Why Starting Messy is Totally Okay (and How It’s Fueling My Art Journey)

Hey everybody,

If you're new to me, I’m Zarah, the artist behind Watercolor Wizardry—where I’m rolling up my sleeves and building something truly aligned with me (and that helps you, too). Today, I want to just chat with you about what’s going on behind the scenes—no filters, no pretending it’s all smooth sailing.

The Honest Reality: Beta = A Little Bit Bonkers

So, let’s get real for a second. Watercolor Wizardry Academy is in beta, which basically means if you peeked in right now, you’d see that things are a little chaotic, a little unpolished, a little bare, and also pretty exciting. We’re building this thing from the ground up—AKA ground zero. Honestly, it feels like inviting you all into my art studio before I’ve cleaned up. 😄

If you decide to join us right now, you’re jumping into the fun with me—not just testing out a finished product, but actually helping shape it. (And I have to say, that’s pretty awesome.)

Real Life Update: From Grooming Cats to Growing a Community

Want a taste of my glamorous artist life? Yesterday was cat grooming day for my two loved (maybe a little spoiled) Persians—Melania (my silver shaded, fluffy little champion’s daughter) and Sugar (her brown tabby, adorable younger aunt who’s ALWAYS up to mischief). Now, our groomer isn’t exactly next door. She’s in Bonner’s Ferry, a good hour and a half away, so we turn it into a day trip—breakfast at Badgers Restaurant, snowy winter drives, the whole deal.

Why am I telling you about my cats in an art update? Because honestly, this is my real creative life! My cats, these little road trips, even the chaos of chasing Sugar out of my studio before she hides behind the easel—it all weaves into my art and how I approach building a community for fellow artists. This is the stuff that keeps things light and fun, even when deadlines are looming.

What’s Happening Next: Workshops & Working Out the Kinks

I’m currently planning our next big thing—the first workshops for the Academy. And yes, it means dusting off my camera setup, relearning admin tools, and figuring out how to package everything so it actually works for you all. There are so many little (and big) decisions, but I keep reminding myself: consistency > perfection. If I keep showing up (even if everything’s not perfect), that’s what actually moves things forward.  I'll learn or re-learn and improve along the way.  That seems to be how everything works.

I want to be inside our Academy community more while I’m working on stuff—sharing updates, showing the messy process, and hopefully having lots of laughs along the way. The goal is to complete workshops so they're on-demand, and everything ready for Faith Mariah’s bundle by the 16th (fingers crossed), but honestly, my main mission is to get it out there, even if it’s a bit rough around the edges, and get feedback.

Key Takeaways

• Start messy. Forget waiting for everything to be perfect—seriously, just jump in. You figure it out as you go.

• Real life = real art. Your everyday moments (even wild cat days) make the journey memorable and unique.

• Community makes it better. Doing this with other people is WAY more fun and motivating than trying to go it alone.

• Show up, even if you’re winging it. Consistency wins over perfection, every time.

Ready to Join the Fun?

• Hop in early: Check out Watercolor Wizardry Academy which is open for BETA Members.  If you’re up for the “ground zero” adventure and want to help build something cool, come join the fun!

• Sign up for my almost daily emails by signing up here: Watercolor Wizardry Workshop Waitlist and get daily stories, behind-the-scenes antics, new workshops, random flowers and cat pics—get it all straight to your inbox.

• Tell me your story: Are you a hot mess in progress too? Let’s encourage each other and swap some honest, real talk.

So what’s the moral of this story? Every amazing project (and every piece of art) starts a little messy for a while and a LOT honest. If you can embrace the chaos, give yourself some grace, and laugh at the journey, you’re already creating something beautiful. ❤️ That's important to know.

Thanks for following along—I can’t wait to see what we make together!

Talk soon,
Zarah