Letting Creativity Lead with Intention

A Self-Led Artist Residency to Recharge My Creative Spark

Summer is here, and between lining up activities to keep my daughter entertained and trying to find a new rhythm for myself, something unexpected clicked:
I miss summer camps.

I miss the way summer used to feel—endless possibility, creative freedom, the permission to explore. I thought about the summers I spent taking college classes, and how I used to dream of studying abroad or doing an artist residency by the beach. Just me, a sunny studio, and time to create without pressure.

Then it hit me: I can still do that.

There was a time I thought opportunities like this—an artist residency, time to just create—were only for the “serious” artists. The ones with MFAs, gallery shows, or art grants. I thought I had to earn my way into that kind of space. That one day, someone would see me, validate me, and give me the time, the studio, the view.

But life, in its roundabout way, gave me something better: space and time on my terms. What I used to equate with prestige, I now see as something deeply personal. It's not about how far away I go or who’s watching—it’s about what I do with what I already have.

And what I have right now is enough. I don’t have to wait for a grant or a fancy program. I can create my own experience—right here, right now, in a way that fits my life and creative needs.

I’ve been looking for ways to grow—creatively, personally, and professionally. And this residency idea feels like the spark I’ve been craving. Something to anchor me. Something to explore.

This season is a continuation of the journey I’ve been on since last November, when I began reshaping how I work, what I make, and how I share. I’ve leaned into storytelling. I’ve gotten more vulnerable, more intentional. I’ve let go of perfectionism in favor of consistency and honesty. And it’s working. My work is resonating. I’m building something that feels real.

So for the next 8 weeks, I’m gifting myself a self-led artist residency.

There’s no plane ticket or ocean view.
No gatekeepers. No rigid expectations.
Just me, my unfinished work, and the space to show up for it.

The framework? It’s rooted in something I made for others but now need for myself: the Recharge Your Creative Spark Challenge,  a part of my Don’t Stress, Just Create coloring book series.

What I love most about this book is that it’s not just about coloring or journaling—it’s about giving yourself room to explore again. To reconnect with what made you want to create in the first place. This book became a tool for reflection that I honestly needed more than I realized. It reminded me that creative growth isn’t linear. It’s cyclical. Expansive. Emotional. And deeply personal.

Being a full-time artist isn't always dreamy. It’s not just paint and vibes.
There’s no map for where I’m going, but I know the direction:

• I want my art to move people

• I want to build things that feel soulful and sustainable.

• I want to keep experimenting.

• I want to create space for myself and others to heal, dream, and grow.

And I want to keep sharing stories like this one—because I know I’m not the only one looking for ways to recharge that creative spark in them. I know I’m not the only creative standing at the edge of something new, wondering if it’s worth the leap.

It is.

To create your version of a reset.
To give yourself the freedom to explore again.

This isn’t about output—it’s about process. About allowing myself to grow in public. About showing what it looks like to commit to a creative practice when life is full and complicated, and there’s no perfect time to begin.

So here I am, figuring it out in the open.
And I hope it gives you permission to do the same.

Cheers to a creative summer, one rooted in exploration, reflection, and joy.