Beginning Again

Returning to painting after time away from the studio felt deeply restorative. For months, I left the studio for many reasons: life, work, moving, handling the practical side of life, and perhaps even some uncertainty within myself. During that period, I often thought about painting but never actually started. I kept waiting for the perfect feeling, the right moment, or a sudden burst of inspiration.

Reflecting on this absence and reading what other artists and writers had to say, I realized that inspiration usually doesn’t come first. Most of the time, it shows up once you start working. The best advice I found was simple: begin before you feel ready.

With this in mind, I returned to the studio and started a new large painting without overthinking it. I didn’t hesitate. I just picked up the brush and began. Within minutes, I felt something inside me come back. The process felt familiar again—alive, instinctive, and almost like reconnecting with a part of myself that had quietly been waiting to return

What I have come to realize is that creating art is less about forcing meaning and more about showing up honestly enough to explore, play, and trust your instincts again. My best work often came when I focused less on making something 'important' and more on being present. Creating is not about perfection, but about remaining curious, exploring emotion and the world, and staying connected to why we began making art.

To my fellow artists and friends, keep creating. Start before inspiration shows up. Trust the process enough to take that first step, even if you feel uncertain. Let yourself fall in love with your practice over and over.

In the end, the message is simple: continue creating, even through uncertainty