Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to McCayla Groski. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

McCayla, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

I first stumbled upon the word selcouth in a random Instagram post several years ago, and I just froze. I had never heard a word that described me, or my art, so perfectly. Selcouth (pronounced sell-cooth) means “strange, rare, unfamiliar… yet marvelous and wondrous.” That blend of chaos and beauty is exactly how I’ve always experienced creativity. It’s not just about creating a masterpiece on a canvas —it’s expression of our soul, story, and imagination.

So when it came time to name my business, Selcouth Artistry felt like a no-brainer. It’s a celebration of uniqueness, transformation, and the marvelous strangeness of life—and I hope when people experience my work, they feel a bit of that magic too.

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?

I’ve been artistic my whole life—started with chalk on the driveway, graduated to pencil sketches, and then (somewhat reluctantly) picked up a paintbrush in high school. And, truth be told… I *hated* it at first. I found color mixing annoying at best, impossibly challenging at worst, and I didn’t enjoy the hassle. But art has a funny way of sticking with you, even when you’re not looking for it.

I grew up on a dairy farm in Minnesota, working alongside my family—long days, lots of mud, plenty of memories, and a deep love for cows. That experience shaped so much of who I am: my work ethic, my appreciation for the outdoors, and my tendency to find vibrancy and beauty in the everyday.

After high school, I experienced personal trauma that left me feeling completely disconnected from myself. I lost myself in a desperate need to “blend in” and seek joy, anywhere I could find it. I didn’t realize it at the time, but as a result I stopped creating entirely. My spark had gone out. Thankfully, on a whim several years later, I elected to take a single art class in college—and it was like I finally woke up from a deep sleep. I got my hands messy with charcoal, and I finally remembered: I am a creative person. I also realized the joy from creating lasted far longer than the fleeting comfort of blending in. This year, 2015, I created my Instagram page, @SelcouthArtistry, the very first step towards the freelance art business I run today.

When I look back at my early acrylic paintings in those years right after college, they’re messy, raw, emotional. They perfectly reflected the inner chaos I was trying to work through. As I healed, my art became more cohesive, hopeful, vibrant—even joyful. My style matured not just from experience, but from the emotional growth that accompanied it. My art became a mirror to my journey, and that personal evolution still influences every piece I create.

When COVID hit the U.S., my family (like many) turned to Zoom to stay connected. We had virtual talent shows, sing-alongs, puppet performances from my nephews—and one day I started teaching painting classes to them. What began as a family activity quickly grew into something more. Word spread to my sister’s friend who worked at a 4-H Extension Office and asked if I would teach an online class to her 4-H group. I said yes, and suddenly I was offering online painting classes to youth groups, office teams, churches, and more. It was during this time—2020—that *Selcouth Artistry* officially became a business.

Then, in 2023, thanks to another nudge from my ever-encouraging sister, I explored face painting… and instantly fell in love with it. Working with kids is hilarious, messy, imaginative, humbling, and full of joy. I love the energy, the way a child’s eyes light up when they see themselves transformed into a tiger, a butterfly, or a glitter-covered superhero.

So today, I offer a range of services that are all grounded in creativity, connection, and joy:

– Face Painting for parties, festivals, and events
– Original Acrylic Paintings that have made my heart sing to create
– Custom Commissioned Paintings that bring my clients’ stories to life
– Art Classes for all ages—offered both online and in-person
– Greeting cards, stickers, and prints of my original artwork

Whether I’m painting a three-year-old’s forehead, teaching a corporate team how to blend colors, or pouring hours into a canvas commission, I see my work as a way to spark magic.

What sets Selcouth Artistry apart is that I don’t just show up with paint, or a finished canvas—I bring presence, heart, razzle dazzle, and a belief that art is for everyone. You don’t need to be a creative person to experience the benefits of creativity. I meet people where they’re at and help them find joy in the process, not just the product.

What I’m most proud of is how my art helped me heal—and now brings joy to others. Whether it’s through a canvas, a class, or glittered cheeks, I hope people walk away from Selcouth Artistry feeling seen, inspired, and maybe just a little more in love with their own imagination.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Without a doubt—word of mouth.

But not just in the “someone mentioned my name at a meeting” kind of way (though, thank you to all who have!). I’ve come to realize that my best marketing tool has never been my logo, my website layout, or even the name Selcouth Artistry. It’s me.

It’s the glitter on my cheeks, my wild and curly space buns, the way I light up and say, “Yeah!” when a kid tells me they want to be painted as a green-nosed wolf.

It’s the way I tell people in my classes, “You can throw this away when we’re done if you want! You’re not here to create a masterpiece—you’re here to practice creativity. To let loose.”

It’s the rainbow garland that decorates my booth at art fairs.

Once I figured out that I am my brand, everything shifted. Instead of constantly trying to “promote,” I focused on simply showing up—fully, authentically, joyfully. When I do that, I naturally attract the kind of clients and communities I love working with: kindred spirits who value creativity, connection, and a little bit of magic.

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

For me, creating art is a lot like journaling—only instead of words, I use color, texture, movement, and a little bit of magic. My life story is on these canvases. Each one quietly tells a piece of my emotional state, my ongoing healing, my current curiosity or creative fixation.

What’s most rewarding is looking back at older work and seeing a visual map of my journey—where I was emotionally, what I was processing, what I found beautiful or important at the time. My art has grown as I have. It holds my progress, my pain, my joy, and my hope.

But the real heart of it? It’s the magic moments—those fleeting little flashes of connection that happen when someone engages with my work. When a student in my class suddenly lights up with pride because they did the thing they were scared to try. When a parent sends me a photo of their kid still beaming from being transformed into a reindeer. When a stranger sees one of my paintings and says, “Wow, I have to have this!”

Those are the moments that remind me art isn’t about making something pretty. It’s about capturing a moment, one that resonates, surprises, heals, or simply brings joy. That’s the kind of magic I live for—and I get to chase it every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SelcouthArtistry.com
• Instagram: @SelcouthArtistry
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SelcouthArtistry
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/selcouth-artistry

Image Credits

Bonnie Thoe-Austin