We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Saraya “charli” Charlton. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Saraya “Charli” below.

Saraya “Charli”, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

I started my business around 2019. I was working a corporate job and I was somewhat happy but definitely not fulfilled. My passion has always been art. At first I just made shirts and hoodies with my logo and sold them to friends and people in my community. Then I started making custom shirts and quickly got burnt out because it wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted to paint. So I started getting more involved with the art community in Nashville. I set up as a vendor to sell my art at some of the local art markets and that’s when I started feeling like I was heading in the right direction. I began meeting other artists and it felt like I found distant relatives I had been searching for. Sometimes I do wish I would have started my business sooner but I believe everything happens when it is supposed to. I wouldn’t change anything about the journey. I am thankful for every lesson I’ve encountered.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I was born in Cleveland, OH in ‘86 and moved to Antioch, TN in ‘93 with my mom. She wanted a better life for us and she knew we would not be safe in Cleveland. She introduced me to art and different mediums. I loved tracing the “connect the dots” drawings my mom would make for me. She would most often make the alphabet to help me learn my ABC’s. I experienced trauma at an early age and it drove me inward with silence. As I’ve grown and healed I realized that art is how I work through emotions that I understand and also don’t understand. I learn things about my spirit when I paint and I’m thankful to the Great Creator for allowing me to heal this way.

Painting became my subconscious choice of expression around 2011. I started painting more consistently in 2020. I knew I loved painting I just struggled with believing in myself until one day I decided I was just going to put paint on the canvas and whatever came out was that.

I also like to play a frame drum with a mallet. I have played for workshop events, private sessions and for volunteer events. The frame drum is held around an individuals head and is moved around the body to allow the person to feel the vibrations of the drum. The sound of the drum is grounding and to me it feels like bringing peace to war while at the same time strengthening my spirit for war. I believe we are here to heal ourselves. Sometimes we do it alone but we also heal together. And as real as I can be I just want to create art with my friends, heal and live in peace.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

The majority of my audience has been built by going to markets and networking with people in the art community in Nashville. IG deleted my page last year and I was frustrated for a minute because it takes time and effort building content and connecting with people. So I just recreated my account and started over and I have had more opportunities this year than I did in the years prior. So for me, social media isn’t everything. It’s great for marketing and showing what I do but being involved with my community has benefited me more. Be authentic and genuine and you will attract the right audience.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I know I mentioned this before but I just feel like it’s so important. Connecting with other artists and building community has helped build my reputation. I grew up in Antioch for the most part so I didn’t know a lot of people in Nashville. I started going to art shows with friends and connecting with people. I first displayed my art at The PSV store and that also really helped me build a reputation in the community and I’m forever thankful for that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://charlidoesarte.square.site/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charlidoesarte_?igsh=dm9oYjh1cmMyeXlq&utm_source=qr