For the past 15-plus years, I have been a professional artist. I have lived and breathed art. As an oil painter and illustrator, my passion has been paint, brushes, and canvas—creating stories in paintings.
Lately, though, I have found myself struggling to find my mojo, my creative flow. My motivation feels missing, just out of reach.
I've been here before. Believe me, I'm no stranger to this feeling.
I also know I’m not alone in this. As much as social media tells us otherwise, many, if not most, artists go through these times.
Being an artist is a journey—a twisting, turning, sometimes meandering trek in the wilderness… never a straight path. Some days, weeks—even months—are harder to navigate than others.
Right now, I am in the thick of the sandwich generation, balancing family responsibilities on all fronts while trying to maintain the flow of my art business and create new work to meet deadlines. It's a delicate balance, and for some reason, some months feel more out of kilter than others.
One thing I've been reflecting on is what it means to be a full-time artist as I watch friends transition into retirement from more traditional careers. The structure of their working lives has a clear endpoint—a moment to pause, recalibrate, and possibly move into something new. Some even begin making art for the first time, a thought that has perhaps been their guiding light toward retirement.
But what does that look like for a professional working artist? Art isn’t just a job—it’s a way of life, a way of being. It’s woven into who I am. Do professional artists ever retire? Or do we simply modify our practice as we age, adapting to the different stages of life while continuing to create?
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This question has led me back to one of my paintings, The Artist’s Way, which I painted when I first started feeling this way last year. This painting is a visual representation of the artist’s journey—the travel to places unknown, the moments when we feel lost, and the joy of discovering something new in these times. Sometimes, when we take a detour we find something beautiful ahead of us.
It is a reminder that, although the journey as an artist can be unpredictable, with patience and trust, we will always find a place to once again lay down our suitcase of cherished items and unpack for a while.
I loved creating this painting—piecing together the elements to tell a story. Painting myself away from feelings of frustration and lack, and into greater joy and abundance. That is the healing benefit of art.
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When creativity feels lacking, I try to remember these good feelings and simply make art without expectation… to play, for lack of a better word. Drawing in a sketchbook, experimenting with new materials, walking in nature, or revisiting older works that once excited me—these all help. Even adding writing into my week has sparked new ideas.
Inspiration can’t be forced, but we can create the right conditions for it to reemerge when it’s ready.
So, if you’re feeling a lack of motivation and listlessness in your creativity, please know that you are never alone. The journey of an artist is full of peaks and troughs, swings and roundabouts. Remember—every quiet time holds the potential for a new adventure. Maybe your missing mojo is the essential breather, the pause between chapters, preparing you for what’s next.
How do you navigate the highs and lows of your own creative journey? I’d love to know. Comment below or email me.
Mia x
