Why Your Life Experiences Are Your Greatest Creative Asset
As artists, we don’t just create from what we see in the world—we create from what we’ve lived. Every memory, every emotion, every moment is there, waiting to be expressed through the work we make.
My own journey, from motherhood to teaching, being a partner, and traveling, finds its way into everything I do. Whether I’m working on large-scale abstracts, delicate watercolors, or collages and sculptures, my experiences are the fuel. And guess what? The same is true for you. Your life is your greatest creative resource, and every bit of it can shape the art you make.
Your Life is a Treasure Trove of Inspiration
Let’s be real—nobody else has lived your life. The things you’ve gone through, the memories you hold, and the perspectives you’ve formed are completely unique. That’s what makes your art yours. No one else has the same combination of moments, challenges, and joys that you do, and all of that shapes how you see the world.
Think about someone like Mickalene Thomas, an artist whose work draws from her experiences of growing up in the '70s and her relationship with her mother. Her stunning paintings and collages explore themes of femininity, race, and beauty, but it’s her personal connection to these subjects that makes her work so powerful. In her words, “I’m constantly negotiating different ways of seeing, how I can provide a space for those who don’t have a voice.” Thomas brings her experiences into her art unapologetically, and that’s why her work resonates with so many people. Your life shapes your art, and that’s what makes it meaningful.
Making Art with What You Have
There were plenty of times when I couldn’t afford high-end art supplies, but that never stopped me. I became fascinated with upcycling and repurposing materials—turning found objects, scraps, and things people throw away into something new and valuable. This wasn’t just about saving money (though it helped!); it was about seeing beauty and potential in things that others overlooked. I’ve always believed that people, like objects, sometimes get discarded unfairly. My process of taking something forgotten and turning it into something beautiful feels like a kind of redemption.
Joseph Cornell had a similar approach. His famous shadow boxes were filled with discarded objects—things most people wouldn’t give a second glance. But in Cornell’s hands, those everyday items became magical, transporting you into other worlds. His art wasn’t about what the objects were; it was about what they could become. Just like me, Cornell took the materials life handed him and found a way to make them extraordinary. There’s a kind of joy in that—making do with what you have and turning it into something uniquely yours.
Motherhood, Life’s Changes, and Art
Motherhood has shaped so much of my work. It’s an experience that constantly demands your attention, pushes you to adapt, and forces you to find the beauty in the chaos. All of that comes through in my art. The layers of texture, the balancing of subtlety and boldness, the way each piece evolves—these reflect the way motherhood has shaped me as a person and an artist.
Mary Cassatt also drew from her experience as a woman, especially in her depictions of motherhood. Her paintings capture those quiet, intimate moments between mothers and children—the softness, the exhaustion, the tenderness. Cassatt didn’t just paint what she saw; she painted what she felt. She knew those emotions firsthand, and that’s why her work connects on such a deep level. Your own life experiences, whether they’re big or small, shape how you create, and that’s where the magic happens.
Travel’s Influence on Creativity
Travel has always been a huge influence on my art. Whether I’m wandering through a bustling city or exploring a quiet countryside, travel shifts my perspective and makes me reflect on my own journey. It’s not just about the places I see—it’s about what those places stir in me. Every trip adds another layer to my work, another way of seeing the world.
Look at Isamu Noguchi. His travels, especially to Japan, played a huge role in his art and design. Noguchi blended elements from different cultures into his work, creating sculptures and landscapes that felt timeless and universal. He said, “I like to think of gardens as a way of stopping time,” and that sense of capturing a moment, of reflecting on his travels, is evident in his work. Just like Noguchi, travel offers us new perspectives that shape not only our art but also how we see ourselves.
Your Life is the Heart of Your Art
At the core of everything you create is your life. It’s not about having the perfect materials or creating the trendiest work. It’s about using the experiences you’ve lived, the emotions you’ve felt, and the stories you’ve carried with you. Your art is your voice, and no one else has the exact same voice you do.
When I create, whether I’m recycling materials or working on a watercolor, my work is filled with the layers of my life. Your art is shaped by the moments, big and small, that have made you who you are. Artists like Mickalene Thomas, Joseph Cornell, Mary Cassatt, and Isamu Noguchi all pulled from their own experiences to create something that resonated with people. And you can too. The beauty of art is that it’s personal, and that’s what makes it powerful.
Your life is already full of stories waiting to be told through your art. You’ve got everything you need—just let those experiences come through in the work you create.
See you in the studio!
The people I share art-making processes with are a big part of the ideas and images that show up in my art. I love seeing folks create their own art with my support.
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