How art became a beautiful counterbalance to a busy life.
I never expected art to become such a meaningful part of my life. It began as a creative discovery, something that sparked my curiosity and gave me an opportunity to explore something different. Over time, it has become so much more than that. Painting has brought a sense of joy, calm and possibility into my life that I didn't even realise I was missing.
My professional life is in public affairs, a world that keeps me closely connected to the issues shaping our communities and the wider world. Much of my work involves navigating complexity, advising on challenging situations and thinking carefully about the things that matter to people, organisations and society. It's work I find meaningful, but it also means I'm constantly exposed to the difficult, complicated and sometimes confronting realities of the world around us.
And, like so many people, I have a busy life outside work, too.
Between professional responsibilities, family life and the endless list of everyday things that need doing, it's easy to move from one thing to the next without taking much time to pause. There's always something demanding our attention, something to think about or something that needs to be done.
Painting has given me a reason to slow down.
A different way of seeing the world
There is something wonderfully freeing about working with colour. I love the unpredictability of it — the way colours interact, how a brushstroke can change the direction of a painting, and how something unexpected can become the very thing that makes a piece work.
My approach is intuitive and experimental. I enjoy exploring movement, texture and layers, allowing a painting to evolve rather than knowing exactly what it will become from the beginning. Sometimes the most interesting moments happen when I let go of the plan and simply follow the colour.
When I'm painting, my attention shifts. Instead of thinking about what is happening in the world or what needs to happen next, I'm focused on the canvas in front of me. It's a different kind of thinking, one that leaves room for curiosity, play and discovery.
And that feels incredibly valuable.
Making room for beauty
I think we're all exposed to an enormous amount of information, uncertainty and difficult news. It's easy to feel weighed down by it, particularly when we're trying to balance our own responsibilities with an awareness of what's happening beyond our immediate lives.
I'm not suggesting that art can change all of that. But I do believe there's value in creating spaces that make us feel good.
A room filled with colour. A painting that catches your eye as you walk past. An unexpected combination of colours that makes you smile. These things might seem small, but small moments of joy have their own importance.
For me, art is a way of leaning into that feeling. It's about creating something that offers a little contrast to the busyness and complexity of everyday life — something expressive and uplifting.
I am drawn to colour because of the way it can change the feeling of a space. It can bring warmth, energy, softness or a sense of playfulness. It can be bold and expressive, or subtle enough to reveal something new each time you look at it.
Most of all, colour reminds me that there is always room for beauty, even when life feels complicated.
Bringing a little more colour into everyday life
As my art practice has grown, I've realised that what I enjoy most isn't just the process of painting. It's the idea that something I've created might find a home with someone else.
Perhaps it will brighten a quiet corner, bring a little personality to a living room or become the piece someone looks at when they need a moment of calm. Perhaps it will simply make someone happy every time they walk past it.
I love the thought that an original artwork can become part of someone's everyday life in this way.
You don't need to be an experienced art collector to enjoy original art, and you don't need a grand room or a perfectly styled home to make space for it. Sometimes, all it takes is a piece that catches your eye and makes you feel something.
That is part of the reason I love creating smaller original works, too. Art should feel accessible. It should be something people can discover, enjoy and live with, regardless of whether they're building a collection or buying their very first original painting.
A little reminder to find the joy
Discovering art has reminded me that creativity doesn't have to be about achieving something or getting everything right. Sometimes, it's simply about making time for something that brings you joy.
For me, that joy is found in colour, movement, texture and the unexpected moments that happen along the way. It's found in the quiet time spent in the studio and in the satisfaction of creating something that didn't exist before.
Life will always be busy. The world will always have its challenges. But I think we can make room for beauty alongside all of it.
A little more colour. A little more calm. A little more joy.
Because life is better in colour.
Sincerely
Marissa