From Stuck in Traditional Techniques to Creating Her Goddess Series: Nora’s Artistic Awakening

I want to tell you about Nora.

When Nora first reached out to me, she was struggling. She was in an online art school that was teaching her tedious techniques, and it was taking all the joy out of painting for her. She’d seen fun mixed media courses online, but nothing that encouraged true originality.

Nora lives in Hawaii and was searching for something deeper — a way to reconnect with her authentic artistic voice, and paint the life that moved her.

You know that feeling, right? When you KNOW there’s something more creative and joyful waiting to emerge, but you can’t break free from what feels safe but soul-crushing?

Nora puts it perfectly: “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.” But here’s the thing about Nora…

She didn’t take the easy path. She dove in completely. Several days a week in her studio. She describes devouring the lessons “like a hungry wolf.”

I won’t lie — the program challenged her. It made her go beyond just making a painting, and really dig deep to create from a more authentic place. That meant she had to get over some hurdles – like making some paintings that weren’t perfect, and overcoming self doubt.

Nora was willing to keep painting to get beyond that. She watched the videos, did the lessons step by step, took full advantage of my support, and was willing to make mistakes and start again.

And then something magical started happening…

Paintings began to emerge. One a week. Paintings that weren’t perfect but that she absolutely LOVED. Paintings with her own emerging personal voice.

As Nora told me: “It’s really been life-altering for me, in accepting that what I do is good.”

But here’s the thing — the transformation went way deeper than technique …

“I am happier and feel more true to myself. I am calmer … I feel more in touch with the Divine Presence. I am more fit and energetic …. I experienced growth as an artist and person.”

Her calmness and fitness are a result of the daily Artist Routine within the program – because art and life are interwoven.

She regained that excitement and joy for making art that had been missing.

And she was just getting started.

Now Nora has created a large series of paintings of Hawaiian Goddesses that she absolutely loves.

AND She’s planning to enter her goddess series into the Hawaii-nei juried show this October. She is beginning to create a line of cards and stationery for her local farmers market. She’s also developing her own website.

From stuck in tedious techniques to creating a Goddess series she’s proud to show the world.

What gets me excited about Nora’s story is this: She didn’t need to completely reinvent herself as an artist. She just needed permission to let go of what wasn’t serving her and embrace the creative joy that was already waiting inside, with a process that spoke to her.

The artist you’re meant to be is already there. Sometimes you just need someone to help coax her out. Nora had the determination to make it happen.

As Nora discovered during our work together: “Your art is you pushed out.”

What’s waiting to emerge from your soul? Write me back and let me know – I love to hear from you!

Happy painting,

Kellie