When artist, educator, and entrepreneur Paula Keene talks about running a business, she doesn’t reach for a spreadsheet—she reaches for a paintbrush.
“When I’m painting on a canvas,” she explains, “I start with a plan, but once I begin layering color, the composition can move in a totally different direction. I adjust my brushstrokes, respond to what’s happening, and let the piece develop naturally. A business plan works the same way.”
Paula compares entrepreneurship to painting in layers with structure and spontaneity working side by side. You can sketch your plan, but once you start living it, your business will take on colors of its own. The key is to stay responsive. Be open to change, new opportunities, and the unexpected beauty that appears when you’re paying attention.
Keep the Frame Flexible
She cautions against “framing” your business too tightly. “A frame can signal a piece is finished,” Paula says. “But I prefer to wrap the canvas edges so I can keep painting, keep changing. A business should stay fluid—always open to new layers.”
That sense of movement, she says, is what keeps a small business alive and connected to its community. Whether you’re a startup founder or a seasoned owner, leaving room for growth keeps your work vibrant.
Creativity Is Collaboration
To Paula, creativity isn’t just for artists. It’s the lifeblood of every small business and it grows through connection. “If you’re an accountant, talk to a painter. If you’re a lawyer, talk to a sculptor,” she says. “Mixing with people outside your usual circle brings fresh solutions and new energy.”
She encourages business owners to explore co-working spaces, community groups, and networking events where diverse thinkers cross paths. Even in rural areas, she notes, these shared workspaces are helping people build creative, supportive communities.
Find Your Emphasis
Every artist understands composition, deciding where to place emphasis so the eye knows where to look. Paula says businesses should think the same way about their branding. Questions to ask yourself include, “Where is your emphasis placed?” and, “What stands out about your business?”
She knows the phrase “stand out” gets overused, but she reframes it beautifully: Standing out isn’t about competing for attention; it’s about being authentic. Just as no two paintings are the same, no two entrepreneurs are, either. “If you’re doing what you love and being who you are,” she says, “you’ll always stand out naturally.”
Start with a Single Mark
For anyone staring at a “blank canvas,” unsure of how to start, Paula offers simple advice: “Make a mark. A mark is the start.” In painting, one line can lead to a shape, then to a composition. In business, one step—one phone call, one email, one idea— can build momentum. “That first mark might turn into a conversation, a connection, or even financial momentum,” Paula says. “It’s infinitive; it can go on and on.”
See with the Eyes of an Artist
Paula encourages entrepreneurs to look at their work with an artist’s eye. Be aware of color, balance, and possibility. “When you view your business as a composition, every partnership and idea adds a bit of color,” she says. “You start seeing details and differences not just as a consumer, but as a creator.”
That perspective, she believes, helps owners stay open to what’s now and what’s next, staying grounded in the present while looking toward possibility.
Authenticity, Synergy, and Sunshine
Paula’s own business is called Creative Synergy, a name that captures her belief in bringing together different perspectives. Authenticity, she says, helps creates synergy, and synergy creates growth. For Paula, synergy isn’t just a concept; it’s a practice grounded in genuine enthusiasm and collaboration.
“Finding people who are excited and enthusiastic and bringing them into your community goes a long way,” she says. “That energy is valuable. It keeps you and your business in motion.”
In wrapping up the conversation, Paula is asked to consider this question: “What would you call your life if it were a painting?” She quickly answers, “Chasing Sunshine. There’s always more light if you keep looking for it.”
Paula Keene. Artist. Educator. Entrepreneur. Designer. Decorator. She has been a practicing artist for almost 4 decades, an advertising and marketing professional supporting small businesses for over 3 decades, and a very proud public high school art teacher for over 2 decades. In addition, she has firsthand knowledge in running her own successful businesses. Paula teaches classes and hosts paint parties in her private studio.
Invite me, Paula Keene with Creative Synergy, to your next meeting or gathering. Let’s start a conversation. Call me at (262) 443-1665 or email me at [email protected].