After relocating to the US, expat partner Rita Lopes rediscovered her passion for painting and never looked back. Now living in Brazil, she hopes to share with others the joy she gets from art.
In a spiral
“Before our expat journey began, I was a civil engineer in Portugal. It was a job that I loved yet I always felt there was something else out there for me,” says Rita, a mother of three. “When we lived in Brussels (2012 to 2015), my focus was family life but life in Houston felt very different. The kids were going to school and I was not sure what to do. I had a lot of anxiety and found myself in a spiral.”
Personal renaissance
“I used to attend art classes in Lisbon so, with the support of my husband’s company, I signed up for a painting course at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It was a revelation for me. There was a wonderful community of teachers and students. It gave me so much happiness,” says Rita. “When I knew we were relocating, I felt sad that I wouldn’t be able to continue. But my teacher urged me to continue studying, so I started a masters course in Liege, which I completed online (due to the pandemic).”
Share the joy
“Since August 2022, we have been in Sao Paulo. I had already started a PhD with a university in Lisbon before we relocated. But recently I began to wonder how I could share with others the joy I get from painting. With a coach I discussed the possibility of creating an online shop to sell art. But, thanks to the coaching process, I realised that wasn’t quite what I wanted. So instead, I plan to run regular painting workshops for kids and adults,” says Rita, who hosted her first workshop at a primary school in June 2023.
The right balance
“I really appreciate the support that I received to help me develop this idea. I must admit when Anelise Schroeder, my Global Connection consultant, suggested talking to a coach, I didn’t think it was necessary. But the coaching experience was another revelation for me! Every session, I felt like I was learning something new about myself,” says Rita. “Normally I don’t like making decisions. Even when I do make one, I’m often afraid to take the first step! But thanks to the coaching, I could see what I really wanted to do. It was easier to make an action plan.”
Photo: Rita with two of her paintings
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