Story & Lesson Highlights with Vanessa Carson of Surprise, AZ

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Vanessa Carson. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: Are you walking a path—or wandering?
I’m definitely a wandering path right now. Even though our home base is Arizona, my husband and I started out on an RV life adventure taking our businesses and creativity with us. We have no idea where we we are going 50-75% of the time. But that’s ok, I’m quickly learning to ‘go with it’.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Vanessa Carson, and I’m an artist based out of Surprise, Arizona, though these days I spend a lot of time traveling around the United States in an RV and also down to the Dominican Republic. I originally started Nessa’s Painting Company, where I hosted paint-and-sip parties. But after getting sober 3.5 years ago, I decided to close that chapter and fully dedicate myself to pursuing my own art. Sobriety gave me a new clarity and purpose, and art has become my way of expressing that.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My father, Marshall Grayson, taught me the most about the value of hard work. He began his career as a cable installer and, through perseverance and dedication, worked his way up to become General Manager of the company. The road wasn’t easy, but he never complained — he simply showed up every day and gave his best. He was a stoic, strong, and kind man, and I can only hope to leave even half the legacy that he left for me.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could speak to my younger self, I’d tell her not to take everything so personally. Everyone is carrying their own struggles, and in many ways, we’re all the main characters in our own stories. My mother, Margie, often reminded me of a quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “You wouldn’t worry so much about what others think of you if you realized how seldom they do.” With time and experience, I’ve come to see just how true that really is.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
The version of me you see in public is the real me. I don’t change who I am depending on where I am or who I’m with—it’s just too exhausting to play different roles. I’m definitely a little awkward, but I’ve found that people appreciate authenticity more than perfection. These days, it feels like the world has more room for honesty, so I’m letting my introverted, awkward self shine.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people may misunderstand about my legacy is that my mistakes don’t define me. At the end of the day, what I truly want is to leave something of value behind and to know that, in some small way, I’ve helped others along the way.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Nessa Leah Paints
• Facebook: Nessa Leah Paints
• Other: TikTok : Nessa Leah Paints