Behind the Scenes in My Art Studio
Creating Through the Chaos
Behind the scenes and smiling through the chaos as my art studio overruns my living room!
If you’ve been feeling scattered—or like your house, life, or brain is one big collage of half-finished ideas—you’re not alone.
This week, I’ve been deep in the creative chaos, and I wanted to show you what it actually looks like behind the scenes in an artist studio that is also a home!
Sometimes the MESS is the MAGIC.
There are eight pieces of art in progress in my living room right now. Eight.
My dining table is buried under boards and half-finished women. Two trestle tables have been dragged out to handle the overflow. The actual studio—the room that should be chaotic—is currently the only peaceful place in the house. Go figure.
I keep reminding myself to trust the process, that even though it doesn’t match my vision yet, it will look fabulous. I just need to push through!
This is what my creative process looks like at the moment: big energy, not enough surfaces, stuff everywhere. But somehow I feel calm. Confident, even.
Because this mess? This is the middle part. And I’ve learned that the middle matters.
The Messy Middle (And Why I Fight It Every Time)
I’m working toward the Affordable Art Fair in Brisbane, and it’s a big deal. The kind of big that brings up all the feelings—excitement, self-doubt, a little fear, and a lot of passion.
This week, I’ve been in the messy middle of making. That part where the sketches are done, the backgrounds are blocked in, and I’m trying to breathe life into these big pieces without knowing if they’ll work out.
One of them is more abstract than I usually do. It’s weird. Risky. It’s fighting me a bit. But that’s where the learning happens, right?
I hate this stage. Like, genuinely hate it. It’s awkward, uncertain, and so tempting to abandon ship. (Fun Fact: I accidentally typed "abundant ship" first time around—hopefully that’s a sign this collection is going to sell out! 😂)
Every time I show up and keep going—even if I’m just listening to an audiobook and painting paper—I’m reminded that trusting the process is the only way forward.
I’m so uncomfortable with the messy middle that even sharing these work in progress photos of my now finished ‘Create Your Path’ artwork makes me feel slightly uncomfortable!
So what do I actually take away from all this chaos—besides paint-stained clothes and a serious caffeine habit?
What I’ve Learned About Creating Through Chaos
Letting go of perfection doesn’t come naturally to me. As much as I fight it, I love structure and I love a plan.
But here’s the magic that’s unleashed when I lean into the chaos:
More freedom in my marks and materials
Unexpected beauty from layering and overlapping
A sense of joy and curiosity in the process
Pieces that feel more like me
The pieces that feel alive always have a little chaos in them.
I’m learning to invite that in more. Messy ink. Overlapping layers. Collage that isn’t too clean. A bit of softness in the edges. A lot more feeling than control.
The pain of the messy middle is all worth it when I get the joy of seeing the finished art framed and looking fabulous.
Two pieces that really opened that door for me were "Bloom Big and Bold" and "Create Your Path", both born from letting go of the “shoulds” and following what felt good.
That’s the version of me I want in the studio. The one who remembers that joy doesn’t always look tidy. It often looks like sticky scissors, an audiobook on 1.5x speed, and too many half-drunk cups of coffee.
That’s the version of me I want in the studio—the one who remembers that joy doesn’t always look tidy. It often looks like sticky scissors, podcasts on 1.5x speed, and too many half-drunk cups of coffee.
And the same is true outside the studio. We often think we have to hold it all together to be taken seriously—to be ‘good’ at life. But joy doesn’t come from control. It comes from colour, curiosity, and letting things get a little messy sometimes.
Maybe that’s where your next big idea is hiding—in the mess you’re trying to clean up.
It might look a little chaotic, but behind the scenes in an artist studio? That’s often where the real-life breakthroughs happen.
For the Creatives Who Don’t Think They’re Creative
The more I let go of perfection in my work, the more I realise—it’s not just about how I make art. It’s about how we all move through life.
And I see it in so many women I meet. They tell me they’re not creative, but I don’t believe that for a second.
So ff you’ve ever said, “I’m not creative,” I want you to know: I don’t believe you!
Being creative doesn’t mean being an artist or having gallery-ready work. It doesn’t even mean making art.
It means trying something. Expressing something. Following an idea just because it feels fun and feels like you. Even the choice of what to put in your sandwich can be creative!
How everyday creativity can look:
Choosing what to wear to match your mood
Taking the time to enjoy the process of making a special meal
Rearranging your bookshelf or styling your kitchen shelf
Sending a text that makes someone laugh out loud
Picking a print or piece of art that just feels like you
If you’ve ever doubted your creativity, here’s your gentle reminder: You don’t need to prove it—you’re already living it.
It’s funny how hard we are on ourselves, especially when we’re trying to make something. We want it to be tidy, polished, perfect—but the good stuff usually lives in the cracks.
In case you need a gentle nudge, I wrote this post on The Art of Imperfection, with 7 tips to help you loosen your grip and let joy do its thing. It’s one of my favourites.
Rituals That Help Me Move Through It
Maybe your version of a candle and audiobook looks different, but we all need something to ground us in the messy middle.
Here’s what helps me when I’m stuck:
I light one of my own candles (yes, I’m that girl)
I put on an audiobook—right now it’s Gun Island by Amitav Ghosh
And I just start!
The candle, the scent, the sound—those are my little spells to get into flow. Even when I feel scared or scattered or unsure if this is all going to come together in time.
Because I am scared. What if the pieces don’t work? What if no one wants them?
But I also feel so incredibly lucky to be doing this.
If I could go back and tell eight-year-old me—the girl lying on the lounge room floor drawing with her sister—that this would be her life?
She would be stoked. And I am too.
Create Your Path
One of the pieces born from this beautiful chaos is “Create Your Path.” It’s bold and brave. It came from a moment where I stopped asking for permission and just made what I needed to make.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign that it’s okay to choose something bold and personal and just for you, this might be it.
Original art doesn’t just fill a wall. It reflects who you’re becoming.
You're allowed to take up space. To decorate your home the way you want it.
To live a life that feels true.
💫 If you’ve ever felt like a mess and a masterpiece—this one’s for you.
