We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zach Bauer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zach , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your business sooner or later

My studio began officially in 2018, a tough year riddled with injury, car trouble and emotional strife. Recovery always had me very creatively busy, but my activities in nature provided my spirit the most inspiration. The community provided a great impetus with a few large sales and comissions that year to get kick started. And a stead amount of smaller sales in the preceding years indicated a good opportunity to work on my passion. I’d have loved to start sooner but I was still growing into the artist I am now. Thus, it seems everything happens when it needs to. If I’d started sooner I feel I might have bitten off not what I’d be able to handle yet it also could have galvanized my studio into true organized purpose sooner. Who knows.

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 an artist since I was a child and studied arts since high school, and graduated Western Colorado University with a BFA in Art. My studio provides clients with watercolor paintings, wood burnt art and functional arts, in a variety of methods both traditional and non-traditional. My art features a whimsical and evocative representation of the outdoors and the life that fills them. From storefront signs to functional cutlery boards, shred benches and traditional 2-D wall art, the Activate Nature studio will help you feather your nest with love.

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

The lesson that letting emotion dictate creation isn’t as simple as you’d think. Making the habit of creation as healthy and simple as breathing. Mental health matters, figure that out and all else follows.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My passion with which I live life, everyone that gets to share it would confirm. Making the juice worth the squeeze daily.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ActivateNature.net
• Instagram: @activatenature
• Facebook: https://Facebook.com/activatednature