Local artist strives to make original art accessible and affordable

Amy Kacher offers a whimsical take on everyday objects

Climb the stairs behind Nola’s restaurant on Ramona Street and the raucous laughter from the bar soon fades away as you enter a warren of charming studios full of creative people. That’s where you’ll find Amy Kacher, a local artist with a mission to help people discover the pleasure of owning original art.

Art designed to bring joy

“If my art makes people happy, that’s great for me,” Amy said. “I don’t take myself too seriously and I don’t take my art seriously either.” Amy hopes her approachable style and reasonable prices (as low as $35 for a framed piece) will convince people that buying original art is both affordable and accessible.

“Instead of buying a purse or sweater for a friend, you can select a piece of artwork that is unique and special,” Amy said.

Amy paintings often feature frienships
Greeting cards from Amy Kacher’s design company, called Calm Inside Voices
Amy enjoys capturing everyday items, like shoes

Amy’s yen for design and entrepreneurship began during high school when she began making hair clips that became so popular, she eventually started selling them through Nordstrom’s. During her college years at the University of Colorado, Amy set up a sewing machine in her dorm room, stitching “millions” of hair scrunchies (yes they have been around that long) and patching jeans for her dormmates and friends.

Rekindling a passion for art

After graduating with a degree in fine arts, Amy moved back to the Bay Area, took a job in merchandising at The Gap Inc., and put away her drawing pens to focus on her career. Three children and many years later, on a whim, Amy signed up for a watercolor class at the Pacific Art League and found herself smitten with this new medium.

“Watercolor painting is immediately rewarding because it dries so fast,” Amy explained. “Unlike acrylic paint, watercolor is unpredictable and I never know what will happen, so it leads to lots of ‘happy mistakes.'”

Amy often features dogs and other animals in her art

She began painting watercolor designs, sketching everyday items like her coffee cup or labradoodle dogs and giving them to friends as gift. Soon people were asking where they could buy her art, and Amy decided to set up a studio in downtown Palo Alto where she could both create and sell her work.

Calm Inside Voices is born

The need for her own space is evident in the name of her art and design venture, called Calm Inside Voices. “I was trying to post a photo of my work on Instagram and my kids were going crazy,” Amy recalls. “The name came to me and it just stuck.”

Amy’s studio reflects this desire for quiet and peace, with its huge windows, comfy couches and soft music playing. It’s the perfect place to see her work, which includes framed watercolors on paper and products that feature her designs, such as zip pouches and t-shirts.

Partnering with local charities

“My goal is to donate a portion of my sales to causes I care about,” Amy explained. “So far my charity partners have included the ACLU and Palo Alto High School’s Christmas Fund, and I have more ideas for partner organizations in the future.”

For Amy, her goals are simple: “If my art can bring a smile to someone’s day, that’s enough for me.”