Being an Artist and a Mother: Learning to Create Through My Children's Eyes

I have been creating art for as long as I can remember. One of my earliest memories of realizing that art was my gift happened in first grade. I was drawing a fairy, and suddenly my classmates gathered around my desk, amazed by what they saw. That moment stayed with me. It was the first time I felt that my creativity was something special.

The biggest influence on my artistic journey was my mother. She recognized my talent early on and made sure I had every opportunity to develop it. She enrolled me in an art school that was an hour away from home. Through hot summers and knee-high snow, I traveled there year after year. Looking back, I realize how much dedication and sacrifice that required from her, and I am forever grateful.

Today, I am a mother of two precious boys. I balance motherhood with running my own business in art, makeup, and hairstyling, while also homeschooling my children. It is a full and busy life, but I truly cannot complain.

One of the greatest gifts of this lifestyle is the freedom to create my own schedule. We spend countless hours together exploring beautiful places, learning, growing, and finding inspiration in the world around us.

Yesterday, my almost seven-year-old son, Leonardo, and I spent the afternoon at Descanso Gardens. We sat sketching and painting the entrance, inspired by the eye-catching blue chairs scattered throughout the space.

As Leonardo worked on his painting, he drew the tables and chairs, but the piece seemed unfinished. I suggested adding a few more details, and immediately I felt some resistance. Then something unexpected happened. He accidentally touched yellow paint with his hand and smeared it across the paper.

The professional artist in me instantly wanted to clean it up before the paint dried. I could feel that urge. But I stopped myself.

A moment later, Leonardo looked at the smear and said, "Look! It can be a firefly."

With a pencil, he added tiny wings and a few touches of color. Inspired by his own discovery, he continued working, adding a brick wall and a decorative lantern. By the end, he was incredibly proud of his painting.

Moments like these remind me of one of the biggest challenges when teaching children art: not imposing our own vision on their creative process. Children naturally see possibilities where adults often see mistakes.

My four-year-old, Nicholas, is full of energy, and his artwork reflects that. His drawings are simple, spontaneous, and absolutely charming.

For parents who want to create art with their children, my advice is simple: encourage observation. Ask your child, "What do you see? How does it look? How does it feel? What do you notice?" Then encourage them to capture what interests them—not what you think should be there, but what truly speaks to them.

Being surrounded by children is teaching me to unlearn some of what I have learned over the years. It reminds me of Pablo Picasso's famous journey. After mastering traditional techniques, he chose to paint with the freedom and honesty of a child. I feel like I am entering my own version of that stage—letting go of perfection and embracing creativity with fresh eyes.

One of the greatest challenges of this season of life is finding several uninterrupted hours to devote solely to my own artwork. But I am learning to be kind to myself. Right now, doing what I can, when I can, is enough.

There is such beauty in motherhood—the chaos, the sweetness, the tiny hands reaching for hugs, and the fierce love that fills every day.

Motherhood has not taken me away from art. In many ways, it has brought me closer to its true essence.

On my next blog you will be able to see my art studio and learn what inspires me!

C