“How I ended up doing what I do and why” was one of the prompts in the Share Your Heart Show Your Work Facebook Live challenge hosted by Allison Crow. This is how I chose to answer why I make art and speak about self-expression.

If you prefer reading, here’s what I’m talking about in the video

Today, I’m going to talk a bit about how I became an artist and why I started doing what I do, and I’m also going to talk a little bit about how what I do affects you.

You probably know that I have more than one area of what I do. I was born creative. I was born curious. I’ve always loved learning new things, trying new things, and I’ve always been creating in some way.

When I started working in the IT field – computer support, computer maintenance, server maintenance – my body started protesting more than it had before. This is because I was born hypermobile so I have some back problems, joint issues and I’ve had 11 surgeries since then.

It came to a point when I had my child in 2007 and I had a year off. I felt what it was like to be me again, to have some time for me. Even though taking care of a small child takes a lot of energy, it wasn’t as draining as work, and I didn’t have as many problems with my body as I did when I was working.

This started me thinking about why I did it. Why I kept working in that field when it’s really not for me. So in the spring of 2011, I registered my business and it’s had a couple of evolving steps since then (if you’ve been here for a while, you know that) but creativity and art have always been there.

In the autumn of 2011, I went on sick-leave because of my pain and because my shoulders had started to act up as well. When I went on sick-leave, I suddenly started to get more energy again, despite the extra pain.

I can only say that creativity and expressing myself has helped me

It has helped me

• grow
• find myself as an adult
• express who I am and my values, my opinions, and my spirituality

I make art because I love it and because I love creating visual anchors for you. To help you do what you do.

I help you with self-expression through creativity because I know how much it helped me

In addition to helping you as a person be more you, it also helps your life/work/business, whatever area you choose to work on. To bring that up to your individual energy level. Where you exist or should be existing.

I just love seeing you come alive. To see you find that happiness, that piece that so often goes missing.