Rediscovering Art: How Creativity Found Its Way Back Into My Life

Rediscovering art after motherhood changed everything. A personal story about creativity, happiness and how returning to art brought me back to myself.

Recently I realised something the other day that stopped me in my tracks. 

I think I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. It’s not because life is perfect. It’s not because everything always goes smoothly. Life still has its challenges, busy days and moments where things feel overwhelming. But there is something different now.

And when I really sat with that thought and asked myself why, the answer came back very clearly.

Art.

But my journey back to creativity hasn’t been a straight line.

When Creativity Took a Back Seat

When I finished my degree, the world looked very different from today. Social media wasn’t part of everyday life yet, and the internet was only just beginning to change how people connected and shared their work.

Back then, becoming an artist felt much harder to imagine as a realistic path.

Like many graduates, I felt the pressure to step quickly into the next stage of life — building a career, earning money and creating financial security.

So I did what many people do. I stepped into the corporate world.

Over the years I built experience in marketing, customer service and business development. I learned valuable skills, met wonderful people and built a career that made sense on paper.

But quietly, in the background, there was always a small voice reminding me that creativity was still part of who I was.

Even when I wasn’t actively creating, that feeling never completely disappeared.

The Moment Everything Shifted

Everything changed when I had my daughter.

Pregnancy and maternity was a huge change in my life. I love being a mum, but becoming a new mum had it's challenges. Physically and mentally I had changed, my world had changed and adapting to motherhood and learning along the way sometimes felt so hard, and wonderful all at the same time.  That said, it also created a pause in life that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. Suddenly everything looked different and it encouraged me slow down just enough to create space for reflection.

In that quiet space, something unexpected began to surface.

A pull.

A feeling that I needed to create again.

It wasn’t dramatic or sudden. It was quieter than that — almost like a gentle but persistent whisper.

One day I remember saying to myself:

Just pick up a pen.

At the time my confidence wasn’t strong. It had been years since I had truly explored my creative side and I wasn’t sure where to start.

But something inside me knew that if I ignored this feeling, I might regret it. So I picked up the pen.

The Power of Creating Again

Looking back now, I realise just how important that moment was.

Art slowly found its way back into my life.

At first it was simply about drawing again. But very quickly it became something deeper than that.

It became a space for me.

A place where I could think, process emotions and express things that sometimes felt difficult to put into words.

For my mental health, creativity became incredibly important.

Some days art helped me release feelings I couldn’t quite explain. Other days it simply brought me peace.

But every time I created something, I felt a little more like myself again.

Eight Years Later

It’s now been eight years since I picked up that pen again.

And I’m so grateful that I did.

Since then I’ve grown, explored and developed my creative practice in ways I never imagined at the beginning. I’ve tried new opportunities, taken risks and learned lessons along the way.

Some experiences have been wonderful successes.

Others have been powerful learning moments.

But every step has helped me grow not only as an artist, but as a person.

Finding My Creative Community

One of the most beautiful parts of this journey has been the people.

Over time I’ve found an incredible community of artists and creatives. The friendships, encouragement and shared passion have added something truly special to my life.

Creativity can sometimes feel like a solitary experience, but finding others who understand that same pull to create is incredibly powerful.

It’s a reminder that we’re not alone in this journey.

Why Creativity Matters

Art is no longer just something I do occasionally.

It’s part of who I am.

As an artist.
As a mum.
As a wife.
As a friend.

Creativity has become a constant in my life — something that supports me through difficult days and celebrates the joyful ones.

When I look back now, I realise that one small decision quietly changed everything.

Picking up that pen again didn’t just bring art back into my life.

It helped bring me back to myself.

And for that, I’m incredibly grateful.

Because creativity truly is a powerful thing.

And sometimes, returning to what we love is exactly what we need to feel whole again.

Creativity has a way of bringing us back to ourselves.

Sometimes we step away from the things we love because life gets busy, responsibilities grow, and other priorities take over. But that creative spark never really disappears — it just waits patiently for us to return to it.

Does this resonate with you?

Have you ever stepped away from something you loved, only to rediscover it later in life?

I’d love to hear your story. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or send me a message.

And if you’re feeling the pull to reconnect with your own creativity, I’m opening a number of Art Shed Sessions from April — intimate creative workshops held in my own working studio. They’re designed to give you the time, space and encouragement to explore creativity in a relaxed and supportive environment.

You can find more details about the sessions here.

Sometimes all it takes is picking up the pen again.

Ellie Lovett Artist & Tutor - Art Shed Sessions