Creating Art Around Life?
Since then, I've created four major shows and joined in many exhibitions (winning a prize or two along the way). All the while, I've blended a family, started area-wide art groups, remodelled houses, planned a wedding and welcomed grandkids.
Then, I owned (and closed) a business.
Now, I create abstracts paintings which is certainly an enormous challenge after a life of creating narrative realism. I'll share my secrets that can help you find ways to get into the studio to create art you love and yet have a real life with those you love!
on youtube
Creating art around life is a must for us who choose to create meaningful art and enjoy the chaos of a rich and eventful life with those we love.
Indeed, I am enjoying an incredibly productive period in studio honing my new optimistic style of abstraction.
Consequently, I’ve slowed video production over 2025 to focus on this. There are currently about 30 uploaded episodes revealing strategies and ways I’ve discovered.
I will resume making and uploading YouTube videos in 2026!
Is it ever Too Late?
Moving on from past choices is liberating. Taking daily incremental action nudges me closer to fulfilling my creative dreams.
Well-intentioned advice in my youth steered me away from my creative desires and into sensible careers.
Surprisingly, the birth of my children re-ignited my passion to create art. Consequently, making coloured pencil portraits of my children birthed a fledgling portraiture business.
But then I had to pack up and return with my children to Kansas.
As a working solo-mum, I viewed each day as a chance to make a small step toward my creative aspirations.
Balancing a hectic life and creating art is tough...
but it can be done!
Pushing through obstacles and getting back into the studio to create meaningful art is a big part of who I’ve become in the past 30 years.Check out my 60 posts (and counting) full of strategies and anecdotes about creating art around life.
Go Bold when plans go awry
Go bold or go home! Especially, when plans go awry!
Take the Abundance Series for example. I did not want Quickening and Abounding to simply imitate Hoo Hah and Ruckus, their inspiring works. Nonetheless, after a week or so they seemed to be doing just that.
The frenzy of cranking out a lot of art
Can you really benefit from the frenzy of cranking out a lot of art? What happens when you are making maybe too much art, at the same time?
What Kind of Art do You Make?
What kind of art do I make?, asked a recent viewer question on my video “How to Create Distinct But Cohesive Artwork”. Here’s my honest, heartfelt answer.
How escaping stress became a new studio passion
Evenings, several years ago, found me playing with abstraction using Inktense, pigment ink, and gold paint on small watercolour paper cards. Thus, I created non-objective designs with no goal, other than to have fun. Further, the playful processes help me relax from the stress of running a brick and mortar picture framing business.
Most importantly, I discovered that choosing to respond in a positive manner to extraordinarily uncomfortable experiences gave me something unexpected.
Indeed, persistently exploring “something different” over a course of time rewarded me with five collections of small abstract works: ‘Wabi Sabi’, ‘Rhema Meditation‘, ‘Rollercoaster’, ‘Come Out to Play’, and ‘In the Pink!‘.
Consequently, these pioneering works helped inspire me to create new abstract paintings that will debut throughout this next year. Join my email list below to be notified and get email-list-only specials on my artworks. You will also be notified of my upcoming mentoring groups.
I'm grateful I've been able to create art around a rich and challenging family life
-Playing my Korg Cross II Workstation
-Reading a Classic or Historical Novel
-Playing viola in the local Sinfonia
-Exercising and eating right