Welcome back to The Inspired Artist.
Each Friday, we explore identity, creativity, and the way who you are influences what you create. Then you'll receive a new mixed-media printable to spark your creativity.
What Happens After You Reclaim Yourself?
Last week, we talked about reclaiming yourself. About getting curious about who you are today, especially after spending years building a life around responsibilities, relationships, and the roles you've taken on.
But what happens when you begin discovering who you are now?
Because recognizing that you've changed is one thing. Allowing those changes to influence how you actually live is something else entirely.
I think this is where identity work becomes especially interesting.
We develop an understanding of who we are through our experiences, the decisions we've made, and the things we've come to believe about ourselves. Over time, that identity becomes familiar, and we continue making choices that reinforce it.
But what happens when the person you've become starts wanting something different?
Maybe you're suddenly interested in something you've never explored before. Maybe you're questioning a career that once felt like the perfect fit. Or maybe you're beginning to imagine a completely different version of your life.
Those desires are worth paying attention to.
I believe one of the most important parts of reclaiming yourself is giving yourself permission to change your mind about what you want.
Think about how often we make decisions based on who we've always believed ourselves to be. We can become so committed to that version of ourselves that we overlook the possibilities that are right in front of us.
And this is where creativity becomes such a valuable part of the process.
Every time you create, you practice making decisions from your own curiosity. You explore an idea, experiment with something unfamiliar, and discover what interests you through the experience itself. That willingness to explore can begin influencing the choices you make in other areas of your life.
The more you allow yourself to discover, the more you begin to understand what you want now.
And eventually, you have to ask yourself an important question:
Am I willing to make choices that reflect who I'm becoming?
Because reclaiming yourself is an ongoing process of discovering who you are and allowing that understanding to influence the life you're creating.
You still get to decide what comes next.
Introducing The Reclaimed Podcast!
I'm so excited to share something new with you! My friend and fellow artist Royce Hunt Bell of Roycycled Treasures and I have launched The Reclaimed Podcast!
Royce and I have had so many wonderful conversations over the years about art, creativity, life, and everything that comes with being an artist. We decided it was time to invite you into those conversations!
The Reclaimed Podcast is a place for artists, makers, and creative business owners to explore creativity, personal growth, and what it means to reclaim the parts of ourselves that deserve more attention.
In our very first episode, we're talking about making time for creativity after years of giving so much of ourselves to our families. We explore the guilt that sometimes comes with taking time to create, the freedom of experimenting with our art supplies, and the confidence that develops when we do things even though we're afraid.
Royce shares what she's learning through her Mad Scientist Mondays and her exploration of classical art. I share a personal story about a mentor who helped me continue pursuing my master's degree when I was ready to quit.
We also talk about gratitude, recognizing how far we've come, and what reclaiming ourselves means to each of us.
I think you'll love getting to know Royce and joining us for these conversations. And I'm especially excited to make The Reclaimed Podcast a regular part of The Inspired Artist, where I'll share our latest episodes with you!
Our first episode is available now, and we'd love for you to join us!
Watch the Reclaimed Podcast Here
From Anaconda Art: Reinventing Myself Glass
I think one of the most exciting things about getting older is realizing that we can continue reinventing ourselves. We have the freedom to explore new interests, make different choices, and create a life that reflects who we are today.
That's exactly what inspired my Reinventing Myself artwork, and this week I'm featuring it on a beautiful 16 oz can-shaped glass!
The artwork features a winged girl surrounded by colorful botanicals and layers of mixed-media textures, along with the words “reinventing myself.” I love the idea of surrounding ourselves with artwork that reflects what we believe and reminds us of the possibilities we're creating in our own lives.
This glass comes with a natural bamboo lid and reusable glass straw, making it perfect for iced coffee, tea, or whatever you're enjoying while you spend some time creating.
And I think it makes a wonderful gift for someone who's beginning a new chapter in their life.
The Reinventing Myself Glass is available at Anaconda Art using the link directly below.
