goes beyond a hobby; it’s years of dedication, honing techniques, and pushing creative boundaries. Quality materials like archival paper, premium paints, and custom frames are chosen with care to ensure each piece stands the test of time. And behind every painting or sculpture is the effort spent curating, packaging, and marketing—labor that often goes unseen but is essential to making art accessible.
What makes art truly special is its personal touch. Unlike mass-produced items, original art carries a story and a piece of the artist’s heart, bringing authenticity and connection into your space. If you’re ever curious about the journey behind a piece, just ask! Artists love to share what makes their work so meaningful.
By choosing to purchase art, you’re not just buying a decoration—you’re supporting an artist’s livelihood, fueling their passion, and making it possible for them to continue creating. Your investment brings beauty, inspiration, and joy, while making a real difference in their lives and yours—It’s a beautiful exchange!
Contact Info:
- Website: www,fadedfieldsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fadedfieldsart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FadedFields
Image Credits
Levi Sexton