I Started My Art Business with $2 in My Bank Account

Hi, my name is Rebeca Flott and I’m the founder of Rebeca Flott Arts, a company that creates custom screen art through a variety of online platforms—some of which include Etsy, Amazon Handmade and my own personal website. My art has been well received throughout the nation and has allowed my husband, Joshua and I, to work full-time in this creative field for the last four years.

To say I grew up surrounded with some challenging circumstances is an understatement. To be honest, at times it felt like a whirl-wind of problems were surrounding me. I was born and raised in Brazil in a middle-class family for most of my younger years. Middle-Class in Brazil could be compared to areas of poverty here in the States. I was an adopted female, rich in color, which in a white family brought with it some feelings of isolation and left me questioning where I belong. At age 13 my family decided to move cities. It was during this time of loneliness, having left all I had once known, that my mother first introduced me to art. Living in Brazil, art classes were not something my family could afford consistently, but they decided to invest in some basic classes for me to see if I would grow to love it. I quickly discovered my love for painting and before I knew it I was painting on anything I could get my hands on. I never actually painted on a canvas until I was in my twenties living in the United States. As a young girl, I was full of dreams and desires but did not have the training to go with it. There was one thing I did have though: passion. So, I kept doing what I loved to do. One of my first customers here in the States told me something I will never forget; he said, “Rebeca, never let your dreams die.” It has been my motto ever since. 

I have been a full-time artist now for seven years. One of the biggest opportunities I’ve had was the ability to license my painting-process techniques to the largest “Paint ‘n Sip” in the nation: Painting with a Twist. While working as an art instructor at Painting with a Twist, I used to pray every day, “Lord, help me to create something that is uniquely-innovative to me.” For six years I worked there until someone took note of the fact that I was using the “trash” to make custom art, and that was just the momentum I needed. Screen art classes were born.  It took me two years to develop my work into an experience that could be taught at the studios. There was nothing easy in this process, it took a lot of testing and creating, but now Painting with a Twist offers my custom Screen Art in almost 200 studios across the Nation. In addition to that, I now own my own franchise and teach artists the Rebeca Flott Arts Screen Art technique. I also sell my art online, on my Website, Etsy, Amazon Handmade and travel to Vintage Marketplace Shows. I begin my national tour in 2020, teaching art classes around the nation. 

The day I said “YES” to my licensing agreement as an artist was the happiest and scariest day of

my life. I started my business with two dollars in my account. I knew what it felt like to be a struggling artist, but through it all I never lost hope. I was committed to growing the Rebeca Flott Arts brand and I asked for a lot of help in the process. I didn’t do it alone. First, I reached out to a photographer to help me get professional pictures up on my online platforms and before I knew it I was making over $3,000 a month in online sales. I met people. I made connections. I listened to people’s stories and showed them I cared. I have learned that the key to success is the relationships you build with people on the journey. Focus on the people, not the money, and the money will naturally come. I never imagined that my art would be taught in a class setting, but the opportunity found me. There are really no limits to what can be achieved with hard work, faith and the belief in your dreams.

Building My Business

The first screen I ended up painting was a gift for my grandma.  She liked it so much that she  posted it on Facebook. A friend of hers saw it, reached out, and placed an order.  I was shocked that someone was going to pay money for a painted screen. Right then I thought this could be a great side hustle. Soon after I started to build my Etsy shop. I put in many hours to constantly build better-looking listings and reach the 100 item mark. To test the market and build local sales I went to craft shows and vintage markets. I was so broke that I made my display out of cardboard boxes and drapes from my living room. The first craft show was in a small church and  I ended up making 600 dollars. I was over the moon! People there told me what they wanted me to make for them, so I started taking custom orders as well. I would then create a listing on Etsy for those items and that helped boost sales even more and grow my number of listings. Every time I would hear that wonderful “Cha-Ching” on Etsy I thought, “I can’t believe that I’m living in a miracle.”

Currently, I am writing a book for creators and entrepreneurs, to be released in 2020. Through the process of writing this book, I discovered that creators in any industry all have the same challenges. We are scared to take the leap of faith, to believe in ourselves enough to quit our day jobs to pursue our dreams. I am living proof that it is possible! I have learned that asking for help is one of the biggest steps to achieve my goals. When I come across something that I do not feel comfortable with or does not come easy, I can always find someone to assist me and that I can learn from. Once we are humble enough to ask for help, that is when we can really grow and let our true light and talent show. We are not meant to do this alone. We are made to lift each other up.

As I look forward to the future of Rebeca Flott Arts, I am looking with excitement for what is to come. I will continue to travel the country and teach artists the RFA technique through Painting with a Twist. I’ll also be offering online classes that will teach artists the success behind the creations—including how to build a successful Etsy business and how to move beyond your craft to make a successful business. I encourage other artists to never lose hope or momentum. 

Keep Creating.  Keep Pursuing. Keep Believing.

Subscribe to Handmade Seller Magazine to read the rest.