Happy Feature Friday! For this week’s Leave Your Mark, I highlight Meghan Botz, her business, Sparkle Motion Creations, and how she incorporates fluid art into her beautiful home decor pieces and jewelry. So what exactly is fluid art, you ask? Learn all about the technique, the process behind making one of her gorgeous designs, how it all started, and how she aspires to bring joy to others through her work below!
“…slowing down to refocus on what is truly important is key to our sanity as a human race.”
Who is Meghan? Tell us about yourself…
“I’m a mom of 2 boys, an artist & crafter, a student (going back for my B.A.S. in Business Management and Organizational Leadership online at St. Petersburg College) and a receptionist at a psychiatric nurse practitioner’s office.
I spent almost 20 years in retail management before quitting my job and going back to school. I love to line dancing, play golf, go to concerts and go to breweries with my boyfriend (we’ve been together for 10 years). I’m a huge fan of dyeing my hair bright colors (currently purple), decorating my Happy Planner, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Explain your business and who/what inspired you to start Sparkle Motion Creations?
SMC was created out of my love for crafting and art. I was a stay at home mom while going back to school and I needed a creative outlet. I started with scrapbook paper coasters and garden markers…but I needed more to do.
I was watching videos on social media of different crafters and artists and that’s where I found fluid art and was instantly hooked! I knew I couldn’t draw a straight line, so abstract was right up my ally! I started painting flowerpots and canvasses and soon found wood shapes, realizing I preferred that medium and look. After that, I got into epoxy resin and the rest was history.
I was doing vendor events at places like First Friday in Tarpon Springs, and then a local artisan gift shop in downtown New Port Richey reached out to me, where I’ve had work for about a year now.
I constantly have a list of new things I want to add to my creation line up, but there aren’t enough hours in a day! 10 points if you get the movie reference in my business name!
What is your favorite part about starting your own business??
Getting to create beautiful and unique artwork and doing vendor events. I love talking to customers and sharing my art. I also love doing something fun to help support my family.
Can you explain the process behind making one of your amazing creations?
For those who don’t know what fluid art is, it’s a process of taking acrylic paint and mixing it with a pouring medium (and a drop of silicone oil) to thin it out without losing the chemical bonds – I use Floetrol (a paint conditioner). Then, I layer the paint (slowly!) in cups and put it on the wood and then tilt or blow it around and use a kitchen torch to bring out what we call “cells.”
There are many techniques in fluid art and I sometimes use a combination in my art pieces. I like to create functional art as well with epoxy resin, like trinket dishes, serving trays, coasters.
I also spend a lot of time making beach-inspired paintings. My beach mermaids and the state of Florida are my most popular pieces and I use this cool little mini leaf blower to make waves.
Is there a particular piece you’ve enjoyed making and/or holds a special place in your heart?
I think the mermaids are probably my favorite. Each one is so unique and almost has a different personality. My first officially sold piece was a wooden heart painting and it’s special to me since it went to one of my best friends. Once pieces started to sell, I realized I had something I could do for me and just wanted to keep going.
Tell me about one of your most memorable experiences with Sparkle Motion Creations so far?
I think just the support of my family (boyfriend, kids, mom) has been really memorable for me. Without them, I wouldn’t be able to be doing this. Starting my own business has always been a dream of mine and I love that they are there for it. They are my set up/tear down crew at events, they help me with color schemes, and are always incredibly supportive. Doing my first few vendor events and actually making some money from strangers (!) from my work was also pretty memorable.
Where do you see yourself in the future and what goals do you wish to accomplish?
Eventually, I’d love to take this full time, but with COVID and vendor events being canceled, it’s difficult. I’ve been making pieces again after a few months of a break to adjust to my new work schedule and the kids being home from school. I am reworking my Etsy site and always bringing new items to Lis’s Pieces Artisan Boutique in downtown New Port Richey, FL, while we can’t do events.
What role do you have in society and/or how do you wish to contribute?
I really just want to bring joy to others with my work. I want them to have something for the wall or to use that is unique and beautiful to look at. Before COVID I was teaching fluid art classes to both adults and kids and I loved it. It was a great feeling to help others create their own piece of art to be proud of. I overheard a teenager telling her mom that she hadn’t figured out what she was good at and the class inspired her to create and felt she could be good at fluid art. I was so touched that I helped her discover her creative side
Explain a time where you’ve used your talents to inspire the community and how do you hope to keep doing so?
I don’t know about inspiring the community, but one of my main practices is to try and reuse or upcycle whatever I can. Fluid art and epoxy resin can be wasteful, so I try to reuse whatever I can. One of my favorite things to make are earrings, necklaces, and bottle stoppers out of leftover dried paint since they’re like their own mini art pieces. I feel like it’s important to try and reduce waste and recycle whenever humanly possible. It is our job to take care of the earth because it’s the only home we have and I want to leave it habitable for my children and grandchildren.
Lastly, what is the best piece of advice you can give in life?
I think it is incredibly important right now to focus on our own health and the health of our family’s. We live in unique and trying times and stopping to take a breath is number one. We are dealing with a high level of stress and anxiety, and slowing down to refocus on what is truly important is the key to our sanity as a human race. Focus on your mental health. It is something I truly believe in. Make an appointment to talk to a professional, even if it is via telehealth. Seek out activities that calm your mind. Take a walk, adopt an animal, go for a bike ride, or swim. Take a nap! Lose yourself in some art…Anything to help take the weight of the world off your shoulders.
To purchase a beautiful piece or
see what Meghan is up to next :
Facebook: SparkleMotionCreations
Instagram: sparklemotioncreations
Etsy: SparkleMotionCo
Website: www.sparklemotioncreations.com
Email: sparklemotioncreations@gmail.com
In Person:
Local vendor events in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties
Artwork at Lis’s Pieces Artisan Boutique: facebook.com/lisspiecesartisanboutique 6214 Grand Blvd. New Port Richey, FL 34652
To Meghan: Meggy!! It’s crazy to think it was only a couple years ago that we were ASMs at Swatch. I’m so happy and extremely proud that you found your talent! I always knew your creativity was your strong suit and it’s so AMAZING to see you turn it into your own business. I am OBSESSED with your beautiful pieces and cannot wait to see where you’ll be a year from now and in the future. Keep kicking ass. Love, K$Money (lol)
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