We were lucky to catch up with Rhea Rose recently and have shared our conversation below.
Rhea, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s jump to the end – what do you want to be remembered for?
Picasso said “ The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away .” One of the greatest obstacles I have had to overcome is insecurity. Gaining confidence changed my relationships, my dress and my business. I would like to encourage as many people as I can that they are perfectly and intentionally made. I would like to see people free to be themselves. I reveal my own experience with confidence and resilience in my art and use my art to help others express theirs as well , in addition to building positive relationships them of encouragement.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I have always been a visual artist. It is not just what I do, but it is how I feel, see and process emotion and thought. However, I didn’t realize this as a child and set my mind on being a doctor. At the age of 17 found out I was going to have a daughter and decided I wanted to be a stay at home mom instead of studying medicine with a full scholarship. So I did, and not long after, I became restless and began doing what came naturally, drawing. People began paying me for it and thus came the formation of my business, Phoenix Art Studio, and my road to the discovery and acceptance of “me.” Over time I took on different art mediums that I had to learn and several artists and art lovers took me under their wing and helped hone my skills. Currently, I enjoy teaching art to all ages, painting commissioned portraits and murals both residential and commercial, and traveling to galleries and shows with my own creations. I have also worked closely with organizations that empower women who are overcoming trauma and abuse.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I would say my divorce from my first husband was a huge pivot. I couldn’t imagine my life being broken the way it was. I would have to start completely over and assume a new identity. But through it all I kept dreaming. I continued to paint and create even as a single mother. My whole life instantly looked different, but I had to keep moving forward even with the pivot.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Honestly, I started with nothing. I drew my first commission on a piece of copy paper. I continued selling simple drawings and bought new equipment and supplies as I progressed. I used credit cards at some points eventually, but most of the time I keep it simple and use what I have.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.PhoenixArtStudio.net
- Instagram: phoenix_art_studio_llc
- Facebook: Phoenix Art Studio LLC
- Youtube: Phoenix Art Studio LLC
- Yelp: Phoenix Art Studio
Image Credits
Photographer Michael Blue Smith @markedesign Make Up Tyra Jones (For image of me)