Messy Artist Podcast

Episode 6 - The Trench of Fear: What Happened Before My Art Business Worked; Waiting for Permission to Be an Artist When I Thought I Was Delusional

Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In this deeply personal episode, Sophie shares one of the hardest seasons of her journey as an artist: the months spent living inside fear.

After deciding to pursue art professionally, Sophie found herself in a strange and uncomfortable place. She had invested in her dream, applied to art festivals, built her booth, purchased equipment, and committed to becoming an artist—but she had no idea whether any of it would work.

Would the art shows accept her?

Was her artwork actually good enough?

Was she building a real business, or was she simply fooling herself?

For months, she woke up every morning carrying a crushing weight of uncertainty, imposter syndrome, and anxiety. Yet somehow, she kept moving forward one application, one painting, one deadline at a time.

Along the way, Sophie shares the story behind her watercolor painting Tulip, inspired by Washington's rainy spring season and the fleeting beauty of the Skagit Valley tulip fields.

In this episode:
00:00 Drowning In Fear
00:15 Meet Sophie
02:00 Tulip Painting Spotlight
03:27 Why Record The Fear
05:23 Applying To Art Shows
09:04 Winter Waiting Game
10:45 Imposter Syndrome Spiral
13:01 Learning The Business
16:15 Accepted And Overwhelmed
18:34 Building A Home Studio
19:57 Surviving The Trench
22:46 One Year Later Hope
24:21 Stage Lights Vision
26:02 Closing And Next Episode

Most importantly, Sophie reflects on what she learned after surviving that season of uncertainty—and why fear often shows up right before life begins to change.

If you're standing at the edge of a big decision, wondering whether to take a leap into the unknown, this episode is for you.

Sometimes the path forward is dark. Sometimes you can't see what's ahead. But that doesn't mean there isn't another stage waiting for you on the other side.

FInd Me At:

https://www.dreaminwatercolor.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sophiberryxie/
https://www.facebook.com/SophiberryStudio
https://www.youtube.com/@dreaminwatercolor
https://www.tiktok.com/@dreaminwatercolor

Episode 5 - Earliest days of choosing art: Every "Failed" Business Led Me Here: Making Art Pay the Bills

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Sophie shares the winding path that led her from physical therapist to professional artist—and why her art business almost never happened.

Before Dream In Watercolor, there were blogs that never took off, YouTube channels that were abandoned, print-on-demand stores that barely sold, and years of wondering if entrepreneurship simply wasn't meant for her. Add marriage struggles, young children, burnout, and self-doubt, and the dream of making a living through creativity often felt impossible.

But looking back, Sophie realizes none of those efforts were wasted.

Each attempt taught her skills she would eventually use to build a successful art business: content creation, online marketing, website design, video editing, and learning how to connect with an audience.

Along the way, she shares the story behind Butterfly Forest, the first watercolor painting that made her think, "Maybe I could actually sell this."

She also talks about the mentors who helped shape her journey, her first visit to the Edmonds Art Festival, and the moment she realized that people truly do value original art—not because they need it, but because it brings meaning, beauty, and joy into their lives.

In this episode:
• The first painting that felt market-ready
• Why previous business failures weren't really failures
• The emotional challenge of leaving a traditional career
• Lessons learned from blogging, YouTube, and e-commerce
• The artists and mentors who inspired her
• Visiting her first art festival as a future vendor
• How selling art became a real business
• Why art matters, even when it isn't a necessity

If you're an artist, entrepreneur, creative dreamer, or someone considering a major life pivot, this episode is a reminder that success often grows from the skills we gain through the attempts that didn't work out.

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Episode 4 - Why I Never Grew Up (And Why That's Okay): Wonder, Imagination, and The Day I Stopped Hiding My Inner Child: Peter Pan, Paintbrushes, and Renaissance Faires

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Sophie explores something she's spent most of her life trying to hide: her childlike mind.

While the world seemed to grow up around her, Sophie always felt connected to fantasy stories, animated movies, imagination, and a sense of wonder that never quite left. For years, she worried that this part of herself made her seem immature or less capable as an adult.

But what if that childlike perspective isn't a weakness?

What if it's the very thing that allows artists, dreamers, and creatives to see beauty, possibility, and magic where others see only ordinary life?

Along the way, Sophie shares the story behind her watercolor painting Morning, a hopeful winter scene inspired by multiple references and built from imagination. She also talks about discovering Renaissance Faires, Dungeons & Dragons, fantasy art, and a community that helped her embrace the geeky, imaginative side of herself she once tried to hide.

In this episode:
00:00 Hiding The Child Self
00:11 Meet Sophie And The Podcast
01:49 Painting Spotlight Morning
04:07 Inner Child As An Adult
05:24 Feeling Ashamed Of Wonder
06:59 Finding My Geek Community
09:49 Wonder Fuels The Art
13:06 Storytelling And Staying Cohesive
13:52 Invitation To Embrace It
15:14 Wrap Up And Next Episode

If you've ever been told to "grow up," but still find joy in fantasy worlds, storytelling, costumes, creativity, and wonder, this episode is for you.

The world needs more dreamers. Don't lose the part of yourself that still believes in magic.

FInd Me At:

Episode 3 - The Art of Being a Hot Mess: Creativity, Chaos, and Self-Worth; Learning to Like My Messy Self

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Sophie gets deeply personal about something she's struggled with her entire life: being a mess.

From cluttered rooms and forgotten errands to a mind that never seems to stop racing, Sophie reflects on growing up feeling careless, disorganized, and somehow "less than" because she couldn't fit the world's definition of put-together. But what if the very chaos we've been taught to fix is also the source of our creativity?

Through stories from her life as an artist, business owner, single mom, and perpetual hot mess, Sophie explores the connection between creativity and chaos, the hidden cost of tying self-worth to productivity, and the challenge of learning to like yourself when you can no longer earn your self-esteem through constant achievement.

Along the way, she introduces one of her favorite watercolor paintings, The Alley, inspired by the magical medieval streets of Italy.

If you've ever felt scattered, overwhelmed, forgetful, or like you're constantly falling behind, this episode is for you.

In this episode:
00:00 Welcome to Episode Three

00:49 Painting Spotlight The Alley

02:43 Why I Am a Mess

03:37 Chaos Fuels Creativity

04:37 Forgetful and Disorganized

05:57 Mess and Self Worth

07:39 Productivity as a Coping Trap

08:50 Hitting the Wall at Forty

09:22 Learning to Like the Chaos

10:28 Subscribe and Final Encouragement

You are not alone. You might just be a wonderful hot mess full of creative energy.

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Episode 2 - The Closet Creative: Why I Couldn't Ignore Art Anymore; From Physical Therapist to Full-Time Artist; Creativity Was Never a Choice

Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

For most of my life, I thought creativity was something I could set aside while I focused on being practical.

I went to college. Built a career. Earned a doctorate in physical therapy. Got married, raised kids, and followed the path that seemed responsible and logical.

But underneath it all, there was a creative part of me that never disappeared.

In this episode, I share the story of growing up as a chronic doodler, dropping out of art school, spending decades suppressing my artistic side, and the unexpected journey that brought me back to watercolor during one of the most difficult periods of my life.

What started as a way to cope with stress during divorce became something much bigger—a realization that creativity wasn't a hobby I could choose or reject. It was part of who I am.

We'll talk about flow state, fear, reinvention, building an art business from scratch, and what happens when you finally stop ignoring the thing your soul has been asking for all along.

If you've ever felt pulled toward a dream that doesn't seem practical, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
00:07 – Meet Sophie and the Podcast
01:15 – Artwork Spotlight: Glory
03:30 – Childhood Doodler in Trouble
05:35 – Closet Creative on the Life Track
06:55 – Art School Detour and Dropping Out
08:14 – Becoming a Physical Therapist
10:23 – Pandemic Crafts Spark the Itch
13:38 – Divorce Stress and Watercolor Return
15:49 – Flow State Then Reality Check
17:59 – Art Rejection Triggers a Breaking Point
19:09 – Building an Art Business from Scratch
21:35 – New Life as a Full-Time Artist

Keep dreaming,
Sophie
Dream In Watercolor

FInd Me At:

From Doctor of Physical Therapy to Hot Mess Artist: It’s Never Too Late to Pivot

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Episode 1: From Doctor of Physical Therapy to Hot Mess Artist: It’s Never Too Late to Pivot

Show Notes: Are you tired of playing by the rules of "serious adulting" and hiding your true self? In this debut episode of Hello Dreamers, host Sophie—a former Doctor of Physical Therapy turned professional watercolorist—shares her raw, chaotic, and inspiring journey of completely restarting her life at 40. After a divorce two years ago, Sophie decided to stop ignoring her inner child, step out of her comfort zone, and launch her business, Dream in Watercolor.

If you are standing on the doorstep of a major life transition, dealing with self-doubt, or trying to navigate a career change, this episode will give you the gentle nudge you need to take action anyway. Sophie does a hilarious "brain dump" on why she's embracing her inner teenager, navigating life as a single mother of two, and why she wants to normalize the things society tells us to hide.

In this episode, we dive into:

Embracing the Messiness: Why a chaotic house and a chaotic mind are perfectly okay.
Normalizing Intrusive Thoughts: Breaking the shame around negative thinking and moving past mindfulness perfectionism.
Anxiety as a Guide: How fear and anxiety can actually help you identify your comfort zone and build courage.
The 1.5 Generation Immigrant Experience: Navigating high familial expectations versus personal creative freedom.
Reclaiming Childish Joy: Why it's never too late to love cosplay, Renaissance fairs, or doodling.

Connect with a community of fellow quirky dreamers who are ready to live life fully expressed!

✨ Connect with Sophie:

Website: dreaminwatercolor.com
Support the Show: If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and smash that like button on YouTube to help the algorithm share this message with other dreamers!

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