06/22/2026
In 2016, I was living in Redwood City, California. I had just started using acrylic paint after briefly experimenting with oils and leaving watercolor behind entirely. One day, while scrolling Instagram, I saw something that would change my life.
I came across a woman who made a living from her art. She shared her work on social media, was active in her local arts community, and ran her own website. No galleries, just direct sales to collectors. Until that moment, I didn’t really think that was possible. Suddenly, I had a dream for my future. I wanted to be her when I grew up.
From that point on, I set my sights on making it happen. I started taking courses, working with artist coaches, and learning everything I could about building a career as an artist. In the meantime, I continued working a 9-to-5. I did customer service for a company in Silicon Valley and walked dogs on the side. I was determined to make it work.
In 2017, I moved back to Michigan. I kept my job in San Mateo, and they allowed me to work remotely for about a year.
Then, in October 2018, I was laid off. When it happened, my manager and his boss told me, “Leah, letting you go was a hard decision because we love working with you. But you’re not meant to be here. You’re ready to be a full-time artist. Go live your dream. We believe in you.”
So I did.
I became a full-time artist. I started applying to gallery shows, solo exhibitions, and group exhibitions. I released collections. And little by little, I made the dream happen.
To develop the style I have today, I forced myself to return to a blank canvas over and over again for an entire year. It was frustrating. I wasted a lot of paint and a lot of canvases. But I came out of that process knowing exactly what my style was, where it came from, and how to make work that felt uniquely mine.
The reason I’ve been able to do this is because of people like you reading this right now. Every time you interact with my posts, like them, comment on them, or share them, you’re contributing to my success. Every interaction tells Facebook that my story is worth showing to someone else.
Your support puts my work in front of people who discover that my artwork is the missing piece in their home. The piece that brings everything together.
Thank you for being part of this journey. If you didn’t get the painting you wanted in my last collection, there are a couple more to come soon. 👀
