Meet April Hernandez of Lawrenceville, GA

Today we’d like to introduce you to April Hernandez.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up loving art! Ever since I can remember, I loved to draw. I had the opportunity to learn Advertising design in my junior and senior year of high school as well as attended Kendall School of Art & Design in Grand Rapids, MI for a year. I got married before I was able to complete college, but never lost my love for art.

Being a wife and mother took over my life for 30 years, as my husband went to college to prepare for the ministry and later became a full-time pastor. The Lord blessed us with 5 beautiful daughters and our life was full and blessed. He pastored in Indiana and Georgia. Both ministries grew and I was able to use my talents in these ministries creating brochures, banners for events, and cover designs for many of my husband’s books. But during these busy years, my love for watercolor, painting and art in general was put on the back burner as I attended to family life.

In 2015, my husband was killed in a tragic automobile accident which upended my life in a way I had never expected. During this time of grief and loss, as I struggled to find a purpose for my life, I found comfort in Bible journaling. Slowly, I began to rediscover my love for creating and all things art.

In 2017, I opened an Etsy shop and started a small business, creating scripture bookmarks and journals. I branched out and started painting chalkboard signs and other home decor as well, opening a small space inside the Painted Tree Boutiques in Buford, Georgia. I enjoyed having the physical space for my products, and then COVID hit. Eventually, for many reasons, I had to close this space and concentrate on my Etsy shop.

While I found fulfillment in my shop for several years, I eventually closed it to focus on watercolor painting and entering my work in juried exhibits. I do still have a physical space in a boutique at The Forum in Peachtree Corners, Georgia, where I sell my scripture art, journals and watercolors on consignment. I love this space and am happy to be there!

I am currently enjoying watercolor and acrylic painting and am a member of the Suwanee Arts Center. I have entered many juried exhibits at the center located in Suwanee Towne Square in Suwanee, Georgia where I received the People’s Choice Award for one of my watercolor paintings, as well as the Cumming Arts Center in Cumming, Georgia where I received an Honorable Mention for one of my acrylic paintings. I currently have two of my watercolor paintings on display in the Spring Exhibit at the Suwanee Arts Center.

Another exciting thing I am doing at the moment is illustrating a children’s book, my very first! Although I cannot give out many details about the project yet, I am thoroughly enjoying every minute of it and can’t wait to see what doors it may open in the future!

I am heavily involved in my church and local Christian school, where I teach an elective Art class to the high school students. I love opening my students’ eyes to see the beauty around them and showing them how to recreate God’s creation through watercolor and other mediums.

I am currently enrolled in the Immersion Course 2025 with Bonnie Christine online as a scholarship recipient for the course, learning all there is to know about surface pattern design. At 62 years of age, I am eager to take the next step in my artistic journey by transforming my scripture and watercolor art into products. There is so much to learn, and I am ALL IN for it! I would love the opportunity to create a side hustle that would eventually become supplemental income or more as I am approaching my retirement years. You can follow my surface design journey on Spoonflower here: https://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/inspiredbygrace

I want to spend the rest of my life doing what I love and having the freedom to travel and spend time with my daughters and their families, including my 8 grandchildren.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has not been a smooth one. As I have already shared, I have had many ups and downs over the past 10 years, trying to find a purpose for my life after having been a pastor’s wife for 30+ years.

Opening an Etsy shop and closing it after 7 years was not an easy thing. I invested a lot of time and effort into the shop, but it just didn’t work out as planned. And having COVID hit in 2020 after opening my space at the Painted Tree Boutiques in the Fall of 2019 was not the best thing that could have happened. Many people, not just myself, experienced the same thing.

But there are always new doors that open, and you just need to be willing to walk through them when they come your way.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am an artist. I specialize in scripture art and watercolor painting and illustration. I am best known for my scripture art – bookmarks and journals – but am slowly creating a following for my watercolor paintings and illustrations.

I am proud of not being afraid to step out and try new things. The older I get, I am determined to continue learning and applying new techniques to my artistic journey. I wasn’t given artistic talent to let it sit on the shelf and collect dust. I want to share it with others. Mostly, I want to be known for creating art that inspires others to know my Savior.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned during my journey so far is that I can do hard things. I do not need to live with a limited mindset and with the Lord’s help, I can do anything I set my mind to!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredbygracestudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handcraftedscripture

Image Credits
Whitney Hyunh