The Science and Art of Becoming Whole – Exclusive Interview With Anne-Catherine Bédard

Anne-Catherine Bédard is a PhD chemist, abstract artist, and the founder of Labcoat and Leggings. Author of numerous scientific papers and an empowering coloring book series, she bridges science and creativity to inspire confidence, authenticity, and self-expression.

Anne-Catherine Bédard, Research Scientist at Dow & Founder of Labcoat & Leggings

Who is Anne-Catherine Bédard?

I’m a full-time human, chemist, mom, artist, athlete, wife, and friend. I grew up empowered to be anything I wanted to be, and it turns out, I want it all. I am proof that we don’t have to settle or compartmentalize. The same curiosity that drives me in the lab fuels me in my art. For me, science and creativity are not separate worlds, they are different expressions of the same spark. But don’t be fooled by what you see, it has been a journey to get here.

I grew up as an athlete, always chasing speed and freedom, downhill skiing, mountain biking, testing my limits, and always loving to compete. But I also loved books, science, and ideas. I was a driver with a soft soul. I always felt like I was too much and not enough at the same time. I was too nerdy for the sports crowd and too ambitious for the science crowd. I never quite fit neatly into one box, and for a long time, I thought that was something I had to fix.

While earning my PhD in organic chemistry, I stayed active and adventurous, but my focus was on becoming the best scientist I could be. I poured myself into research, long hours in the lab, countless reactions, and endless problem-solving. That focus eventually led me to MIT for my postdoctoral work, where I developed reconfigurable systems for self-optimizing chemical synthesis. From there, I joined Dow, where I’ve spent the past several years leading innovation in catalysis, polymer design, and AI-driven discovery.

Even among my scientist peers, I always knew my brain was wired differently. I would approach problems differently, think about solutions differently, and often see connections that others missed. For a long time, I thought this was something to hide, that being too lively, too passionate, or too joyful somehow made me less of a serious scientist. But the day I realized that my difference was actually my superpower, everything shifted. I wasn’t missing anything. I was bringing something new, something creative and essential to the table, and that realization changed everything about how I see myself.

Still, I kept that realization close to my chest, like a little secret. I knew I was different, and deep down I was proud of it, but I wasn’t ready to let the world see it. I wanted to be accepted, to belong, to prove that I could thrive in the spaces I had worked so hard to enter. So, I tucked that part of myself away and kept trying to fit the mold, even though I knew it didn’t quite fit me.

What inspired you to start Labcoat & Leggings?

Then, after surgery forced me to slow down, I finally gave myself permission to explore that creative side I’d always kept hidden. I picked up an adult coloring book, thinking it would be relaxing, but instead, it made me feel confined by someone else’s lines. AGAIN. That moment hit something deeper, the quiet discomfort of shrinking parts of myself to fit in with what was expected, just to be accepted. So, I stopped coloring and finally decided to create my own lines and explore fully that part of myself I had kept hidden for years.

It began as a rebellion in the most beautiful way. It was my way of saying that we don’t have to choose one thing, we can be all the things. We can be smart and creative, strong and soft, logical and emotional, grounded and wild. Labcoat & Leggings became a living movement that celebrates authenticity, a reminder that being fully yourself isn’t something to apologize for, it’s something to embrace.

My art became a space where intellect meets intuition, where color carries emotion, and where being too much finally became just right. Today, Labcoat & Leggings is about more than art, it’s about belonging. It’s about reminding others, especially women, that they don’t have to choose between being brilliant and being bold. They can be all of it, unapologetically.

How do you define your core mission or purpose?

My mission is to help people reconnect with who they truly are and empower them, through example, to step into their full light and shine. I want to create spaces, and ultimately a world, where being yourself feels safe again. Every piece I create carries that message, you are whole, you are worthy, and you belong just as you are.

I believe that individuality is the foundation of collective beauty. Every person brings their own wisdom, energy, and creativity to the world, and it’s that mix that drives progress and connection. When we celebrate those differences instead of hiding them, we build a culture that thrives on authenticity.

Who is your ideal client and what challenges do they face?

The people I love to connect with are those who want a reminder that their truth is their power. Whether they’ve already stepped out of the box and are expanding into their full selves, or they’re just starting to feel that craving for authenticity after years of disconnection, they’re my people. They’re the unapologetically authentic crowd, seasoned or in the making.

They’re drawn to art and creativity as tools for reflection and freedom. They value depth over perfection and see beauty in what feels real. My work, from original paintings to coloring books, meets them exactly where they are, offering a visual reminder that growth, vulnerability, and self-expression are not luxuries, they’re essential parts of being fully alive.

What makes your approach or art style different from others?

The short answer is freedom.

Freedom to show up exactly as you are. Freedom to explore without judgment. Freedom to start over. Freedom to claim what you’ve earned. Freedom to let go of perfection.

One day, you might make something that doesn’t turn out the way you hoped, and the next day, you just paint over it. The same goes for life, we all have bad days, moments of doubt, and times when things don’t go as planned. But that’s okay. Each moment is a fresh canvas to begin again. It’s that freedom to start over, to create without judgment, to make mistakes and keep going, that’s what makes my work different. It’s the freedom to be who you are, exactly as you are.

That’s how I see both art and life, as a constant layering of color, courage, and second chances. My work is about that rhythm, the grace of beginning again without apology. It’s about creating from a place of truth, emotion, and connection, where every color tells a story and every brushstroke carries meaning. My art celebrates the beauty of imperfection, the power of resilience, and the freedom of being wholly yourself.

Can you share a transformation story from one of your clients?

One of the most profound transformations I’ve experienced actually happened close to home, with my daughter. She’s a little girl with big emotions, and sometimes she struggles to express them. One day, I invited her to paint with me in our garage studio. We sat side by side, each with our own canvas, no expectations, just color and space.

What happened next surprised me. As the paint began to flow, so did her thoughts. She opened up in ways she never had before. Through her art, I could finally see what was happening inside her, things she didn’t yet have the words to say. Those moments together taught me something powerful, sometimes the act of creating side by side says more than any conversation ever could.

That experience changed how I see my work. Whether it’s a collector standing in front of a finished piece or a parent coloring beside their child, it’s about creating a connection. Art can be a mirror, a release, a bridge, and watching it spark that kind of healing reminded me why I do what I do.

What is the biggest obstacle people face when trying to express themselves authentically?

For me, and for so many people I meet, the biggest obstacle is fear. Fear of judgment. Fear of rejection. Fear of being too much or not enough. I’ve lived that fear. For years, I tried to fit into what I thought a serious scientist should look like, polished, precise, contained. I muted parts of myself so I could belong, not realizing that belonging built on hiding isn’t belonging at all.

When I finally gave myself permission to create, that fear showed up again, this time as doubt. What if people didn’t understand it? What if they didn’t take me seriously anymore? But the more I painted, the more I realized that freedom doesn’t come from being understood by everyone, it comes from being true to yourself.

Authentic expression will always feel risky, because it’s real. But that’s where connection happens, in the raw, unedited spaces. When you stop performing and start showing up as you are, you give others permission to do the same. That’s when life truly starts.

How does working with you help clients break free from limiting beliefs?

Most of our limiting beliefs aren’t truths, they’re learned patterns shaped by our need to belong. From an early age, we absorb messages about who we should be and what earns approval. Over time, those labels start to feel like identity, too sensitive, not focused enough, too much, not enough. I guide people to reconnect with their authentic selves and rewrite these learned inner monologues and stories. When someone engages with me, whether through a painting, a coloring book, or a simple conversation, it’s a mirror that reflects back their own wholeness and invites them to reclaim it. Freedom isn’t something we earn, it’s something we remember.

What is your process when creating a commissioned piece?

All of my pieces are meant to be bold, present reminders to be yourself, even on the days when it feels hardest. Even in moments of doubt, fear, or uncertainty, my goal is for each piece to speak directly to your strength, your light, and your truth.

When I co-create with someone, the process always begins with connection. We talk about what they need to be reminded of, what they’re walking through, what they’re growing into, or what they’re ready to let go of. From there, I channel their energy and bring the piece to life, intuitively choosing the colors, the energy, and the emotion it should hold.

It’s never just about creating something beautiful to look at. It’s about creating something meaningful to feel, a visual anchor that keeps calling you back to who you are, even when life tries to make you forget.

What results or feelings do you want clients to experience after working with you?

I want people to feel seen, truly seen, for who they are, not just what they do. My greatest hope is that when someone connects with my work, they feel a sense of grounding and expansion at the same time, grounded in who they already are, and expanded into who they’re becoming.

I want them to feel peace in knowing they are enough, exactly as they are. Strength in the reminder that it’s okay to take up space. Joy in embracing their color, their curiosity, their contradictions. Whether it’s through a painting hanging in their home or the quiet act of coloring one page at a time, I want them to feel empowered to keep showing up, even on the messy days.

More than anything, I want my art to remind them that they already hold everything they’ve been searching for. They are whole. They are worthy. They are free.

If someone is hesitant to invest in your service or art, what would you tell them?

If someone is hesitant, I would say that’s completely understandable. I would encourage them to go and create something themselves. Art therapy is real, and it’s powerful. There’s something deeply healing about putting color on a canvas and watching what comes out when you let go of control.

Once they experience that feeling of freedom through creation, one of two things usually happens, either my message has already reached them through that process, or they’ll be ready to receive more of it. Either way, they’ve taken a step toward reconnecting with themselves, and that’s what truly matters.

What is the first step someone should take if they want to work with you?

The first step is simple, explore. Visit my website or social media and see if my energy, message, and colors resonate with you. If something speaks to you, even if you’re not sure why, that’s usually where the magic begins.

From there, just reach out. We’ll start with a conversation, no pressure, no expectations, just curiosity and connection. Whether you’re interested in a commissioned piece, a collaboration, or simply exploring what creativity could awaken in you, that first conversation is where it all starts.

Closing message

At its core, my work is about wholeness, the courage to show up as all of who you are. Whether through color, chemistry, or conversation, my mission is to remind people that they don’t have to choose between their parts. You can be strong and soft, logical and emotional, structured and free. When you stop hiding behind expectations and start embracing your full spectrum, you don’t just change how you see yourself, you change the energy you bring into the world.

We are all works of art in progress, layered, evolving, and endlessly capable of transformation. My hope is that through my work, people remember that being yourself isn’t the destination.

It’s the beginning.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Anne-Catherine Bédard