Today we’d like to introduce you to karla Alba.
Hi karla, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
One of my hobbies—and a form of therapy for me—is spending time in my garden. But in April 2020, at the start of the pandemic, I had an idea: it seemed like a great time to start painting rocks and decorating my garden. I began collecting rocks while walking and used my son’s brushes and paints to bring them to life. I ended up painting non-stop for hours, and I quickly discovered the benefits of disconnecting and creating.
I continued with this, moving on to decorating terracotta pots for my plants. This became a wonderful form of therapy during that tough time. I truly enjoyed my time at home and relaxed like never before. In the meantime, I kept taking care of my garden and began creating succulent arrangements in coffee mugs, which I call “SUCCU-MUGS.”” I even started selling them and created an Instagram page called Touch of Love km.
As time passed, I decided to take painting classes to learn more techniques, this time on canvas, and I absolutely loved it! I realized that while painting, I was confronting parts of my personality, like my perfectionism, which sometimes made it hard for me to go with the flow. But I noticed that painting was helping me free myself in many ways.
I decided to share this experience with other women through two activities: “Paint and Plant your Pot” and “Paint your Canvas.” I consider myself someone who loves to share what has helped me. If these activities helped me find peace and creativity, I believe they can do the same for others—especially for people who have never touched a brush before. We all have creativity within us, and when we connect with plants—touching dirt, watering them—we’re connecting with nature. It brings us peace, calm, and a deeper appreciation for the little things. It’s a special time for us to disconnect from the outside world, reduce stress, and discover parts of ourselves we didn’t know existed.
There’s no need for perfection when we paint or plant. It’s about the process and the joy it brings.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road is as smooth as we allow it to be. I believe the real battle happens in our minds, fear, rejection, criticism, perfectionism, doubt. Even to this day, I don’t consider myself a “real” artist, even though friends tell me I’m creative and talented. But at the end of the day, I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone, taking time to lean more, and sharing what I love to do. I remind myself not to take it too seriously, to have fun, and to enjoy the journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I paint on rocks, terracotta pots, and canvas, and I specialize in creating recreational activities for all ages. I’m especially proud of the fact that, despite not having formal knowledge or training, I’ve learned to trace drawings and bring them to life—even on tiny rocks!
What sets me apart from others is my enthusiasm and passion for what I do. When you love and take pride in what you create, that energy is contagious. Joy and passion can’t be hidden—they shine through in everything I do.
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that most people don’t know about me is that, even though I love being around people and cherish my family and friends, I also really enjoy spending time alone. I find peace in the quiet of nature—surrounded by trees, plants, flowers, birds, animals, and the sun or rain. I truly appreciate the simplest things in life, and I always find beauty everywhere I go. And if I add a little color to all of that, It makes me feel complete.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/touchoflove_km?utm_source=qr&igsh=OTk0YzhjMDVlZA==
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100065553487054&mibextid=ZbWKwL
