Paintbrushes, pasta, and possibility
Hello, Sweet Friend
If you've ever wondered what my home looks like before an online art show, imagine paintings everywhere.
Over the past few weeks, my little house has come alive with layers of paper, canvases, rainbows of paint tubes, crayons and markers, vintage frames, and tiny treasures.
Since moving at the start of this year, I don't have a separate studio anymore. My kitchen island has become my art table once again, just as it used to be in my previous spaces.
Paintings live beside the kettle and lean against the toaster while I take a step back to see what's missing. Sometimes I work on a collage while waiting for the pasta to cook.
There are dishes and paintbrushes sharing the same sink, and every surface seems to be holding a painting waiting to be framed or photographed. Little collections of lace, old papers and cut-out words are waiting to become the finishing touches of something new.
It's gloriously messy... And I've been thinking about how much this little, imperfect creative life has taught me about making art.
Creativity doesn't need perfect conditions
Somewhere along the way, I realized that my little house and my little world of art aren't separate at all. They're simply reflections of the same creative soul.
It would be so easy to tell myself there isn't enough time. To wait until life feels less busy, until I have a proper studio again, until the kitchen is tidy and the laundry is done.
But I've learned that creativity doesn't ask for perfect conditions. It asks us to keep choosing it. Sometimes that means a whole afternoon at the art table. Sometimes it's nine minutes while the pasta cooks.
Both count.
This is one of the things I love about mixed media and art journaling: you don't have to create an entire finished piece in one sitting. You can add a scrap of paper, spread a little paint, make a few marks, step away and come back another day.
Let your creative practice fit your life
I've spent enough time making art to know that waiting for the "right" conditions can become a very convincing form of procrastination.
A proper studio would be lovely. A perfectly organized art table would be lovely too.
But creativity can live on a kitchen island. It can happen beside a cup of tea, between errands, during a lunch break or while dinner is cooking.
In fact, there is something wonderfully freeing about making art in the middle of ordinary life. Paint on the table. Paper scraps beside the fruit bowl. A half-finished painting waiting patiently while you get on with everything else.
Your creative practice doesn't have to compete with your life. It can become part of it.
And somehow, those small moments have filled my home with art I love, art that feels like me and reflects back to me who I still am in this new life:
A patient dreamer. A stubborn art-maker. A creative soul who longs to share a glimpse of wonder with others.
This is one of the things I love about mixed media and art journaling. You don't have to create an entire finished piece in one sitting. You can add a scrap of paper, spread a little paint, make a few marks, step away and come back another day.
Layer by layer, the artwork can grow alongside your life.
Try this: The next time you find yourself with ten unexpected minutes, resist the urge to fill them with another task. Put a piece of paper in front of you and make something. Paint a shape. Tear some collage paper. Add a few words. Follow whatever catches your attention. You don't need to know where the page is going.
When you keep creating, something begins to emerge…..
Join me for a special original art sale!
Next week, I'll be taking part in Stephanie Gagos' August Summer Show, alongside artists from around the world. My own collection will be featured on Sunday, August 16, and I couldn't be more excited to finally share these paintings with you.
I've already created a preview album on my Facebook page, complete with the stories and intentions behind each piece. Walking through it feels a little like wandering through a gallery, and I would love for you to experience the collection there before the show opens.
The collection includes recent work, pieces that had remained unfinished for a while, and cherished paintings that have been with me for ten years or more.
Browse a preview of the collection here:
Art with intention
As I gathered everything together and finished writing the stories that accompany each piece, I noticed something I hadn't planned. Although every painting is different, they all seem to be having the same conversation. Sharing the same voice.
Some invite you to breathe. Some encourage you to trust. Some remind you to be brave and dream again after the storm. Others celebrate imagination, courage, gentleness and new beginnings.
Without consciously meaning to, I've created a collection that's deeply filled with hope.
Looking at the paintings together, I can see little pieces of my own heart woven through every layer of paint, every scrap of vintage paper, every butterfly, every flower and every horizon.
Perhaps that's why preparing this collection has felt so special. The work has been showing me something about myself.
When we keep making, our inner world finds its way onto the page or canvas. Sometimes we don't know what we're expressing until we step back and look at what we've made.
That is part of the magic of a creative practice.
Make space for possibility
You don't need to wait for a new season of life before you begin creating.
You don't need a dedicated studio, an uninterrupted afternoon or a perfectly clear mind. You can begin with what you have.
A kitchen table. A half-used tube of paint. A handful of collage scraps. Nine minutes while the pasta cooks.
The important thing is not how much you make. It's that you keep giving your creative soul a place in your everyday life.
Little by little, the layers build. And sometimes, when you step back, you discover that you've created something much bigger than a painting. You've created a record of who you are becoming.
A little creative inspiration for you
If you're longing to make more art but find yourself waiting for the perfect moment, I invite you to explore my free mixed media resources and workshops.
I have a free 5-day mixed media workshop designed to help you become more comfortable with the materials and possibilities of mixed media art. It can be a lovely place to begin if you want some inspiration and guidance without feeling overwhelmed.
And if the art in this post resonated with you, I'd love to invite you to explore my mixed media painting classes. They’re designed to help you make art with curiosity, intuition and a willingness to experiment, while discovering your own creative voice along the way. Come paint with me!
Tell me
Where does your creativity live these days? Do you have a dedicated studio, or are you making art at the kitchen table, on a corner of your desk, or wherever you can find a little space? I'd love to hear about your creative space in the comments!
