How it all began.
Painting the sunset just after Watercolor Whimsy was launched, 2024
Creative Roots
I’ve been creating for as long as I can remember.
As a kid, I was always drawing, painting, and making things. Creativity felt like a natural part of who I was, and I followed that path into a career in graphic design and photography.
My parents were photographers with a large studio and a bustling team of employees. I started “working” for them at just eleven years old—my first job was assembling photographs into folios. Mundane work, perhaps, but it taught me about balance and composition at an early age.
By sixteen, I was designing digital photographic composites in real time with direct feedback from clients, learning layout and visual storytelling through hands-on practice. Working in the photography studio was an incredible education and set me up for success in college, where I earned a BFA in Graphic Design.
After graduation, I spent nearly fifteen years working as a designer for various non-profits while running a photography business on the side—photographing weddings, families, and children. I’ve loved every chapter of that creative journey and feel deeply proud of the work I’ve put into the world.
Photo proof of young me, always creating. And my 9 yr old self-portrait, how sweet!
Motherhood and the Quiet Season
After becoming a mother, life became full in a completely new way.
Between family life, moving across the country, and the everyday demands of parenthood, I eventually stepped away from my graphic design job. Along with it, my own creative practice quietly faded.
Even though life felt fuller than ever, a vital piece of me was missing. This became a season of healing, of focusing on my family and finding my footing again. There was little space left for the part of me that loved to create. I didn’t fully recognize myself anymore—I felt lost.
The Transformative Weekend
Two years later, something shifted.
I cleared a weekend, set up my paints, put on music, and allowed myself to create without expectation. I painted, dreamed, and let myself move with the colors. That weekend felt like a return—to myself, and to the part of me that had always needed to make things.
I painted over one hundred tiny process paintings, letting water and pigment flow freely with no real intention other than to create for the sake of creating. By the end of the weekend, I was out of paper and surrounded by paintings.
I decided to try selling them—if only to sustainably buy more paper.
Just like that, my business was born.
Turning Practice into Passion
From that moment, I continued creating slowly and intentionally. What began as a personal practice grew into something I wanted to share.
I started:
Joining art fairs
Turning my original paintings into fine art prints
Teaching Watercolor Whimsy classes on the beach, creating playful and relaxing experiences for students
Participating in juried art exhibitions
Connecting with other creatives and building a community around art
Over time, these small steps coalesced into what became my art business, officially launched in 2024.
Art Today
Today, my work is inspired by light, water, and the everyday moments that make us pause and notice beauty. Every piece I create reflects that journey—from the quiet weekend when I returned to painting, to the ongoing process of turning inspiration into something tangible and shareable.
I’m still learning, growing, and discovering my style. But Rome wasn’t built in a day, and I’m truly enjoying the process.
About the Artist
Amber DeCicco is a watercolor and cyanotype artist inspired by light, water, and the quiet beauty of everyday moments. Her work blends organic movement with thoughtful process, creating artwork designed to bring calm and connection into your home. Explore her original paintings, fine art prints, and creative classes inspired by coastal living.