Natalie Westbrook is the personification of her paintings: Colorful. Vibrant. Joyful. And just like the charismatic artist herself, each abstract work elicits a smile.
The fact that they’re selling is an added bonus—not to mention, gave the former Ebby Halliday agent the nudge she needed to leave real estate and make art her full-time gig. Her first show at the Ron Hall Gallery in June was almost a sell-out. All but three of 15 paintings sold.
“It’s like God had another plan for me. This is like divine intervention that swept into my life and blessed me with an amazing opportunity,” says Natalie.
In fact, Natalie had no idea she had talent until she picked up a brush. “I’d bought this large canvas at a garage sale a long time ago.” With the onset of the pandemic, she needed an outlet. “I just bought all these paints and started to play.”
She sold her first piece—”All You Need Is Love”—on her already-established Instagram platform. “I had gained a following as the Dallas Real Estate Girl. Who would have thought COVID would have happened and I would have been dropped into another field?”
Natalie’s passion is not only sincere—it’s contagious. She’s quick to acknowledge all the support she’s received along the way.
“I grew up in Paris, Texas. When I moved to Dallas, I had to make a splash in a city where it’s quite challenging to make a splash.”
Even as a burgeoning Realtor in 2011, Natalie was clear on her goal: “I wanted to work in the little white house on Preston and Northwest Highway. It didn’t matter that they didn’t put new agents there.”
The first thing Linda Callicutt, Ebby’s office manager at the time, asked her was who she knew in Dallas. “I said, no one yet, but I’m going to,” laughs Natalie.
Not surprisingly, she got the job.
“Throughout my career, one of the most important things I’ve learned is the power of your network.”
Many have become friends and clients. “I’ve just had some really cool, amazing, wonderful people in my life that I’m so grateful for,” she says.
A second gallery show is slated for November. At the same time, Natalie is growing her custom commission business.
“This is the beginning of a whole new journey. I’m not taking a second of it for granted. Every single day I wake up and get to do exactly what I love.”
Get to Know Natalie
Describe your work: Playful, whimsical, happy. I love pinks, turquoises, stripes, patterns, textures, and textiles.
I’m inspired by: Fashion. I’ll look at a magazine, an outfit, and that’s where I get the color palette that I use.
What I’m really good at: The marketing component. I really know how to push things out there.
What I’m epically bad at: Anything administrative. I’m like a fish climbing a tree. It will live its whole life thinking it’s stupid because it doesn’t know how to do it.
Advice I’d give my younger self: Be proud of who you are and what you’ve been through.
One thing people who know me can count on: I’m the most loyal human being you’ll ever meet. If I’m on your team, it’s good as gold.
See more work on nataliewestbrookart.com
