Episode #9 Edi Matsumoto: From Nurse Practitioner to Otter Artist and Gallery Owner

I Love Your Stories- Conversations with Artists and Creatives with Hava Gurevich

In this episode of I Love Your Stories, host Hava Gurevich speaks with Edi Matsumoto, a Japanese-born artist who transitioned from a 30-year career in healthcare to a full-time career in art. Edi recounts her early encounter with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, her nursing career in the U.S., and the pivotal moment when her husband rescued an old sketch of hers from the trash, encouraging her to pursue art classes.

What began as weekend classes turned into a Master’s in Fine Arts and eventually a flourishing art practice. After retiring early from medicine, Edi leaned into business mentoring and discovered her niche: anthropomorphised otter paintings. This playful and deeply appealing work has led to her gallery, Edi Matsumoto Art and Design, in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

She discusses the challenges of opening a gallery, the importance of mentors and business education, and the Japanese concept of Ikigai—finding joy, purpose, and service at the intersection of what you love, what you’re good at, and what people need. Edi also talks about her upcoming book Otter Therapy, which pairs her otter artwork with humor and lighthearted wisdom.

The conversation touches on creativity, overcoming self-doubt in selling art, living authentically, and inspiring others to rediscover their creative passions.

📌 Show Notes

• Guest: Edi Matsumoto – artist, gallery owner, mentor, and author
• Host: Hava Gurevich
• Key Topics Covered:
  • From healthcare to art: Edi’s journey from nurse practitioner to full-time artist.
  • The Paris sketch that sparked her career, saved from the trash by her husband.
  • The role of mentors and business coaching in shaping her success.
  • Discovering her niche with otter paintings and how it grew into Otter Therapy.
  • Opening her gallery in Carmel-by-the-Sea and building community through events.
  • Ikigai: blending love, skill, need, and income into a joyful life purpose.
  • Overcoming the discomfort of “selling” by reframing it as service.
  • Inspiring others to reclaim their creativity and live authentically.
• Links:
  • Gallery: [Edi Matsumoto Art and Design, Carmel-by-the-Sea] (Mission Street)
  • Website: eddiematsumoto.com

  • Book: Otter Therapy: 50 Whimsical Whisker Moments for the Soul (launching October, available on Amazon)

💬 Memorable Quotes

• “I call myself an accidental artist because this was sort of by accident.”
• “My husband literally rescued that drawing from the garbage and said, ‘You cannot throw this away.’”
• “Otters became my niche—customers come in laughing and leave happy. That’s when I knew I was onto something.”
• “Ikigai is where what you love, what you’re good at, what people need, and what you can be paid for overlap.”
• “Selling isn’t just selling—it’s serving. When people take home something that makes them smile, that’s service.”
• “I’m not pretending to be anything but myself. I’m living my dream in Carmel, creating art that inspires joy.”
• “The motto of my gallery is: Create to inspire, inspire to create.”