Meet Jackie Murphy-kahn

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jackie Murphy-kahn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jackie below.

Hi Jackie, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

Finding Purpose: My Journey of Art, Nature, and Connection

I’ve always been a dreamer, a “head in the clouds” and “off the beaten path” type. From as early as I can remember, I felt like an outsider in the popular culture of my time. Each day, I left my house for school wearing a metaphorical mask —just enough to blend in and avoid being picked for my “otherness.” Whenever I let my true self show—my love for art, for nature, for wanting to emotionally connect deeply with others—it made me a target. Individuality and sensitivity weren’t considered “cool.”

I found solace in reading books, creating art in various mediums (usually as gifts for others), and exploring the woods behind my childhood home and the Adirondacks. Art and nature were central to my childhood, though it wasn’t until my 30s that I realized how deeply these passions were ingrained in my soul. They were the only sources of bliss and peace—my anchors in a chaotic world.

I grew up in a small working-class town in Central New York, in a time when parents dreamed of a better life for their kids. For most of us, that meant doing well in school, going to college (if you could take out loans), and landing a “normal,” well-paying job. I was third in small graduating class, and the adults in my life—teachers, guidance counselors, even my family—had big expectations for me. Law school or medical school seemed like the obvious paths.

But the truth was, my heart wasn’t in it. I spent my study halls in the art room with Mrs. T, who saw something in me that no one else did and nurtured my talent and unique mind. She encouraged me to apply to art schools, something I had never even considered. I submitted a portfolio of my work (on slides, no less!) and was accepted to the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York City. Mrs T changed my life, and I feel incredibly grateful that she was there to encourage me to take a chance on myself.

Deciding to go wasn’t easy, but deep down I felt a pull to leave my small town, the only place I have ever known for something different. I was searching for my people, for a community that would embrace the parts of me I’d kept hidden and were not so accepted in my home town. So, at 17, I packed up and moved to the big city.
My time at SVA was transformative in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I not only learned the foundations of graphic design and advertising, but I also found my chosen family who are still in my life today. They showed me what true friendship really is. The love and support they gave me from day one was pivotal to my own personal and artistic growth. My world expanded as I encountered people, cultures, music, food, and art that I had never been exposed to before. For the first time, I felt like I belonged.

I’ve always had a knack for branding, driven by my love for psychology and a deep curiosity about understanding why people are the way they are. By the age of 14, I was already diving into books like Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell. This foundation served me well in my first job in fashion, designing for several well-known brands. Stepping into the shoes of the target customer was natural to me, being able to design with others in mind. Over nearly 15 years in the fashion industry, I climbed to the role of Design Director, contracting for Victoria’s Secret on many of their accessories. Along the way, I gained skills far beyond design—mastering product development processes, timelines, business, client management, customer service and professional etiquette. The industry was demanding, and I certainly carry some scars from my time there. Yet, upon reflection, it equipped me with invaluable insights on how to build my own business—one that aligns with my values and operates in the world with intention and authenticity

In my early 20s, I lost two of my grandparents, which sent me spiraling into my first real bout of depression. Looking back, I realize I had struggled with it for years, alongside high-functioning anxiety. This had me seek out therapy.
Another transformative moment in my life was finding a therapist who truly changed everything for me. Julia F provided me with the emotional skills I had always craved, becoming one of the missing pieces of the puzzle of my being. She helped me clear the fog and begin a deeper journey into myself, guiding me to make choices that felt authentic and true. As our work together progressed, I felt myself finally coming ‘home.’ I shared with her my long-standing fascination with psychology—how, if given the chance to start over, I would want to become a therapist. Helping people through deep connection, understanding and shared experience was something I was really drawn to. She suggested I pursue certification as a life coach. I’ll admit, the field has its stigma, but I wholeheartedly recommend working with a certified coach if you want to make big changes in your life. The nine-month program felt like therapy on fast-forward, and I emerged from it changed for the better. It gave me an abundance of emotional tools and a deeper capacity to connect with others. While I don’t practice professionally today, those skills remain a core part of how I navigate and enrich every area of my life today,

Then came March 2020. I was at my other grandfather’s funeral when I heard the news that NYC would be shutting down. Losing him was gut-wrenching—some of my fondest childhood nature memories were with him. He taught me there was so much to learn in the quiet of nature. Today, hiking along in the woods is where I go to ground myself and feel his spirit around me. So this time was incredibly hard as we mourned the loss of a significant person in our family, while the world was in chaos. His first wife, an artist herself, had passed before I could know her, but I always sensed her spirit and creativity passed to me. Carrying that on is so meaningful to me.

At the time, I was still working in fashion, and with everyone transitioning to working from home, I decided to stay in my childhood home for a few months. It was during this time, back in nature that I began painting again after many years away from fine art. I felt inspired to create ‘language of flowers’ watercolor paintings for my friends in the medical field, as a way to thank them for everything they were enduring and to lift their spirits during an unimaginably stressful time. I’ve always loved making art with deep meaning for others—it’s my way of saying, ‘I see you.’ Encouraged by this rediscovered joy, I started a small art Instagram to share what I was creating.

This was when my now-husband reached out to tell me how happy he was to see me creating art again. We had met about 12 years earlier, remained friends, but were both in relationships at the time. When we found ourselves single again, he asked me on a hiking date in 2021. During that time, we talked deeply about the importance of authentic connection and what it meant to each of us. Around a fire pit, we shared meaningful conversations about our ideal future, envisioning a life where we made time for the things that truly brought us joy. For him, it was building motorcycles, and for me, it was art and spending more time in nature. Together, we dreamed of buying a home with a garage for him and an art studio for me, where we could create side by side

This is where the seed for Evergreen was planted. One day early in our relationship, Ethan bought me a bouquet, and I decided to save one of the roses by pressing it between glass. That rose now sits on our bookshelf in our home. I began experimenting with other flowers and soon became curious about preserving them in their full 3D form. I spent countless days experimenting with ways to preserve flowers in 3D. Around this time we also bought our house in the woods and started creating space for these big dreams. Trial and error with my process started to pay off. The only thing missing was a frame that could hold the full-form flowers without crushing them. My incredible husband said, ‘I can make that for you,’ and set out to learn how to craft the perfect frame for me. This gesture meant the world to me. I always looked to the relationship my high school art teacher had with her husband as the true fairy tale. Genuine love and support between two people who create art together. I couldn’t believe I now had that.

I began creating personal pieces and gifts for friends and family. I’ve never had a ‘classic’ art style, and I purposely avoided looking up other artists so I could let my heart and life experiences guide the designs. What emerged was a style that was uniquely my own.

Before long, commissions started pouring in, and we decided to take things to the next level by officially turning Evergreen into a business. With the name symbolizing our home and love. Once established, I began receiving a flood of bridal bouquet requests. This art transformed into something deeply meaningful—I was creating pieces for some of the most significant moments in people’s lives. Memorials for loved ones and pets, first dates, anniversaries, bridal bouquet recreations—all with unique stories filled with love. Art, nature, love, and deep connection all coming together in perfect harmony.

These individuals entrust me with something so sacred, and I cherish that trust deeply. Today, we craft hundreds of pieces a year, each one with its own unique and special story.

How did I find my purpose?

Through experiencing and learning from life. Through all the hard interpersonal work it took to make choices that felt authentic to me. Through listening to my heart and from the people who truly saw and supported me, even when I couldn’t for myself. I wouldn’t be where I was today without these wonderful people.

My whole life has prepared me to create art from nature, to honor love and memory, and to give people something deeply personal to cherish. You could say it was in me from the very beginning. I needed to live, learn and grow to truly nurture it.

Being able to share this art with others brings me deep gratification and joy. The people I meet and connect with are truly a special part of the process for me. I love hearing people’s individual stories, and I feel deeply honored that they choose to share them with.

This journey to my purpose has been a gift, and I’m profoundly grateful for everyone who has supported me and been part of it.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Evergreen Botanical Studio is a 3D Flower Preservation Studio located just an hour north of NYC. We create beautiful pieces of art using flowers from people’s most meaningful life events—weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, births, memorials (for both pets and people), first dates, garden scapes, and custom commissions.

We serve customers from all over the United States. Customers can ship their flowers to us from events or we can create custom commissions from the local flower farms and florists that we partner with.

Our core values of love, connection, and creativity are present in everything we do and create. We consider ourselves “meaning-making artists,” and making art with these intentions is our top priority.

People and their stories hold a sacred place in my heart. Transforming flowers that symbolize special occasions into memorable keepsakes is truly an honor. Whether delving into a couple’s love story, celebrating a significant birthday, or honoring a cherished person or beloved pet, capturing the essence of these moments in a beautiful piece of artwork is deeply fulfilling.

Since it’s just my husband and me, we are only able to take on a limited number of clients each year, so we advise clients to book ahead for special events. For weddings we ask to pre book as soon as you can or at least 6 months before for summer/fall weddings and 4 months for spring weddings. However, we always make space for last-minute memorials, and custom commissions can be booked at any time since they follow a different timeline. We also believe these art pieces make thoughtful gifts, and we encourage anyone interested to reach out to us at any time through our website.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Authenticity, Persistance, Patience

Authenticity:
Continually learning each new version of myself over time has been key. We all grow and change based on our life experiences. Seeking help from a therapist to develop skills like self-reflection, understanding my emotions, finding my value set, relating to and being compassionate with others changed my life. Learning and taking actions on how I wanted to show up in the world was transformative. My value set provided me with the guidelines to show up authentically and make choices that align with my heart. When you lead with authenticity, what you love radiates from you.

Persistence:
Never stop learning, reflecting, changing course, and trying new things. It doesn’t have to be just one thing. The more paths you explore that spark your interest, the clearer it becomes what to keep and what to leave behind. Think of life as a challenging hike to a lookout point. As you walk, you gather berries to eat, tossing away the overripe ones and holding onto the good ones. The journey is tiring, but you must keep going, because what you find at the top is more than just an incredible view. You find your heart up there and you get to eat a feast of berries.

Patience:
Great things come with time. Just like persistence, trust the timing of your journey. I’m a firm believer that when something feels like it may take forever, it’s life’s way of saying, “You need a little more time to grow to make this thing great.” I know it’s incredibly hard, but as I reflect on most experiences in my life, I am grateful for the timing of it all. If you’re feeling impatient, try doing something for yourself to nourish your soul. These moments can lead to big breakthroughs. When you quiet your mind and take the pressure off trying to make something happen it leaves space for new perspectives and ideas. Take time to reflect on where you’ve been in your life—everyone has overcome something. Our stories are meaningful and take time.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

I’ve always been an avid reader, forever curious and in search of words that make me feel deeply. When I began my journey inward, I discovered a book that opened me up to an entirely new perspective. This book is a collection of essays from Dear Sugar, Strayed’s advice column on The Rumpus. Writing under the pseudonym “Sugar,” Cheryl took over the column from her friend Steve Almond and responded to anonymous questions with honesty, sharing her own life experiences in unfiltered detail.

I was drawn to the stories in this book—so human, so honest—and to Cheryl’s raw vulnerability in her responses. The book gave me comfort, making me feel less alone in my own struggles.
This discovery led me to seek out more books on personal growth, emotional education, and understanding both myself and others.

Books that have influenced me::
• The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
• Rising Strong by Brené Brown
• How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera
• Lighter by Yung Pueblo
• The Way Forward by Yung Pueblo
• Permission to Feel by Marc Brackett
• The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk, M.D.
• The Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie Ware
• Quiet by Susan Cain
• Bittersweet by Susan Cain
• The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
• The Myth of Normal by Gabor Maté
• 100 Essays That Will Change the Way You Think by Brianna Wiest
• Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
• The Comfort Book by Matt Haig
• You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero

Each of these books has contributed to my growth, offering insights, lessons, and perspectives that continue to shape my understanding of myself and the world around me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.evergreenbotanicalstudio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evergreenbotanicalstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/evergreenbotanicalstudio/

Image Credits

all taken by me or my husband ethan kahn