Meet Zoe Rae

We were lucky to catch up with Zoe Rae recently and have shared our conversation below.

Zoe , we’ve been so fortunate to work with so many incredible folks and one common thread we have seen is that those who have built amazing lives for themselves are also often the folks who are most generous. Where do you think your generosity comes from?

I was fortunate to be raised in Hawaii which is where I believe the root of generosity comes from. At a young age there you are taught that you are apart of a community and that everyone in your community is family. If you see that someone needs help you help them. In my school community we were taught that whenever we are out in the community we are reflection of the school and our families. Still to this day I love to bring people together by hosting get togethers or sharing knowledge.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I was born in Northern California and raised in Hawai’i. Growing up in Hawai’i my childhood was always spent outdoors which is where my love for nature started.

I have always loved painting and drawing. My first memory is of my mom telling me it was time to learn how to write her name but she wanted to learn how to draw tulips first.

It wasn’t until I was in college that someone asked to buy one of my paintings. Thus Zoe Rae Art was created. I taught art for five years while working on my art as a side business. It wasn’t until this past year that I decided it would be my last year of teaching and to make Zoe Rae Art her career.

I currently live in Colorado which has been inspiring my newest pieces of art. I feel that to paint a landscape you have to physically be there to know how to express it. This is why my work is of the places I have lived and traveled to.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey thus far is kindness, resilience, and confidence. At the end of the day I really care about the way I interact with people. It is amazing how just being kind to someone can create opportunities for close connections and open doors you never thought of. I learned resilience growing up competing in outrigger canoe races and teaching. Having to earn your seat in the canoe each week to be able to race showed me to never give up and continue to always look at myself and how I could improve. In my years of teaching I learned that lesson plans or your plan for the day can change very quickly. It’s about how you react and what you are going to do about it. I feel very fortunate to have always had support of my art and who I am from my family. Without it I’m not sure I would have the confidence that I do in myself. I have had imposter syndrome in the past year but my family reminds me of how hard I have worked for all of this. When I have those days of self doubt I put on a playlist I made for myself and look at all I have done.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

Since I started the journey of having my art being my side hustle to being my career, my Dad has always been my go to person for questions. Growing up my Dad started and sold two businesses. When I started selling hand painted hats my Dad helped me figure out how much I should charge for them and how I could advertise it. Still to this day whenever I have a question about finances or licensing my Dad is the person I call. I’m beyond grateful that my parents have always supported my entrepreneurial spirt and endeavors.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.zoeraeart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zoeraeart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089461345075