What if your dream career wasn’t something you found—but something you created?
Many creatives spend years wondering if it’s possible to leave the security of a traditional career and build a life doing what they truly love.
For artist Leah Alexander, that dream became reality.
In this episode of La Vie Creative, I sat down with the American painter living in Paris to discuss leaving corporate America, becoming a full-time artist, building a successful creative business, hosting art retreats in Europe, and why creativity is more important now than ever.
Whether you’re an artist, entrepreneur, writer, photographer, or someone dreaming of a more creative life, Leah’s story is packed with practical advice and inspiring reminders that success doesn’t happen overnight—it happens one brushstroke at a time.
From Corporate Accounting to Full-Time Artist
Before becoming known for her joyful, colorful paintings inspired by Parisian life, Leah spent ten years in the corporate world.
Despite building a successful career, she eventually found herself asking one question:
“What am I actually building?”
The answer changed everything.
After attending an art retreat in France, she found herself surrounded by people pursuing creative lives. That experience gave her the courage to leave her corporate job and pursue painting full time.
It’s proof that sometimes all it takes is seeing someone else do what feels impossible.
The Biggest Fear of Becoming a Full-Time Artist
One of the questions I hear most often from creatives is:
“How do I afford to leave my job?”
Leah offered one of the smartest pieces of advice I’ve heard.
Instead of quitting impulsively, she created a financial runway.
She intentionally saved enough money to give herself approximately two years to build her business without expecting overnight success.
That financial cushion allowed her to focus on creating rather than constantly worrying about survival.
For anyone dreaming of working for themselves, this advice applies whether you’re a painter, photographer, coach, designer, or writer.
Success Looks Different as an Artist
Corporate success often revolves around promotions, titles, and salaries.
Creative success is different.
Leah explained that she’s learning to measure success less by revenue and more by one simple question:
“How much art am I creating?”
It’s a refreshing reminder that sustainable creativity requires balancing both business and artistic fulfillment.
Finding Inspiration in Everyday Life
One reason Leah’s paintings feel so inviting is because they celebrate ordinary moments.
Flowers from the neighborhood market.
Coffee with friends.
Beautiful meals.
Quiet Paris mornings.
Instead of waiting for extraordinary experiences, she finds inspiration in everyday beauty.
Her iPhone camera roll is filled with hundreds of photographs capturing moments she later transforms into vibrant paintings.
As Leah says, life is too short not to celebrate the little things.
Living in Paris Changed Everything
Although many Americans dream of moving to Paris, Leah never planned on it.
She actually moved because of work.
Ironically, Paris became exactly where she needed to be.
Living in France taught her something Americans often struggle with:
Rest has value.
Rather than constantly chasing productivity, French culture encourages long lunches, vacations, slower living, and appreciating beauty in everyday life.
That philosophy has profoundly influenced both her artwork and her business.
As someone who has also built a life in Paris, I couldn’t agree more.
Why Creative Retreats Can Change Your Life
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was hearing how Leah discovered the power of creative retreats.
The retreat she attended didn’t simply teach painting.
It gave her permission to imagine an entirely different future.
Now she hosts her own immersive art retreats throughout Europe, helping people reconnect with creativity in beautiful settings away from everyday distractions.
The biggest surprise?
Nearly everyone leaves saying:
“I didn’t know I could do that.”
Whether that’s painting, drawing, or simply believing in themselves again.
Creativity Isn’t Just for Artists
One of Leah’s strongest beliefs is that creativity belongs to everyone.
Too many adults say:
“I’m just not creative.”
Leah disagrees.
She believes creativity isn’t about becoming a professional artist.
It’s about allowing yourself to experiment.
To play.
To make something without worrying whether it’s good.
Whether that’s painting, cooking, journaling, gardening, or photography, creativity gives our brains something many of us desperately need today:
Space.
Especially in an era dominated by phones, constant notifications, and artificial intelligence.
Building Community Through the Paris Food Club
Leah also co-founded the Paris Food Club, a monthly membership celebrating French culture through food, art, recipes, and beautiful mail delivered around the world.
Created alongside chef and author Sue Tania, the club combines fine art prints, recipes, and Paris inspiration into a tangible experience designed to reconnect people through analog creativity.
It’s another reminder that art doesn’t always hang on a gallery wall.
Sometimes it arrives in your mailbox.
Business Advice Every Creative Needs to Hear
Leah’s corporate background gives her a unique perspective on building a creative career.
Her biggest business lessons include:
Don’t Over-Invest Too Early
Many artists believe they need expensive websites, subscriptions, branding packages, and software before selling anything.
Leah recommends the opposite.
Start simple.
Sell through Instagram.
Use your existing network.
Focus on making the work first.
Your Network Is Your Superpower
Rather than hiding your creative journey from friends and former colleagues, share it.
Your network already knows and trusts you.
Many of Leah’s collectors discovered her through platforms people rarely associate with art—including LinkedIn.
Paris Continues to Teach Resilience
Living abroad isn’t always romantic.
There are language barriers.
French bureaucracy.
Paperwork.
Long winters.
Heat waves.
Yet Leah believes every obstacle teaches resilience.
Whether you’re building a business or building a life in another country, success often comes down to one simple habit:
Keep showing up.
There is no shortcut.
No magic formula.
Just consistency.
My Biggest Takeaway
One idea stayed with me long after we finished recording.
Leah reminded us that creativity is freedom.
Freedom to express ourselves.
Freedom to make mistakes.
Freedom to build something meaningful instead of simply following expectations.
In a world increasingly driven by algorithms and artificial intelligence, choosing to create something with your own hands feels more valuable than ever.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this episode of La Vie Creative, we discuss:
- How to leave your corporate career for a creative business
- Building a sustainable career as an artist
- Financial planning for entrepreneurs
- Living as an American artist in Paris
- Hosting art retreats in Europe
- The importance of creativity in everyday life
- Business advice for artists and creatives
- Why building community matters
- How France changed Leah’s perspective on work and rest
If you’ve ever dreamed of making creativity your full-time career, this conversation will leave you inspired—and ready to begin.
Connect with Leah Alexander
🎨 Website: Leah Paints Paris
📍 Instagram & TikTok: @LeahPaintsParis
