Some conversations have a way of waiting for the right moment.

I recorded this discussion with Jenny Rowe-Stierhem and Eric Rowe of Stoneground Paint Co. and Sarah Simon (The Mint Gardener) at the 2024 NAMTA conference in New Orleans and, like many creative projects, it spent a little longer than expected on the shelf.

Revisiting it now, I'm struck by how closely it aligns with the conversations we're still having every day at ARTiculations.

I originally sat down with Jenny, Eric, and Sarah because I admire the way each of them approaches creativity. Jenny and Eric bring a level of care, curiosity, and craftsmanship to the paints they make at Stoneground. Sarah's work as an artist and educator is rooted in many of the same values that guide how we teach and support creative practice at ARTiculations. I suspected we'd have plenty to talk about.

What I didn't expect was how quickly the conversation would move beyond paint!

We started by talking about materials, pigments, and colour, but before long we found ourselves sharing stories about teachers, encouragement, criticism, creative confidence, and the sometimes fragile relationship people have with their own creativity.

Again and again, we returned to the same idea: creativity thrives when people feel safe enough to begin.

We talked about the comments that stay with us for years. The teacher who tells you a tree isn't the right shape. The family member who suggests art isn't practical. The quiet ways people learn to doubt themselves. We also talked about the opposite; what happens with the impact of someone who simply says, Keep going.

As artists, educators, retailers, and makers, much of our work isn't just about teaching techniques. It's about creating conditions where curiosity and play can flourish. It's about helping people reconnect with something they often already possess.

Naturally, the conversation circled back to materials.

One of my favourite parts of the discussion was listening to Jenny and Eric talk about pigments as if they were old friends and occasional troublemakers. Some colours behave beautifully. Others refuse to cooperate. Some spread everywhere. Some require patience. The more we talked, the more it felt like a reminder that making art isn't about controlling materials- it's about developing a relationship with them.

That idea surfaced again when we began talking about "the good paint."

At ARTiculations, I often meet people who save their best materials for some future version of themselves. The better artist. The more accomplished artist. The artist who somehow deserves them.

Jenny offered a simple response that has stayed with me ever since:

If you're brave enough to make that first mark, you're worth investing in.

The conversation eventually landed on another phrase that has lingered with me for the last two years:

Do it afraid; before you feel ready, before you're certain, before knowing that mistakes are inevitable.

As Sarah pointed out, it often takes more courage than talent to begin.

By the time we wrapped up, we found ourselves talking about our own creative routines. Evening painting sessions. Sketchbooks carried everywhere. Drafting tables tucked into the middle of family life. Seasonal creative rhythms. Different approaches, but a shared understanding that creativity isn't something we wait for- it's something we make room for.

What I loved most about this conversation is that it isn't really about paint, even though paint is everywhere in it. It's about small habits and acts of courage that allow a creative life to take root.

I'm glad to finally give this conversation some wings - I hope you enjoy it.

- Heather

Shop Stoneground Paint Co. at ARTiculations 
Shop The Mint Gardener at ARTiculations