Transforming spaces with rare plants & art inspired by culture, nature & travel adventures | Rupali Kumbhani

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep123

Creativity doesn't have to compete with your career, your responsibilities or your ambitions. In fact, it can become the very thing that helps you thrive in every area of your life.

In this inspiring conversation, I sit down with artist, photographer, plant curator and global transformation executive Rupali Kumbhani to explore how creativity and professional success can beautifully coexist.

Rupali shares how a childhood love of drawing grew into a lifelong creative practice alongside a demanding corporate career, why she refuses to limit herself to a single creative identity, and how art, photography and plants have become meaningful ways to transform spaces, experiences and lives.

Together we explore the relationship between creativity, innovation, personal growth and purpose, and why making time for your creative passions isn't a luxury—it's an investment in becoming more fully yourself. 

In this episode we explore:

•  How Rupali nurtured her creativity while building an international corporate career. 
•  Why creativity and strategic thinking strengthen one another. 
•  Finding the confidence to create on your own terms instead of following industry expectations. 
•  The freedom that comes from embracing multiple creative passions. 
•  How travel inspires both photography and painting. 
•  Creating art and living collections that transform everyday spaces. 
•  Why creativity helps us think differently, innovate and solve problems. 
•  Making creativity a genuine priority rather than something you fit in "one day." 
•  How art creates personal meaning and different experiences for every viewer. 
•  Why failure, experimentation and curiosity are essential parts of every creative journey. 

FOR EPISODE LINKS & MORE INFO VISIT: https://samhorton.co/blog/ep123

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Transcript

 Ep123 Rupali Kumbhani

​[00:00:00]

 So today I have Rupali Kumbhani with me. By day, Rupali is a global transformation and innovation executive. However, alongside this, she has a rich and diverse creative life as a painter, photographer, and curator of rare indoor plants. She's here to talk with me today about how art and plants can become immersive experiences that transform everyday spaces, and why creative expression is so important to her.

So welcome, Rupali. Thank you, Samantha. So let's just start with your, your story. Tell us about your creative journey and, you know, why it's so important for you to cultivate this creative side alongside, you know, your work in the corporate world . Um, so my creative journey started very young [00:01:00] age. So at the age of seven, I used to sketch, cartoons or people who are coming in, uh, magazines.

so I have been born and raised in Mumbai, India, so that's where we, we used to have newspaper coming. My mother saw this, and she felt like this is skill sh- needs to be nurtured. So in busy, my study life, I used to do a creative workshop or classes with either students or artists who are free and available to train me on different kind of medias.

So at the early stage, I have learned, uh, working into charcoal, pencil, uh, watercolors, and getting the basic of how to do hand-eye coordinations in different medias. Uh, that's how my journey started. as I grown further into my career and study life, it was very intense, and it's not giving me too much free time to work on my creative space.

Mm-hmm. So it got sideline. Um, when I moved to United States, I got some [00:02:00] time back, saying what I wanna pursue further and how I wanted to, to, uh, drive my life, and that's the one component I felt like art is what I've been doing in past, and I wanna continue that journey. Uh, and I found a couple of good artists here who works in pastel, so that's where I got introduction into pastel- Mm-hmm

and a lot into how art history works because I did not have any academic background in art history or how, artists work and how gallery works. And I got that learning and then start exhibiting a lot into national, international shows, and that's how my art journey, especially in painting, done. And photography came later, uh, when I started traveling a lot.

Mm-hmm. Um, and I enjoy traveling places, so that's where I used to carry my Canon in the beginning, and then now I have my, um, mirrorless camera of Sony- Mm-hmm ... uh, with different lenses. And I have expanded into my [00:03:00] photography journey. And I feel I enjoy doing that. It's, it's, uh, kind of a second companion when I travel, and that becomes my inspiration for my painting.

Mm-hmm. So I say that my art is inspired by places I visit and people I meet. Mm-hmm. And I want then to my buyers to have a piece of world into their space when they buy something from me. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So that's all about my art journey. plants started, uh, during the COVID time. Um, had so much free time, and then, uh, plants were something, uh, I felt like, yeah, I need to work on different kind of indoor plants.

I've started... I have done work outside, like your typical herbs and vegetables, but not grown something which is more rare. Rare meaning it's a different part of the world which I'm growing inside Chicago house- ... which is not a good weather to have any kind of a- Um, plant which is growing in either in Colombia or in the rainforest.

So, um, that's [00:04:00] where my journey started, and I started experimenting with the plant. Mm-hmm. I wanna make them lush and beautiful as it grows outside in the nature, but I don't wanna give them too much perfect condition and see how it works out. Like, I experiment. Mm-hmm. I love that. Mm-hmm. And, help people to say, "You can grow this inside the house," and what's the right environment looks like.

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Wow. Yeah. So your day job, for want of a better word, you know- Yeah ... has this focus on strategic transformation for companies. Yeah. And your creative focus from what I, you know, have seen and what you've told me, you know, also seems to have this transformation aspect, you know, where you're transforming spaces through emotion, through light, through experiences and beauty.

and because that theme is so strong, you know, across both areas of focus, it seems to me that that word or concept must be tied to your greater purpose in some way. So what does the word transformation mean to you, you know, and how do you see [00:05:00] that, um, helping you to live out your purpose?

Transformation to me either as a professional or as an art life I would say is the same as to transform something into better for any individual. Now better will be defined by each person differently. Mm-hmm. And art gives you that freedom of choosing what better feels like for you. For example, your mood is down, you wanna see a good art or a good plant and that cheers up your mood.

For some people, transformation is going back to their family roots or where they've grown up. And if they are living like me, was born in some other country and now living life in another country, you wanna have a piece of art or experience which transform you to the place which you have grown up in.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So that memories you continue. Mm-hmm. So it's, it's, that's the freedom art gives you, that I don't have to give you one sort of set of, uh, transformation. I'm not giving you transformation [00:06:00] that it would be better for you and me exactly the same. So I feel like that's what I mean by when I see transformation in terms of art.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And so as you kind of, go on your creative journey then, you know, is there a transformation that you're experiencing as well as part of that? Uh, yes. Throughout, I think so my art journey, I've been, have seen transformation. So at the beginning, um, a lot of time the subject I choose and the media I work with or the sizes I wanted to do was very free flow.

Mm-hmm. And I seen a transformation in me is now being very selective. I've decided to just work in, uh, watercolor and pastels- Mm ... and charcoal. this is the media because it's, it gives me freedom to work quickly- Mm ... and in any space. Mm. It's not toxic an environment, so I don't have to have a separate studio somewhere.

I can even traveling wise I can have a [00:07:00] watercolor coming out and I can sketch something as quickly as possible. Mm-hmm. So I've seen that transformation in myself, saying now I'm being very selective. initially subject-wise it's been, um, I've worked on very different medias and different subjects. Mm-hmm.

And if you see my art portfolios, it's, does not looks very similar to each other. Mm-hmm. Um, my abstracts are different than my landscapes, and my wildlife is different than portrait. And there are a lot of artists who works on a specific media with a specific s- subject. I'm not that, artist. Mm-hmm. And that transformation in the beginning I used to worry about it because I'd go through galleries and they would say- Mm

"What is Rupali's mark? I, I don't know what is that mark looks like because your two paintings does not look exactly the same." And, uh, for me, I felt like you had to sell my work. That's the reason I created my online gallery, so I can connect with my consumers directly- Mm-hmm ... and I can make what I enjoy doing it.

So I see more confidence coming into me- Mm ... saying I wanna [00:08:00] continue my art journey the way I feel like. I don't wanna make a standard, uh, mark just because- Yeah ... I wanted to sell something, work in gallery. So that is one transformation. Mm-hmm. In my photography journey, two years ago I invested into a big lens and started doing wildlife photography, and I really liked it.

That was, uh, I traveled to Kenya- Okay ... and did five national park and did some of the photography. And I enjoy a lot of wildlife. That was my first attempt. So I feel like having confidence in trying different views and visions of the painting has h- helped me converse same into photography. So I've did the transformation in that too.

Mm-hmm. And I'm improving every time I taking new pictures. my thought process, my design elements are increasing too. So I, I... It's, it's a, still a constant journey, I would say. Yeah. Yeah, okay. So I mean, you sort of touched on, you know, um, how some creative people sort of get sucked into one single creative, outlet or medium or whatever you wanna call it, [00:09:00] theme, even if they have other creative interests.

So I can see from your website and the way that you're talking about, your creative- work that your, your website has your paintings, your photography, and your plants. they all feature quite equally alongside each other. So how important is, is it for you to have that vari- variety and diversity in your creative expression?

It is part of me. That's something interests me, and that's where I continue it. As I said it normally, I enjoy that freedom. Mm. For me, that is the freedom I wanted to go into. I was talking with one of my plant client today, and she was asking me, "How do you make a selection which plants to stay with you and which plant to go?"

Because plants goes through their journey too. This is a popular plant right now, so everybody wants to have that. And then, uh, after six months they are somewhere non-popular plant. So I told her, I make decision based on what I feel comfortable with. Mm-hmm. I have 150 plants growing inside my house. [00:10:00] So I decide that this is something bringing joy to me or not.

Okay. And there how I invest into it and invest my time into it. So for me, they are equally important as of now. But I do have a freedom and choice in saying, "Hey, this time I wanna focus more into my photography." Yeah. Or, "This two months I wanna focus a lot into painting because there are so many exhibitions are happening.

I have to do a commission for somebody." So this freedom is important. I'm not tied up to- Mm ... one over another. That's what, uh, I feel whatever I decide to do in that particular moment of time. Mm. And do you think that there's sort of like seasons, like, where you focus much more strongly Rupali Kumbhani, on one area, and then you sort of move between them?

Or do they, you know, are they all kind of as regular as each other? Uh, they co-exist. They are regular in each other. Okay. Uh, in beginning, yes, plant used to take a back step when we have a winter up here. Mm-hmm. But now I've created my own system, and the way I [00:11:00] explore my plants, they do grow continuously throughout the winter also.

Mm-hmm. So that's how I've built up my system. So for me, that take a time. Photography as I'm traveling, editing takes a longer period of a time, so- Mm-hmm ... that also goes better off with the painting. But sometimes one would get over time over another, because I have a limited amount of a time. So- Yeah ... it, it would be two over one, or maybe one just focused on a one element.

Yeah. So I mean, I believe that creativity sort of operates in tandem with personal or professional growth, right? So how do you think creativity and your creative expression has supported your growth personally and professionally? I would say professionally is, um, both, it's both angles. Like, my other side is very strategic, technology-driven.

My this life is, uh, a lot more creative space. And I intermingle both components here and [00:12:00] in other lives. For example, my creative space, my creative mindset helps me to think out of the box. That's where I sit in. I'm doing innovative works in my technology life. And most, uh, I would say the first most component for that is you have to think out of the box.

Mm-hmm. Um, so that's my creative space which allows me to do that. My strategic space allows me to think... When I'm doing my painting, I plan ahead of the time. Mm-hmm. So there are sketches goes before the planning. Um, before I ex- exactly go into the painting and start painting, I do multiple sketches and do a lot of pre-work.

So that's my strategic side blend into here also. And something which is consistent in both my world is I experiment a lot. I love to do that transformation. I love to challenge myself. I do get bored easily, so I have a lot of paintings going around. And same way, in my other work, I do a lot of that side.

Um, different industries, different transformation. [00:13:00] So that's, I think, so it's very core to my nature- Mm-hmm ... which I continue doing it. Yeah. and in my personal life, yes, it's helped me to meet a lot of people and engage with them- Mm-hmm Of what joy and that experience brings to their life when they buy something from me.

that helps something great. As I was telling you today, I met that client. She spent an half an hour with me, standing in a line with me to take something, and we were talking about different plants, and she was so excited. seeing that experience was so helpful and that's, that feels, that sense of achievement is really great.

Mm. Mm. So one of the biggest blocks to pursuing creative, you know, ventures, that I see is time, right? Not enough time, other priorities taking over. So what keeps you coming back to your painting, your photography, and your plants when life feels really full and busy? Um, time allocation. I do devote- Okay.

certain time of my calendar [00:14:00] to that. It's, for me, it's not a hobby which is I would be just ignoring, or it's not something, it's something comes at the last. Because as I said, creative space help me to grow professionally and personally. Mm-hmm. It is important part of my life. So- Mm ... as you give a time and devote that to your family, your personal life, similar way I give time to my, um, creative journey, whether it's my plant or whether it's my painting or photography.

So giving that time, is super important. Mm. And giving that equal priority helps me to be there. But obviously, it has to be flexible, too. It's not that- Mm ... yeah, I committed today, I'm gonna spend two hours doing some work and something else came up. No, it's okay. There is a flexibility. But it should not be that it's sit into the sidelines and where I say, "Okay, maybe next week," and then week after that.

That kind of slippage I don't allow to have it. Okay. That's good. Yeah. So it's a, it's a- Yeah ... it's a big [00:15:00] priority, then. That, that's really, um, what you're saying, right? Yeah. Yeah. It, it, it's, it's keeps me engaged. It's keep me that refreshing. So it gives me the fresh energy of work I do it on other side of creativity.

Mm. It helps me to boost my own confidence and my own experience- Mm ... and makes me feel happy, which I in turn can do it in my other life. Yes. So I feel like that's important component for me. Yeah. That's, that's great. Yeah. That's very powerful. So do you believe, then, that creative flow, um, you know, and when we immerse ourselves in our creative work, do you think that helps us to connect to something bigger than ourselves?

you know, a connection to spirit or the divine or, you know, whatever it is that you, believe in? It, it does. I feel like art is that venue. That's the reason I say for me, art is an experience. For my, my plants are experience. It's gives you that experience. For some, that experience might be joy. For some, that experience [00:16:00] might be sorrow.

It depends upon, what you feel it. Mm-hmm. And art allows you to feel the way you want to feel it. Mm-hmm. That gives you that unique space. I don't have to see something and see the way Samantha sees this. I can see it the way I wanna see it. Mm-hmm. Sky might be blue today, and may be gray when I'm gray.

Yeah. And it can be pink when I'm happy. Yeah. So it depends how I want to see it, and that's art gives you freedom. So yes, it's a venue to connect. For some, it's connecting with nature. For me- Mm-hmm ... it's like I'm going outside, I'm connecting to nature, I'm connecting with people, where community builds up.

So for me, it is that. But for some, it's a spiritual. You believe in- Mm-hmm ... whatever god or spirituality you follow it. Yes, it's a way to connect with that. Mm-hmm. It gives you that freedom to be yourself and still continue living your life. So I feel like yes. Mm, mm. So for all the women out there who are curious about, you know, using creative outlets [00:17:00] to support other areas of their life, what powerful message or question would you leave them with today?

Oh, the powerful message would be what we have talked, and you asked me a question about saying how I balance this. Mm-hmm. And especially for women- Mm-hmm ... uh, it's, it happens is we sideline ourself, our- Yeah ... journey, our passion as a lowest priority than rest of everything in our life. So I would say to them is whatever your passion is, in creative there is a bigger piece of world.

You can do as much as passion you want it to continue. so I would say give that as a first priority. Mm-hmm. Don't just make it as a last priority because that make it part of your life. And secondly would be don't let fear or don't let failure to stop you moving forward. Learn from it, but continue your journey, because creative journey is not easy journey if you are going in this route by yourself, or if you do not have too much influence around you.

And it's easier to give [00:18:00] up when there is failure comes up, or a fear that I would not be that person. I would say continue find your positive people around you, and continue that journey. And failure, take it as something to learn about, and do not repeat the same mistake. You can repeat another mistake, but still keep on going.

And so these two things will make you happy, in turns will h- make surrounding of you happy. Hmm. So how can people get to know y- you better, Rupali, and get a real feel for the creative work that you're doing? Yes, I will invite everyone to see my work in my website, where it is, uh, www.rupaali.com. Mm. It has extra A in that.

My name has just first A. I say it is an extra A for art, so it's R-U-P-A-A-L-I.com. Okay. From there you can connect with me on different social media platform. I'm visible on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Uh, and those handles are also there, so you can connect with me. And if you have any [00:19:00] questions, let me know.

I do not only do the photography prints, but I also print my, paintings in a different format. So it's... I understand everybody does not have resources in terms of time, money, and space to have a big painting in their house. Mm-hmm. But it comes in a different, product such as mugs. I makes the prints in different sizes.

So these also, I provide option to my buyers. So you can get all that option through my print store also, which is there on my website. Mm-hmm. So feel free to check that out, and I would love to know your feedback. Excellent. Thank you so much for coming and chatting with me today, Rupali. Thank you, Samantha.

Hey, Sam here. Thanks for listening to the end. If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to watch my free masterclass, Three Shifts Your Soul Is Craving That Will Transform Your Art and Your Life. Inside, I will share some of the most important lessons creativity has taught me about self-trust, [00:20:00] personal growth, and living in alignment with what matters most, and how your own creative practice can become a powerful pathway for transformation.

You can watch the free masterclass at samhorton.co/masterclass. Until next time, keep listening to the creative whispers within. They may be guiding you somewhere more beautiful than you can yet imagine. Take care.