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Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Lillian Kroening of St. Croix Valley

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Lillian Kroening. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Lillian, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is a normal day like for you right now?
This summer I had a great miracle come into my life: the birth of my first son. He decided to come early and arrived on my third wedding anniversary!

Before the birth of my son, it was much easier to find time to sit down, pull out my watercolors, and work for hours at a time. Now my art time has become more incremental. I wait until my baby boy is napping or peacefully playing, then paint for maybe 30 minutes at a time. It’s definitely been an adjustment but one that is worth it.

Every day is a little different now that I’m a mom, but I love to start out with a good cup of coffee and hearty breakfast each morning before tackling the challenges of the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Lillian Kroening and I specialize in watercolor prints and cards. I’ve been doing artwork for as long as I can remember, and I attribute this to my mom who always made sure we had art supplies around the house. It brings me joy to brighten someone’s day with a cute card or meaningful print. That’s how The Whimsical Paintbrush Studio came to be!

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
The earliest memory I have of being powerful was the joy and accomplishment that came with creating an original piece of artwork for my family. My family was always so supportive of the creations I made (and I made oh so many!)

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be don’t worry about what other people think; don’t let someone’s one unkind comment keep you from being your authentic self.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
I truly admire my younger sister, Julia. She is never afraid to be herself, stand up for what she believes in, and extend her love onto others. Despite her being just 21, she carries such words of wisdom and sound advice. I know I can always turn to her for guidance or if ever I need a listening ear. I think she learned a lot from watching her seven older siblings, and it’s made a big impact on the woman she is today.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
As much as I love people, I find such peace having a quiet space to myself to work on art. It helps me to calm down if I’m feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

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