I’ve spent the last eleven years of my life being a writer.

It’s what pays the bills, it’s what keeps this site happening on the innanets. Some days, though, I feel like I’ve written all the words I have inside me. I’m empty. This has everything to do with my season of life at the moment.

But, art. I had forgotten the creative artist inside of me. She was suffering and waiting her turn.

I’ve always loved the feeling of creating art. Art has a power all its own and artists have the gift to wield that power. It’s a wild sensation. Like I can do amazing things, things other people can’t. I have a style that cannot be duplicated or imagined by another. I can make you see things. I can make you feel them too. It makes me feel unique, unstoppable, like this is why I was born. But it’s such an ephemeral feeling, one I try to get a firm grasp on but never seem to be able to. It slips through my fingers as quickly as it came.

But today, this week, this month, this year…art came bursting through the clouds to snatch me up.

welcome back to art 

I got to do something really amazing recently. I attended We All Grow Summit in Long Beach for the third year in a row. I look forward to this event because I get inspired by everyone’s creativity, the beautiful waterfront location, the panels, seeing old friends — so many reasons. I was invited to create a Frida Kahlo-inspired photo backdrop for the Alas Para Volar Welcome Party. Of course, I said yes. Alas para volar means wings to fly and it is from a famous Frida Kahlo quote: Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?

I’m so happy I got to do this project with my sibling J. We listened to really good music, we laughed, we cried, had deep conversations and encouraged one another when we needed that extra push. We have always been compatible creative partners, even from a young age. We painted together and gulped down Cuban coffee at 3 in the morning.

*shimmies*

The party was a beautiful celebration and everyone looked so lively with their flower crowns made by L.A designer Raggedy Tiff.

Frida was everywhere.

The wings were a presence for the rest of the conference, blue against the blue water and it felt really beautiful knowing my art was still very much alive inside of me.

own your vision

I was at this conference as a lifestyle blogger but suddenly I was also introducing myself as a artist + creative entrepreneur. It felt like I pushed through a wall — truly owning the vision I had for my life.

My vision was to share this other part of myself. I also participated in the Makers Market, selling art prints of my most recent Frida-inspired art collection. I am grateful for Frida Kahlo and I think her life was the perfect inspiration for me to start doing my art again. A springboard, if you will. And now, I’m dreaming what my life as an artist will look like in the future, what new styles will I start creating with Frida as a distant memory, a wave in the rearview mirror. The road is so open and that’s an exciting thought.

Another new journey I dove into was getting art prints made of my work, something I’ve wanted to do for years. I’m so glad I took the leap and did it.