Today we’d like to introduce you to LeeAnn Huot
Hi LeeAnn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My educational background is Fine Art and I studied Oil and Illustration in College. I gave up Oils when I was raising my children and picked up watercolor a few years ago. I fell in love with the medium, the fluidity, translucency, using the white of the paper as the light, the unpredictability, the various techniques, the vast options of textured paper and beautifully pigmented paints. I’ve taken what I’ve learned in my background with elements like color theory, space, value, texture and my love of watercolor and started sharing that with others in the last 1 1/2 years. I’ve been instructing beginner’s watercolor classes in the Duluth and surrounding areas for both public and private group classes at local small businesses, breweries, family and friend get-togethers, corporate retreats and business gatherings. I also share and sell my own artwork at local small businesses in the Duluth area, present at local artist markets, offer commission based work and sell directly on my website at www.huartartanddesign.com.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I also own my own wedding coordination business Juneberry Wedding Planner, and knew that I wanted to give that space more of my time and heart and balance that with my creative side through watercolor. I made the decision in 2023 to quit working for someone else and start investing in my own dreams and passions. I went public with HuArt on social media and started sharing my artwork and offering classes while also moving into a full-time role with my wedding business, which had been up until 2023 a part-time side gig. The decision to go full time and pursue my own passions was a scary and intimidating decision. No one wants to fail, but I have a family and close knit group of friends and community who support me and encouraged me to take the leap and go for it. I’m very passionate about both sides of my careers and I think if you can lead with that, continue to find what fuels that and make the time to feed it, you can do anything. Life is challenging and it’s unexpected, but I think at the end of the day the only thing that really becomes an obstacle is your own head. Get out of it and just do it.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a watercolorist focusing in floral and landscape compositions, but you can also find me studying and learning different techniques and compositions. I’m always striving to learn more and also share what I’ve learned with others.
My most requested artwork has been my watercolor trees, florals and Trout which are the subjects I truly love to paint and my most requested beginner’s classes have been learning wet-on-wet techniques and floral compositions. I’ve been incredibly supported by my class community and have gained dozens of regular attendees and followers, some of them becoming great friends. The small business community in Duluth is greater than any other I’ve known. If they’re not already carrying my prints, greeting cards and/or originals, they are sharing my business with others, sharing my content on social media and supporting me as an artist and female small business owner./entrepreneur.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Don’t resist taking help or asking for it. People in your community want to help you, but they might not understand how or the specifics of what you need to grow and succeed so just tell them! “Hey I’m doing this thing, can you share it on your socials?”, “Hey I think this might be a good fit for that person, can you introduce me?”, “Hey, I’m really scared to do this alone, will you go with me?”.
Believe in yourself and others will too.
Pricing:
- Beginner’s Watercolor Class prices start at $42
- HuArt Original Watercolor artwork and Fine Art Prints starting at $8 and up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.huartartanddesign.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/huart_artanddesign/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/huartartanddesign
