How Watercolor Artist Emily Rebuilt Her Life—and Creativity—in Paris
Sometimes life’s hardest seasons become the beginning of something unexpectedly beautiful.
For watercolor artist, illustrator, and children’s book author Emily, creativity wasn’t born from certainty—it grew from healing.
After experiencing the loss of her mother, the end of her marriage, and the uncertainty of the pandemic, Emily made a courageous decision. She packed up her dachshund, Braxton, began traveling through Europe, and eventually found a new home in Paris.
Today, she creates heartfelt watercolor paintings, custom pet portraits, greeting cards, and bilingual children’s books that celebrate love, memory, and the little moments that matter most.
On this episode of La Vie Creative, Emily shares what it really means to start over—and how creativity can become part of the healing process.
Learning to Begin Again
Growing up, Emily never stayed in one place for very long.
Moving frequently throughout the United States taught her something many creatives spend years learning: how to adapt.
Rather than fearing change, she became comfortable with new beginnings, an ability that would later help her navigate some of life’s biggest transitions.
That resilience eventually gave her the courage to leave everything familiar behind and begin a completely new chapter overseas.
Why Paris Became Home
Emily didn’t originally plan to settle in France.
She first arrived for what she thought would be a one-month stay while working remotely from Europe.
Within two weeks, she knew she wanted more.
After spending a year traveling across Europe with Braxton, Paris ultimately became the place where she chose to build a life. Even after a relationship ended, the friendships she’d built convinced her to stay. Today, she’s happily married to her French husband and calls Paris home.
Her story is a reminder that sometimes the life we’re searching for isn’t where we expected to find it.
From Pandemic Hobby to Professional Artist
Like many creative businesses, Emily’s artistic journey began unexpectedly during COVID-19.
Looking for a hobby while working from home, she purchased a beginner watercolor kit and started following YouTube tutorials.
Her very first project was painting a Mother’s Day card for her mom.
When she shared it online, friends immediately began asking if they could commission cards of their own. Soon she was hand-delivering watercolor greeting cards throughout Buffalo during lockdown.
After her mother’s passing, painting became something even deeper—a way to stay connected to her memory.
What began as a creative outlet slowly evolved into a business.
Why Pet Portraits Matter
Today, Emily is best known for her custom watercolor pet portraits.
The idea grew naturally after collaborating with a dog-friendly café in Paris, where her dachshund-inspired greeting cards quickly became popular. From there, commissions for custom portraits began arriving.
For Emily, painting pets isn’t simply about creating artwork.
It’s about preserving memories.
Many of her commissions come from families remembering beloved pets they’ve lost, making every portrait deeply personal.
One recent client burst into tears after opening a birthday card featuring watercolor portraits of her cat and dog—one of those unforgettable moments that reminded Emily exactly why she creates art.
Creating Meaning in a Digital World
We live in an age where thousands of photos remain trapped on our phones.
Emily believes watercolor offers something different.
Every painting slows us down.
Instead of scrolling past another image, we choose one meaningful memory and transform it into something tangible that can be displayed, treasured, and passed down.
In many ways, her work helps people reconnect with moments they don’t want to lose.
Braxton’s Paris Adventure
One of the most delightful parts of Emily’s creative journey is her bilingual children’s book starring Braxton.
The story was inspired by a real moment when Braxton unexpectedly jumped onto a Paris city bus before Emily could stop him.
That small incident became the foundation for a whimsical adventure following Braxton as he explores iconic Paris landmarks, from the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre, before finding his way home.
Emily hopes it’s only the beginning.
With Braxton having traveled throughout Europe, she dreams of creating an entire series of children’s books inspired by his adventures.
How Paris Changed Her Art
Living in Paris has influenced Emily in ways she never expected.
She describes becoming more relaxed, less perfectionistic, and more willing to let watercolor flow naturally rather than trying to control every detail.
Paris has also become an endless source of inspiration—from outdoor cafés and neighborhood parks to the city’s remarkable love of dogs.
It’s proof that where we live often shapes how we create.
Letting Go of Perfection
One lesson Emily continues learning is to stop waiting until everything feels perfect.
Whether sharing unfinished paintings on Instagram or posting artwork she’s not completely satisfied with, she’s discovered that authenticity resonates more than perfection.
For many creatives, that’s one of the hardest lessons of all.
Done truly is better than perfect.
Advice for Anyone Dreaming of Moving Abroad
Toward the end of our conversation, I asked Emily what she’d say to someone dreaming of moving overseas or pursuing a creative life.
Her answer was simple:
Do it.
If the idea keeps calling to you, it’s probably worth exploring.
You can always return home—but you’ll never regret discovering what might have been possible.
Final Thoughts
Emily’s story is proof that creativity often grows from life’s most difficult moments.
What started as a watercolor hobby during the pandemic has become a business built around connection, memory, and joy.
Through every pet portrait, greeting card, and children’s book, she reminds us that art isn’t just something beautiful.
It’s something deeply personal.
And sometimes, the smallest creative projects become the ones that change our lives.
Listen to the Full Episode
In this episode of La Vie Creative, we discuss:
- Starting over after loss and divorce
- Moving from the United States to Paris
- Building a watercolor art business
- Creating meaningful pet portraits
- Self-publishing a bilingual children’s book
- Finding inspiration in everyday life
- Overcoming perfectionism
- Advice for aspiring artists and anyone dreaming of living abroad
If you enjoyed this conversation, subscribe to La Vie Creative for inspiring interviews with artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives building extraordinary lives around the world.
