Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth Mason.
Hi Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve always had a love for all things handmade. My excitement for art came at a young age at my grandmother’s art desk. She’d leave little trinkets and craft things out for me to create whatever came to my little 7 year old mind. As I grew, I knew art would always be something that stuck! I grew up in Arkansas and graduated from Henderson State University with a bachelors in fine arts and shortly moved to Texas. As I discovered more of who I was as a newlywed and what I was “supposed to do with my life” as a profession, art went to the back burner as it so easily does for many. I felt a pressing to begin a career as an art educator and started teaching elementary art. I loved it, but several years and a few kids later, I realized that public education was taking away from the investment of time I wanted to put in with my own children. I wasn’t sure what to do if I took a step away from teaching for over a decade. So I did what I knew I needed to do… I prayed. I prayed while I waited and while I was still in the classroom and as I did, my husband did too and I felt a deep conviction that God was encouraging me to wait. To trust and to wait. After several months of this, I began getting more orders for commission work I did on the side. One afternoon, my husband said “Beth, what if you did this as a job?” And, as I’m sure we’re all told at some point, I thought “Art isn’t a substantial way to earn an income”. But God tends to have bigger plans than we do.
I got more and more orders so I began setting up a name for my business and kept coming back to the topic of “home”. Who we are often starts in the home. It shapes us, the memories we make within the walls. I decided on “MakerzHome” as I believe we all have potential to make something beautiful with what we’ve been given.
I eventually turned in my notice to my administrator that I wouldn’t be returning and remember the weight being lifted. I began networking around my area, some turning into substantial leads and others turning into flops as they tend to do when starting a business. And instead of letting the “what ifs” rule my days, I felt complete peace knowing God would guide me exactly where I was meant to be with this business. It was meant to show Him glory, anyway.
I began working with Jennie Tucker and several other live event painters under her company called JLA collective and God had opened so many doors through that as well. Never in all of my years would I have thought I would be an artist as a full time profession but much less on a team of other like minded artists.
My job now entails traveling to places like Aspen to paint at events, painting beloved childhood homes and loved ones lost with family they never got to meet. I went from one meaningful job to another that I never imagined could’ve existed. But more than that, I got time with my own family. Time to invest in them and not be drained at the end of the day. What a rare and amazing blessing to have! This whole ongoing process has shifted my perspective on what I value as important and slow down.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s not been a smooth sailing, but it’s been an edifying process as I learn to navigate running and sustaining a small business. But as I do, I’ve met so many other hard working small business owners who are pressing into their passion too. It’s become a community and it’s so neat to see that community cheer each other on as we go!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a watercolor artist that specializes in creating home portraits, pet portraits and family portraits for families. Each piece I do is hand sketched and painted, providing a unique and personal piece of art the family can treasure for years to come! I also do live event paintings anywhere from galas, auctions to benefit a special cause, to wedding days! These are paintings done live at the event on canvas for the client to commemorate the event in a special way. One of my personal favorites is providing watercolor guest portraits that guests can take home with them the night of the event. I get to paint others memories for them. What a beautiful concept!
What sets me apart from others is that I’m not in it for the nice content, but for my gift to be used in a special way to bring glory to God. He gave it to me and can easily call me to something else if He chose to.
Because of that, I only charge what I know my work is worth and nothing more. I love what I do and the joy it brings to others, therefore I know that God will bless it if it’s meant to be something that sets my business apart and if not, it will fall through my fingers.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
As I consider this question, it fits a certain mold I don’t know that we’re all meant to be under. We can all easily say where we think we’ll be in 5 years then look back 5 years later and see it didn’t end up that way in all. Some of us may very well think we’ll teach our whole career, then have something happen (as life do often does) where a new opportunity will present itself.
I would love to see that this profession has grown even more and further than I could’ve imagined. I would love to see that I would’ve been able to paint significant moments of other’s lives, travel to new destinations to capture some of the most beautiful events. More than that, I’d love to see that my own children are able to see God is able to move in significant ways through whatever profession they choose to use their gifts in too!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makerzhome?igsh=dnN1c29jcDVzY2xj&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Makerz.Home1
Image Credits
Lorena Burns Photography for the styled photograph at The Springs event venue in Arlington, TX.
