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Meet Terza Ekholm of The Terza Factor in Colorado Springs

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Terza Ekholm.

Terza, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Just before my 50the birthday, a friend introduced me to creating textile art. Not just admiring it, as I had done all my life, but actually creating it. Something awoke in me and I knew that I had discovered my passion in life. My first career was a software engineer. I was good in math and science, so the career choice seemed natural. And it was wonderful for 18 years. When my husband and I were laid off from the same company with 30 minutes of each other, I knew I was ready for my next adventure. A few years later, I was introduced to art. I love the colors, the textures, the idea of no rules and no expectations, and zenlike quality of the interplay of light, color and texture. Not long after that, I was introduced to wearable art by another friend. Here I was able to combine engineering and art to create goods that are manufactured on demand. Another bonus! What fun to create things that people can use! Now I am teaching an online class to people who don’t believe they are creative but still want to have fun. With Wacky Watercolors, they can create a cool piece of art and have it turned into something they can wear, for themselves or to give as a gift.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
No. I had (and still have) a lot to learn about business, promotion, marketing, sales and repeatable processes. I had a lot of mindset issues and had to reset a lot of my thinking toward success. I stayed stuck in a very small world view for a long time. After joining a mastermind group of other highly successful entrepreneurs and a business coach, I truly respected and resonated with my views of myself, my business and what’s truly possible shifted tremendously. It’s not just that I could see a bigger picture because of I have always been able to do that for others – it’s part of my loud positive energy, it’s that I could begin to see it for myself.

I believe I am not unique in this problem of keeping myself small. This is why I want to inspire others to see their own potential. One key for this shift is to experience joy by doing something completely different, like joyfully creating art for the very first time and deriving immediate benefits, such as a real product from that experience.

The Terza Factor – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am an artist. My first love is textiles. I love how fabric flows and drapes and layers. I love causing fabric to behave in unexpected ways. When I added in acrylic paints, alcohol inks and watercolors, I continued this same kind of exploration. Because I am untrained, I know no rules and have no expectations of how art is supposed to be.

I create wall art and sculptures from fabric, sand, bits of paper, bits of other art, like watercolors or prints. These cause the viewer to come in for a closer look. I want them to ask how I did that or what was I thinking when I put those things together. I am delighted when a person sees something in my art that I had not intended because they are seeing something from themselves that they might not have recognized before.

I take pictures of my art, especially as it is drying. The fibers are so wet that they are still moving, the paints and inks are still flowing. In that moment, they are beautiful. They may not dry that way, but I have already have the best part. And that is what I use to create the designs for my wearable art.

The beauty of manufacturing on demand is that I never have to carry inventory. I never have to guess what my audience will like because they get to choose what they want for their wearables in the moment.

I intend to carry this experience forward for my students.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is the number of people I have inspired, caused to smile, caused them to see another perspective. It’s the number of people who have another joyful experience of art.

Success is also, unapologetically, the amount of money I make from art. The more money I make, the more experiences I can have, be it additional interesting materials for art, classes in business, personal development and art, and travel.

Success is another fun experience in creating art. I am blessed to be able to do this every day.

Pricing:

  • $35 to take my Wacky Watercolors online art class. Includes a kit shipped to you before the class.
  • Wearable art in my online store ranges from $35 for a custom cell phone case to $hundreds for a silk scarf or dress, with lots in between.
  • Commissioned art pieces from $1000 and up.

Contact Info:

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