Meet Rebecca Roy

We were lucky to catch up with Rebecca Roy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rebecca, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I credit my work ethic to both my upbringing and the community I’ve chosen to surround myself with. Growing up, I watched my father run his own business with dedication and integrity. He treated his employees with respect, teaching me the importance of leadership and valuing people.

My mother was equally inspiring as a homemaker—think Martha Stewart meets June Cleaver. She had incredible attention to detail and worked tirelessly to create a loving and organized environment for our family. Their examples instilled in me a strong sense of responsibility, a commitment to excellence, and maybe even a little perfectionism.

Today, my work ethic is also fueled by the environment of my studio, located in a coworking community filled with self-starters and entrepreneurs. Being surrounded by people who are driven to manifest their dreams keeps me motivated. This is LA. We all hustle.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My main focus is The Magic Brush Room, my arts and crafts studio located down a mysterious alleyway in Chinatown. At our studio, we specialize in teaching adults craft workshops and hosting creative events like corporate team-building sessions, bachelorette parties, and other unique gatherings. There’s nothing quite like the bonding that happens when people break things and put them back together—like in our popular Kintsugi workshops.

As a craftsperson, my journey began early. I grew up attending craft fairs where both my grandmother and aunt sold their handmade creations. Those experiences planted the seed for my love of making things with my hands. Later, I worked in the art department on movie sets as a scenic, where I gained hands-on experience with painting and creating atmospheric designs. Though I didn’t sculpt professionally, it’s my preferred medium as an artist, and I’ve always considered myself a sculptor at heart. Over the years, I’ve also become what I call a “party artist,” channeling my creativity into increasingly elaborate Halloween parties filled with handmade props. These projects are collaborative efforts, often involving friends and neighbors.

I studied at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco and FIDM in Los Angeles, and after some time in interior design, I found myself at Studious Coworking, a vibrant creative community in Chinatown. When my friends started the coworking space, I was working in design and decided to experiment with teaching a sip-and-paint class. I bought all the supplies—canvases, tiny easels, and paint—but something about it didn’t feel right. I wasn’t inspired by the typical products of those classes and didn’t want to be responsible for more “bad art” in the world.

That’s when I had an idea: instead of painting, why not teach Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold? I had lived in Japan for a year in my youth and learned from craftspeople there, so it felt like a natural fit. The class took off, and The Magic Brush Room was born from that spark of inspiration.

Now, the studio has grown into something much larger. We recently moved into a new space on September 1, where we’ve hosted exciting events like a collaboration with a magician from the Magic Castle and a drag queen drawing night led by artist Brenda Chi. We’re constantly dreaming up new ideas, like a marionette improv night where participants use puppets to explore comedy.

None of this would have been possible without Studious Coworking. It provided the space and supportive community that helped me bring my vision to life. Being surrounded by self-starters and creatives inspires me daily and drives me to create opportunities for others to connect and create.

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?

Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been persistence, attention to detail, and adaptability. My business, The Magic Brush Room, isn’t my first venture. I’ve also run an interior decorating business and launched a few others, including a natural house paint company, a vegan ice cream business, and even a cosmetic tattooing business. Each of these ventures taught me something valuable, even though they didn’t all continue long-term. I don’t view any of them as failures; I gave my all to each one, and I see them as successes because of the lessons and growth they provided.

The advice I’d give to those early in their journey is to keep trying. Every business or project, whether it succeeds or not, helps shape your skill set and understanding of what works for you. Persistence is key. The second quality that has been invaluable is attention to detail—I’m incredibly detail-oriented. Even the smallest thing- the font on your business card, or the speed of your responses- makes an immeasurable impact. Every business is the sum of all its parts. Finally, adaptability is something I’ve had to learn along the way. I’ve forged my own path, but I’m also not afraid to ask for help when needed. Being self-reliant doesn’t mean doing everything alone.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely! I’m always looking for opportunities to collaborate and partner with others. I’m especially interested in connecting with artisans who have unique skills and would like to teach their own workshops at The Magic Brush Room.

I’d also love to partner with a brewery to create a craft night specifically for men— “Hot Glue & Cold Brews.” It would be cool to get more men in the craft space- it’s kind of like yoga was 20 years ago- there are a few men there, but a critical mass would make the reluctant more comfortable. Beyond that, I’m excited about working with businesses that curate experiences for people, such as wedding planners, party planners, and event organizers.

One of my existing collaborations is with Renaissance Club, whose members have brought so much energy and creativity to our events. They’ve been instrumental in my studio’s growth, and I’d love to work with more companies that share their vision of bringing people together.

If you’re interested in partnering or collaborating, I’d love to hear from you! You can reach me at [email protected], or call my studio line 3236181188

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.magicbrushroom.com
• Instagram: magicbrushroom

Image Credits

Rebecca Balakier