Episode 12: The Art of Running a Quiet Business with Leana Fischer of May We Fly
Sometimes our journeys just look different, we are all different people with diverse expressions. As artists, we experience a plethora of seasons as we work toward our goals. Sometimes it’s wild, frantic, slow, quick, and a continual ride of ups, downs, and the in-between. Yet today on the podcast we chat with Leana as she gives us a look at her process and her principles that just might inspire you. She is a former architect, artist, educator, and gloriously introspective. Join us as she shares her background of growing up in an artistic environment and the slow steady road as she ultimately became a full-time artist.
The Art is Me
When choosing to transition into art full-time, sometimes the focus of the “why” can get blurry. Leana emphasizes how returning to herself as an artist has continued to bring her back to center. As she began her journey with her online shop on Etsy she continued to nurture who she is. She learned about herself, her personality, and what felt genuine to her as she ran her business. This approach helped her with the challenges of imposter syndrome and the sense of disqualification.
Alignment With The Quiet
For Leana, ultimately, building a business quietly was and is what she finds is best for her business. But….what does that even mean? It is so easy to fall into comparison and feel the pressure to gain a massive following or meet certain standards or quotas. For Leana, it’s about defining and discovering who she is and what is “enough” for her. She discovered her natural tendency towards quietness and this is the approach she has taken to working in her business. Her story shows that partnering with who she is and the art she creates around that principle demonstrates that the best growth is the slow kind.
Nurturing
Leana also emphasizes the value of loyal local and online communities who value and support our work. Being centered on how we impact the world with art brings us back to focus… even in the face of doubt. There is something about trusting that “you will be ok” in the face and wake of doubt that becomes an anchor for believing in your work. Lastly, nurturing your journey can also come with establishing your own principle or definition of success. Be encouraged, and remember that you can come back to center during the frantic moments, and create from a quiet place.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
You are a real artist whether or not you are making a full-time living at it. Reframe the full-time work you are doing as something that supports and nurtures the artist you are today and the artist you desire to be in the future
Learning about personality and understanding yourself can help you understand what you want your business to look like too.
A quiet business is designed to support your life and goals. It is sustainable and gentle and it grows slowly but steadily over time. Slow growth prepares you for what lies ahead.
Working from a quiet place can help you create your best work. When you are working from a quiet you are better in tune with your intuition, focused, and create work that is genuine and comes from inside you.
Having an anchor can help when you have moments of doubt. An anchor could be your guiding principles, remembering your why, and knowing this is what you were made to do.
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I’m Leana Fischer, the artist behind May We Fly. My artwork is made to celebrate the wonder of the little things in everyday life, and to encourage others to notice the beauty in their own stories. The name May We Fly comes from my wish for all of us: that we’ll live in alignment with our deepest values, and share our gifts with the world.
May We Fly took root in 2013 after leaving a job in architecture to move from Virginia to Fayetteville, Arkansas with my husband, Dan. With a bit of extra time on my hands during this period of transition, I began to realize that painting wasn’t just a hobby. Little by little, one piece at a time, I began the long, winding journey towards becoming a full-time artist.
Painting remains my true calling: it’s my expression of joy, my sincere offering, and my enthusiastic invitation. I work mainly with watercolor because it feels most natural in my hand. It has a language all its own, one that I am certain I will be learning for a lifetime. The elements behind it—pigment, water, movement—all point directly to my deep love of the natural world. When I paint, I’m connected to my own nature: present, peaceful, and reverent.
After a decade as a painter, I can see how profoundly my art has enriched my life—not only through the joy it brings me, but because of the connections I’ve made with so many kindred spirits. May We Fly has grown from a tiny website into a business that has allowed me to share my artwork with people around the world, teach hundreds of students through in-person and online watercolor workshops, and partner with wonderful brands like Terrain, Trader Joe’s, and Hallmark.
In 2022, Dan and I (and our pup, Buford) made the bittersweet decision to move back to the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia, where I now work and paint out of my home studio. Wherever I am, May We Fly keeps me connected to a growing community of creators, sharing and celebrating our collective gifts.
Follow along on instagram @maywefly and visit Leana's website at www.maywefly.com
