When Creativity Takes the Scenic Route
Lately, I’ve been spending less time in my painting studio… which is funny, because the desire to create hasn’t gone anywhere.
It’s just… moved.
For a long time, I thought creativity had to look like brushes wet with paint, a canvas under my hands, and long, uninterrupted hours in the studio. That’s where I’ve always found my spark. But the last few months have looked different, packed with travel days, family time, new recipes, little home projects, and well… life. A beautifully unconventional life that doesn’t always follow a perfectly structured schedule.
And instead of painting, my creativity has found new outlets…
in the way I put an outfit together and it suddenly feels like its own little expression,
in the cookies I’ve been baking in my kitchen,
in the way I decorate our home and make each corner feel more like us,
and even in the way I hunt for the best places to explore on our travels.
I used to feel guilty about that shift. Like if I wasn’t actively painting in my studio, I was falling behind or letting a piece of myself fade. But I’m learning something important:
Creativity doesn’t disappear.
It transforms.
And while I haven’t been working on big canvases lately, I have found a tiny doorway back into painting my business cards. Each one gets its own hand-painted burst of color, a miniature piece that doesn’t ask for hours or perfection… just presence. It’s a way to stay connected to my brushstrokes without the pressure of “creating a masterpiece.” A reminder that creativity doesn’t have to be grand to be real.
Some seasons invite us into the studio.
Other seasons take creativity on the road, into the mountains, through a new city, or simply across the living room floor while reorganizing a corner that’s been begging for attention.
I miss painting, I really do. I miss the mess and the magic of watching colors become something meaningful. But I’m learning to embrace the flow instead of forcing it. This season is teaching me just as much as any painting ever could.
That’s really why I started this Living in Color blog in the first place, to create a home for all the versions of my creativity. The paintings, the earrings, the road trip memories, the home projects, the cozy bowls of food shared after long days. Even when my inspiration shifts from canvas to kitchen or from studio to the wilderness, it all belongs here. This space lets me bring every piece of my creative world together and hopefully helps you feel inspired to chase the color in your own life, too.
I know the paint will call me back soon, and I can’t wait to share what comes next.
For now, I’m grateful for this winding path of creativity, even when it looks different than I expected.
If you’ve ever felt your creativity shift shapes on you, welcome to the club. I’d love to hear how you honor those seasons, too. Drop a comment or send me a message… let’s remind each other that creativity is allowed to evolve.
Thank you for being here, truly. If you want to follow along as this season unfolds (and be the first to see new artwork when inspiration hits), subscribe below and stick around for the journey. 🎨
