A retrospective reflection written in October 2026 · Creativity and reflection
People sometimes ask artists what a painting means. I don't always have an answer. Some of my work begins with a thought or feeling, but a lot of it begins with color and the simple desire to make something.
Painting is deeply meditative for me. It gives my busy mind a place to settle. I can pay attention to the movement of a brush, the next layer of color or the way two materials react to each other.
My faith is part of that experience. In the same way someone might play music as a form of worship, creating art can feel prayerful to me. That doesn't mean every painting has a religious message. Many don't. It just means the act of creating sometimes feels like a conversation I don't need words for.
Mostly, I hope people enjoy what they see. You don't need to interpret every brushstroke to connect with a piece of artwork.
Flowers, shifting colors and unexpected textures often inspire my abstract paintings. The finished work doesn't always look like any particular thing, and that's part of the pleasure. I can follow an idea without needing to explain every brushstroke.
My boyfriend and my kids have encouraged me to make more time for this creative practice. I appreciate that they understand it is part of how I reflect and recharge. Some days I leave the studio with a finished painting. Other days I simply feel calmer, and that matters just as much.
Some of my friends understand exactly why I need this quiet creative time, too. Their kindness and encouragement have helped me treat making art as something worth protecting.
— Jaime