Meet Nerissa Hall | Artist, Mom, & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nerissa Hall and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nerissa, as a parent, what have you done for you children that you feel has had the most significant impact?
As a parent, the most important thing that I’ve done is make it a priority to stay at home with my kids and be there for them. But in doing so, I’ve been able to share so much of my entrepreneurial journey with them, which I truly believe will serve them well in life.

I’ve been able to share my entrepreneurial journey with my kids and show them that you can do anything you want, you don’t have to take the traditional college and 9:00-5:00 path to find success and be happy, that time freedom is an amazing goal to strive for, and that it’s fantastic to be multi-passionate and explore what you’re good at and what makes you happy.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve always been creative and loved art. I took art classes up through college and have experimented with a ton of different mediums, but currently, my main medium is acrylic pouring.

I started doing acrylic pouring after my son was born, when, like many women, I struggled with depression and feeling like I had lost myself. I struggled with a lot of chronic pain at that time as well and this was actually an art form that I could do in spite of that.

Once I became comfortable with the medium, I decided that I wanted to share this amazing art form with others because it’s something that you don’t need experience or a ton of technique or skill to start with and make amazing art. So I started my blog, Homebody Hall, where my goal is to make beautiful art accessible for all.

After working on the blog for a couple years and teaching others how to make art, I decided that I wanted to start focusing more on my own personal style of art and cultivating a voice of my own. In doing so, I realized that I loved taking a multimedia approach and incorporating sculpture, resin, drawing, and hand painting in with my acrylic pours. And the subject that I find most inspiring is highlighting the beauty around me in the Sonoran Desert.

I’ve really worked on my thoughts and my confidence as an artist to have the courage to share my point of view and my art with others. Teaching others the technical aspect of how to paint was easy for me, but realizing that I have a unique perspective and something to say and that it’s important was something that it took me time to come to.

And although entirely worthwhile, working with kids and running a business in different seasons of parenting has been difficult. Work does not progress linearly around here and it certainly doesn’t always progress quickly, and it can be frustrating. It’s taken time for me to come to the conclusion that things will happen when they are supposed to and that I don’t need to be in control of the timeline at which I achieve my goals, that all the seemingly little things that I am able to get to every day actually do add up to big results eventually.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite spots in Tucson are:

– 4th Avenue for shopping, eating, getting drinks, and the street fair is amazing
-Tohono Chul Gardens
-Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum
-Reid Park Zoo
-Saguaro National Park for hiking
-Gates Pass for sunsets
-Mount Lemmon for a day trip, hiking, or camping, must get a cookie at the top at the Cookie Cabin
-One of my favorite restaurants is The Hub, downtown

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My business wouldn’t be where it is today without my family. My husband is the most supportive person and always encourages me to pursue my dreams and my passions, and my kids are my motivation. Seeing them watching me makes me try things I never thought I could do. My desire to provide my family with the best life possible is what keeps me moving forward even when things get hard.

Beyond my family, I wouldn’t be where I am today without the amazing business women I am priveleged to call my friends, who I can bounce ideas off of, call when things go wrong, and who hold me accountable, Amanda Di Novo, Megan Sullivan, and Elizabeth Wiegner.

Website: www.homebodyhall.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homebody_hall/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomebodyHall

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/AcrylicPouringwithHomebodyHall

Other: Shop Art: https://homebody-hall-art.square.site/

Image Credits
Rachel Buhr