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

Hi Maruša , thanks for joining us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I love houseplants, I collect rare ones. One evening I was scrolling through plantlover’s FB page and saw a post that one lady posted-beautiful caladium plant. I was just holding brush and I painted this plant. I shared the painting in the comments. People loved it so much and wanted to pay for it. I laughed and gave it to this lady whi posted this painting for free. I loved and enjoyed painting it so much and I saw that people love planty art! It was something new! Innovative. Not many people in the world paint houseplants and related motifs!!!
That is how it began!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Art was always close to me, especially music an literature. I even studied comparative literature, ph.d. I was also very crafty all my life-I did homemade soaps and cosmetics, sew and knitted, enjoyed amateur photography and the list is endless. But I didn’t paint since I was a child. When I was a small girl grandma was teaching me to draw. I began to love it. But didn’t continue from 10-37 years.
I started painting again three years ago. It called me. Soul spoke.
Firstly I did three paintings for small gallery in the city. This three paintings were very special to me and had very strong symbolic note to them. They reflected my inner revolution I went through at that time. I changed my life completely-left my 10year long partner, left new builded house and went away from it all with no job, no money in my pocket. I was scared to death, but I felt I have inner support and support from Universe. I started my life all over again, kind of reset.
I soon started painting and taking commissions. Business flowered!! I had something new to offer-beautiful paintings of houseplants and soon pet portraits combined with houseplants, planty logos etc. People absolutely love my work.
My planty paintings are full of energy, warm -though green is cold color, I somehow make it warm, optimistic. I have very unique style-I use watercolors with marker and frequently do splashes. Also my pets are very unique !
I also make other products. In collab with other entrepreneurs we designed unique handmade woman’s bag. I also offer other products-personalized T-shirt (with custom illustration client requests), artprints, notebooks, T-shirts, tote bags and I’m starting offering enamel cups too. In collaboration with Gvantek (handmade adult and children clothes) I’m starting to paint on textile!
I offer unique handpainted art with planty motifs, that you can’t find anywhere else. My art makes you happy and if you’re plant lover, it’s a must have. Not only aesthetically pleasing, my art also speaks symbolically. Plants (and pets) are part of nature, we cultivated in our homes. My art celebrates nature in that way-our coexistence with it, mutual benefits. Green color is symbol of new beginnings, heart chakra (empathy, love) and green calms us. My paintings are also spiritual pieces of art that bring all that and more in your home.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the prejudice that it’s impossible to live from art.

It’s common thought in my country and in my family that it’s impossible or very difficult to live as illustrator/artist.

I didn’t choose to go to art scool when I was young because I was told this.

I stayed away from painting because I thought it’s not appreciated or it’s useless.

But in reality I had to quit my regular job, because I got so many orders for custom designs and start my own business!

I know it’s important to find my targeted audience, smart marketing is necessary, but I’m living my dreams as artist now!
After more then a year in my business I’m still having hard time to believe it. I’m so grateful that I followed my heart!

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

I started two years ago. I build my audience on FB and IG through indirect marketing via targeted FB groups. I direct them to my professional IG profile as on professional FB page.
I’m true to myself. I post my art and my personal background as an artist and human being. People love personal
stories and I started sharing it more, all though I’m more private person.
Mainly I post my art pieces and a bit of story behind each piece. I share feedbacks from my clients, collaborations, interviews in magazine, new products and in stories-my everyday life from art to trips with my partner and my famous brittish shorthair cat! People love seeing background.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Plantelish
• Facebook: Maruša Furlan, Plantelish
• Linkedin: Maruša Furlan
• Other: Etsy: MarusaFurlanArt

Image Credits
Photographer: Saša Milo

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