There are moments in every founder’s journey where the dream feels so big, so vivid, so right—and yet, the path to it feels impossibly heavy. I’ve walked that path. I walk it still.
Hawaii Fluid Art was born from a vision etched deep into my soul. It wasn’t just about paint on a canvas. It was about connection, healing, inclusion, and expression. It was about creating a space where anyone—regardless of skill, background, or ability—could walk in and feel inspired, safe, and celebrated. That’s still my dream. But bringing it to life? It takes everything.
Digging Deep When It’s Hard
There have been days where the weight of this dream has felt too much—where resources were low, where decisions were hard, and where fear whispered louder than faith. Being a business owner isn’t all glossy wins and ribbon cuttings. It’s late nights, personal sacrifices, and moments where you wonder if you’re doing enough—or if you are enough.
But it’s in those very moments—the messy, uncertain, tear-filled ones—that the magic starts to take root. Because when you’re building something from your heart, when your mission is bigger than yourself, you dig deeper.
You remember why you started.
You focus on who you’re doing this for.
You believe in the vision even when your knees shake under the weight of it.
A Mission That Fuels Me
Every studio. Every franchisee. Every guest who walks through the doors of a Hawaii Fluid Art studio is part of this movement. Working with and for our franchisees is my mission. Helping them grow, find their rhythm, overcome fear, and build their own dreams through this brand—I don’t just take pride in that. I feel it in my bones.
When I look at our franchise owners, I don’t see numbers. I see people with purpose. People who are trusting me with a piece of their future. And that’s a responsibility I will never take lightly. I want to nurture and inspire every person I come in contact with, whether for five minutes or for the life of their business.
Building the Dream with Grit and Grace
Let me be real: this vision takes more than passion.
It takes:
Hard work (the kind that stretches you in every direction)
Money (often more than you have, and that you fight to find)
Relationships (built on trust, honesty, and shared belief)
Dedication (even when no one is clapping yet)
Fear (because being scared is part of being brave)
Yes, it’s hard. But every time a guest leaves a studio with pride in their eyes… every time a franchisee tells me this changed their life… every time a child with special needs walks in and feels seen—I know this dream is worth it.
The Dream Is Becoming Reality
What was once a small idea is now becoming a national movement. Hawaii Fluid Art is not just a brand—it’s a family, a force, and a platform for purpose.
So to anyone out there chasing a vision that keeps you up at night, that demands more than you feel you have to give—I see you. I am you. And I promise you, the dream is worth it.
Keep digging.
Keep believing.
Keep painting the future one brushstroke at a time.
With love and aloha,
Maya Ratcliff
Founder, Hawaii Fluid Art
Where passion meets purpose—and every canvas tells a story.
