Hello there!

Step Inside The Studio Authentic

Let me be the first to greet you to The Studio Authentic – where we celebrate The Masterpiece of You and recognize the journey of becoming Living Art!

If you made your way to this page, something spoke to you and encouraged you to dig a bit deeper while in this space. I am so happy you are here – because it means you found the courage to begin to imagine something different, to seek answers in how to discover the true you (and your joy!). You feel you can do more, be more, and live a truer life just for you – leading you to discover your genuine purpose. But at this moment, you just don’t know what steps to take to get you there.

Recognizing the Feeling of “Stuck”

I know exactly how you may be feeling in this moment – because I was right there, feeling all the same feelings, so many years ago as I found my way to my own journey toward living as my true self (and finding my joy & genuine purpose!).

This isn’t about feeling unsuccessful. (I was successful 15 years ago.) This isn’t necessarily about feeling unfulfilled. (I felt fulfilled in my career and my relationships.) It’s about feeling STUCK in a moment – feeling discontent and not even really understanding where its comes from.

It’s waking up one day and deeply knowing that what may be sustainable for you right now is NOT going to be sustainable long-term, and that reality is bubbling under the surface, just waiting for the day to ultimately knock you off your feet. And you have no idea of the where, the what, or the how that will take you further – discovering a more genuine purpose and ensuring your choices are sustainable for future and maximum joy.

Finding my way to Authenticity

My journey to this point, writing this message to you, began in a moment of deep discontent as I was turning 40. It was the middle of the Great Recession, and I was facing the stages of grief from personal loss, financial struggles exacerbated by the economy, and an overwhelming sense of… not-quite-happy and, frankly, pure exhaustion. “Is this what I can expect from the next ten years?!”

In search of… something more, I picked up a simple practice with paper art – abstract quilling. What I thought would be a fun and inexpensive way to pass time in the evenings led to a profound personal transformation.

Creativity as a Path to Clarity

Each evening after The Job, I let my imagination flow as I manipulated this simple artistic medium. What started as a creative outlet soon became a meditative ritual. Through this simple creative practice, I unknowingly took the first step toward discovering what it meant to live authentically.

As this practice grew, it complemented my long-held habit of journaling, deepening my relationship with both creativity and reflection. Over time, this combination became part of my natural rhythm.

It wasn’t until I left The Job (my business career) to practice art full time, and looked back over my journey, did I realize just how powerful the combination of creativity and reflection provided crystal clear clarity to navigate a tough transition. (Check out my art HERE!)

From Clarity to Courage

When I started the journey to look for something more, I wasn’t trying to define what authenticity meant. I wasn’t even thinking about the word. I was simply trying to find some happiness and break out of living on autopilot – that place of moving forward but going nowhere.

Looking back, I realized how my two simple daily practices – paper art and journaling – provided the clarity that fueled the courage to make changes in my life. And those changes eventually led me here.

Creative work allowed me to quiet my mind and let deeper thoughts surface – thoughts that I wrote down and reflected on. Out of that reflection came clarity, and clarity brought COURAGE. This courage allowed me to take bold steps toward aligning my actions with my true nature. It wasn’t an instant transformation, but momentum built over time.

The beginning of your journey

The Studio Authentic, and sharing it with you, is my way of honoring everything I’ve learned on my journey toward living authentically. I trust where the creative process has led me so deeply that I believe someone – is it you? – can benefit from it just as much as I have.

Whether you’re new to a daily creative practice, the habit of journaling – or looking to deepen either in your existing routine, The Studio Authentic is here to provide inspiration and encouragement. I invite you to explore the Living Art page for details on how you can effortlessly step onto your own journey with daily creativity and reflection to find answers toward your own “What’s Next?”

As you move forward, with The Studio Authentic as your starting point – or with any other method that speaks to you – my sincerest wish is that you’ll find clarity and courage to step fully into the discovery of your most Audacious (BOLD), most Awesome, most Authentic Self – better known as:

The Masterpiece of You

With celebration!