How do your emotions influence your work?

Art isn’t just something I do—it’s something that keeps me grounded. It heals, it gives me purpose, and without it, I don’t feel like myself. Creating art makes me a better, healthier, and happier person. But that creative flow? It doesn’t just happen. It’s directly tied to my emotional and physical well-being.

Creativity and Emotional Balance

When I’m in a good space—mentally, emotionally, physically—creating feels effortless. Ideas come faster, and I can lose myself in the work. But when life throws curveballs, when stress builds up, or when exhaustion creeps in, art can feel like wading through mud.

I’ve noticed that the times I struggle the most creatively aren’t because of a lack of ideas—they’re because of a lack of balance.

The Holistic Approach to Art Health

Creativity isn’t just about what happens at the sketchpad, screen, or canvas. It’s everything—what I eat, how much I sleep, how I move, how I handle stress.

• If my food choices slip and I start relying on too much junk, I feel sluggish, and my creativity suffers.
• If I sacrifice sleep (which, let’s be honest, happens often), my focus is shot, and my motivation takes a hit.
• If I don’t make time for movement, my body feels stiff, and my energy dips.

It all connects. You need the full picture in balance for the creative flow to actually flow.

Art as Self-Care

For me, creating art is a form of self-care. It’s a way to process emotions, focus my mind, and bring something meaningful into the world. But to create at my best, I have to take care of myself first. That means better sleep, smarter food choices, and making sure I don’t burn out. When I respect that balance, my art is stronger—and so am I.