Meet Caroline Reber | Watercolor and Ceramic Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Caroline Reber and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
This is going to sound cheesy– but love. Not only a love for creating, for painting and pottery, but out of love for others as well. I have always had a heart for helping and encouraging others and I knew from a young age that I would want to go into a career that builds others up. After exploring and deliberating over different career paths, I sat myself down and went back to basics– what am I truly passionate about? I thought about what brought me joy from a young age, and continues to bring me joy. Then I thought “how can I turn these things into a career that works around my life, as opposed to finding a career that I can work my life around?”. After this little reset I realized the two things I’m truly passionate about: art and others.

Once I had this realization I knew I wanted to start an art business that centers around encouragement, building others up, and helping people to find peace in a noisy and chaotic world. Within my art I aim to capture the feeling of peace that nature provides me, and to create something that hopefully carries those feelings of tranquility with whomever it is shared. With my ceramics, I leave little hidden encouraging notes on the bottom of all my pieces. I’ve found it really is the little things that can make a huge difference in one’s day!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m an artist specializing in watercolor paintings, and beautiful yet functional ceramics.

Since discovering my love of watercolor three years ago in college, it has become one of my primary mediums. Nature has always been a powerful source of inspiration for me, and the way that watercolor is able to capture the characteristics of nature is, for me, unmatched. Watercolor is able to create such soft, fluid, gentle moments within a painting, and I feel this showcases the grace and beauty of nature in such a unique and beautiful way. Along with the delicate beauty of nature; nature holds strength and power as well. Watercolor also holds strength, though appearing soft and gentle. This is one of the reasons I hated working with the medium when I was first introduced! It’s hard to learn how to control watercolors, and once it is laid on the paper, it can be incredibly difficult to get off. Since watercolor is transparent as well, it is not like you can just paint over a mistake! Every brush stroke needs to be laid down with intention. I love thinking about the correlation between medium and subject, and I think there are many that can be drawn between watercolors and nature.

Besides seeing a common theme of nature in my work, something people will quickly notice about my paintings is their size; they are small. While it’s true that I love and am comfortable painting at a smaller scale, there is more to the decision to paint small. I believe that small paintings hold a sense of intimacy that larger pieces often don’t. Small paintings feel more personal to me. They invite a viewer in; to take a step closer. I think larger paintings naturally draw more attention because of their size and the impression they make in a room; which I absolutely love as well! Large pieces can invoke such emotions, and have the power to influence the whole environment of a room. But I also believe there is something special about smaller paintings, and the environment they can create between the viewer and the piece. Since feelings of peace and harmony are strong motivators behind my art, I gravitate towards painting smaller to encourage that space of quiet connection between my viewer and the painting.

Regarding my ceramics: I strive to create fun, feminine, functional pieces that brighten the mundane of everyday life! I am passionate about living life in a way that promotes harmony, self encouragement, and positivity.

One day while on the phone with my mom, I was sharing with her my plans for ceramics and the motivation behind my pieces. After listening, she had the wonderful suggestion of writing short, encouraging notes on the bottom of all my pieces. I thought this was such a fun idea, and have since been implementing it on all the ceramics I create. Personally I have always loved finding little surprises (whether that be a hidden phrase on the tag of a favorite sweater, or a cute note stuck between the pages of a book) and I’m excited at the thought of bringing a smile to someone’s face when they turn over their new piece of pottery for the first time.

Like I said previously, positive mindset is important to me, and I want others to believe in themselves, their worth, and their value. I want others to not merely make it through life, but to pursue their passions and believe that they can create the life of which they’ve always dreamed! My hope is that my small art business helps encourage even a couple people that they are valued, loved, and that my art can help bring a moment of peace and happiness into busy days.

I am still early in my art career, but one thing I have to constantly remind myself is that building a business, especially a business in the arts, is going to take time. I am built in a way that once I decide something, I am ready to make it happen immediately. I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling, and it can be difficult and disheartening to remain patient when growth takes longer than anticipated. I have certainly been known to fall into the lie of believing that living off of my art is impossible (you can ask my husband, lol!) but I am blessed to be surrounded by so many supportive people in my life who encourage me to keep going even when my dream of turning my art into a full-time career seems delusional. My family and friends build me up, motivate me, and help me remember why I wanted to pursue this dream in the first place! I think for anyone hoping to start their own small art business, surrounding oneself with supportive individuals is vital. It is too easy to give into the lies of comparison, self-doubt, delusion etc. when working alone.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I actually live a bit south of the city in Senoia, but if you’re looking for great espresso Senoia Coffee & Cafe and Safehouse Coffee Roasters in Griffin have some of the best! If you want to just walk around and have fun exploring, I love visiting Serenbe and Trilith.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My wonderful husband JT, my parents and siblings, and all my friends who have (and continue to!) encourage and support my dream of owning my own art business!

Website: https://www.carolinereberart.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinereber_art/