Letting Go of your Art

Hello sweet creative!

Today I'd like to talk about letting go... of things and people we love, of fears and feelings that hinder our growth, and even of... our art.

I know you know what loss feels like. We all experience it, at times just a little (a disappointment, a project that fails, a painting that ends up in the trash), and at other times, it's earth-shaking and heart-shattering.

Parting is hard. Whether it's your kids leaving for college, the loss of a cherished pet, the last day with your work buddies before you retire.

Yet it's all part of life, and through it all, we still have a choice of how we handle it. For sure, there'll be a good amount of crying and moping around in our PJs (it really does help, doesn't it?). But we're capable of more than that: seeking help and support from friends, family and professionals, prioritizing self-care and rest, infusing simple little joys into the every day, and above all, no matter what the odds might look like, trying our best to trust this messy but oh-so-precious life journey.

Because, even if we're not ready to see it yet, every loss holds a tiny seed of possibility. Every time we allow ourselves to let go, we open up a space, in our hearts and in our lives, for something new to emerge. A spark. A bitter-sweet flutter of hope. The glimpse of a silver lining.

I always find that making art is a metaphor for life. That the creative process helps us practice and process all the complexities of this human life we're in. And letting go of our art is part of the deal.

So let's talk a bit more about that...

Letting go of Your Art

One of the most tender questions I receive is this:
“How can you let go of your art?”

If you’ve ever created something deeply meaningful, you know what it feels like: that painting, art journal page, or collage becomes a part of you. It holds your energy, your story, your soul.

Letting it go can feel like a loss... or a leap.

But over the years, I’ve learned that releasing our art is part of the creative cycle. In fact, it can be one of the most generous, healing, and freeing things we can do—not just for ourselves, but for others too.

The painting below, "Star Catcher", is one of my favorite paintings I ever made. I created it while I was giving shape to my first online class "Layers of Light", and it became one of the lessons. That was back in 2016, and in all those years, I've never felt ready to give it up... until now.

Because I just know, I can almost physically feel that someone, out there in the world, is meant to welcome it into their lives. It's probably one of you, reading this letter, and the thought of this is giving me goosebumps. So, it will be part of an original art sale next November. Stay tuned...

Every Artwork Has a Soul and a Purpose

I truly believe that every artwork has its own unique energy—its own soul. It carries the moment it was born: your colors, your intuition, your story. And sometimes, when its work with you is done, it’s meant to continue its journey elsewhere.

Take the painting called “Fall”, below:

It was created during my very first year exploring mixed media. The textures were raw and earthy. The collage papers were layered like autumn leaves. I had no idea what I was doing—and yet, something magical came through. That piece taught me about contrast, about mood, and about how deeply I longed to express the seasons of the soul through art.

I kept it for years, tucked away in my studio. It felt like a foundation stone. But a few years ago, I looked at it with fresh eyes and realized… its energy was still strong, but not for me anymore. I had grown beyond it. I no longer needed it by my side. It was ready to inspire and support someone else. Maybe someone who was at the beginning of their own creative journey...

An then, there was “Compassion”

A portrait of two women (sisters? friends? soulmates?) created in a deeply emotional and intuitive moment, at a time when I just finding a sense of belonging in the online community.

It was also the very first time I shared the process of a painting step by step, with pictures on my blog (find it here).

The faces emerged through layers of texture and healing symbols. I had poured so much of myself into it—love, vulnerability, hope.

Letting go of “Compassion” was tender. For years it had lived in the hallway of our home, greeting every guest with loving and peaceful vibes. But at some point, I knew its energy didn’t fully belong to me anymore. It was meant to go out into the world. To be a mirror, a message, a comfort for someone else. And so I said goodbye, with gratitude and peace in my heart.

Letting Go is an Offering

Letting go isn’t about detaching or forgetting. It’s about offering. It’s saying:

“This piece has done its work with me. Now let it open its wings, and do its work in the world.”

There's something so beautiful, so moving, when you imagine one of your paintings finding its home—lighting up a quiet corner, whispering courage to someone who needs it, becoming part of someone else’s healing or joy. Supporting another creative soul to believe in her dreams, knowing that if I made it, then she can too.

It reminds me that we, as artists, are channels. Our art is a portal between this world and something much more magical. We birth beauty, but we don’t own it. And in releasing our creations, we open space for new inspiration, new beginnings, and new souls to connect with our work, and with something deep and true within themselves.

"Elusion", the first painting that my grand-parents bought from me, insisting on paying like any real customer, to support me as a real artist. Now that they're gone, the painting has found it's way back to me...

The Big Why

There’s a deeper reason why I create—and why I choose to let my art go.

When I first started painting in my late thirties, I felt this undeniable sense of a calling. I didn’t know exactly where it would lead me, but I felt early on that my art wasn’t just for me. It was meant to be shared. Not only the finished pieces, but the process, the permission, the possibility. The pure, inexplicable magic of it all.

One step after the next, through many years of resistance and "who do you think you are" inner voices, I've learned and humbly accepted that my purpose in this life is to bring beauty into our world, and most importantly, to inspire others to create, to heal through creativity, to remember who they truly are, and bring to life their own kind of beauty. That’s why I teach. That’s why I write to you every week. That’s why I joyfully let my paintings find new homes.

Letting go is part of our purpose as artists. It's not the easiest, but it's essential. It's the completion of a beautiful, full circle. And it creates space for the next canvas to come to life.

A Loving Invitation to Reflect

Now, not all art is meant to be shared or sold, and that’s perfectly beautiful. These past two years, I've focused my own practice mainly on art journaling, and I love this intimate process of making art just for me.

But if there’s something deep inside you that wants to be expressed, offered, or seen… I invite you to gently explore it:

• Is there a piece you’ve been holding onto that might be ready to go?

• What would it feel like to trust this next step?

• What’s your own “big why” for creating?

Take a moment to listen. Journal. Breathe. No pressure—just curiosity.

And remember, letting go can be an act of love, and an offering of peace that brings back joy tenfold.

Light, Love & Fairy Dust,

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