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Canva, AI, and the New Affinity: Why Are We So Afraid of the Future of Graphic Design?
Are we watching creativity disappear, or are we watching it evolve? Thoughts from a modern artist who’s choosing to embrace change instead of fear it. I’ve been seeing a lot of backlash lately surrounding Canva, artificial intelligence, and the new Affinity design software. And as someone with a background in art and graphic design, I have some thoughts. Apparently, using Canva means you’re not a real graphic designer. Using AI means you’re not a real artist. And now that Canva owns Affinity and has introduced an entirely new version with AI integration, people are upset about that, too. But here’s my question. When did the tools we use become more…
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Connecting the Dots Between Art, Psychology, and My Future
Maybe my interests aren’t all over the place. Maybe they’re all connected. I’ve always been a creative person. Art, photography, graphic design, writing, you name it. If it involves creativity, chances are I’ve probably tried it at least once. But somewhere along the way, my love for creativity started connecting with another passion of mine: mental health and psychology. And that’s when I started realizing something. Art, psychology, and therapeutic approaches aren’t necessarily three completely separate subjects. They can actually work together in some pretty meaningful ways. Which brings me to why I’ve been taking several different classes in psychology, art, graphic design, mindfulness, and creative wellness. No, I’m not…
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Is Working Really Self-Care? Well… What If Being Creative Is My Self-Care? 🤷♀️
We hear it all the time. “Stop working and practice self-care.” “Take a break from your computer.” “You need to relax instead of being productive all the time.” And I get it. I really do. But here’s the thing… What if the thing that helps me relax is also considered work? I’m an artist, writer, graphic designer, and creative business owner. I spend a lot of time designing, blogging, creating digital products, building websites, and working on my little corner of the internet. To some people, that probably looks like I’m constantly working. And technically? I am. But there’s something they don’t always understand. Being creative is how I decompress.…
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Mental Health Is a Human Right, Not Just a Hashtag 💜
We talk a lot about mental health awareness, but are we actually practicing compassion when it matters most We live in a world that constantly tells us to speak up about mental health. Ask for help. Set boundaries. Take care of yourself. It’s okay not to be okay. We see these messages everywhere. On social media, in workplaces, on inspirational posters, and throughout mental health awareness campaigns. And don’t get me wrong. I think these messages are important. As someone who lives with my own mental health struggles and advocates for mental wellness, I’m glad we’re finally having conversations that previous generations often kept behind closed doors. But there’s something…
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Anxiety Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone — And No Two Panic Attacks Are the Same
The messy, misunderstood reality of living with anxiety and why my experiences don’t always fit the stereotypes. When someone mentions anxiety, what comes to mind? Worrying? Overthinking? Panic attacks? Nervousness? Maybe you picture someone breathing heavily, shaking, crying, or struggling to calm themselves down. And yes, anxiety can look like all those things. But here’s something I’ve learned through my own mental health journey: Anxiety isn’t always obvious. And even when you live with it every single day, it doesn’t always show up the same way. Sometimes my anxiety is loud, overwhelming, and impossible to ignore. Other times, it’s quiet. Almost invisible to everyone around me. And sometimes, I don’t…
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What If We Turned Our Overthinking Into Little Characters Instead of Fighting It?
On anxiety, creative self-care, and why sometimes a silly little doodle can help us understand the thoughts running around in our heads. Have you ever been overthinking so much that your brain feels like it’s hosting an entire conversation without your permission? Because, same. One thought is worrying about something that might happen tomorrow. Another is reminding you about something embarrassing you did five years ago. Another is questioning whether you’re doing enough with your life. And another has already imagined approximately 47 different worst-case scenarios that haven’t even happened yet. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to enjoy a peaceful afternoon. Excuse me, brain? Can we please have five minutes of…
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Can Artists Succeed Without Social Media? I’m Finding Out
An artist’s thoughts on Instagram, burnout, algorithms, and learning to create without the pressure to constantly be seen. Social media can be a wonderful thing for artists. It can help us build communities, connect with other creatives, share our work, find customers, and turn something we love into an actual business. But it can also be absolutely exhausting. Especially when you’re a small artist trying to build something meaningful while competing with algorithms, trends, influencers, and thousands of other creators who are all trying to be seen. And lately, I’ve been asking myself a question: Can artists still find success in the digital age without relying on social media? I…
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Am I a Night Owl, or Does My Brain Just Come Alive at Night?
3 AM Thoughts From a Millennial Living With Anxiety, Schizophrenia, and a Very Creative Mind There’s something about nighttime that makes my brain come alive. During the day? I’m exhausted. Sometimes I struggle to find motivation. I overthink everything, worry about things that haven’t even happened, and feel like my brain is running a thousand different tabs at once. But then nighttime arrives. Suddenly, I want to write. I want to create art. I want to redesign my website, work on my business, brainstorm new projects, or start something completely random at 11 PM. And I’m sitting there thinking… Where was this motivation six hours ago?! Seriously, brain. We need…
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I Was Told I Couldn’t Make Money With Photoshop. Ten Years Later, I’m Still Creating.
On finding myself through art, rebuilding my creative business, and why I’ve stopped trying to squeeze my entire personality into one niche. In 2016, someone told me I couldn’t make money with just Photoshop. And looking back? I think that might have been one of the most important things anyone ever said to me. Not because they were necessarily trying to inspire me. But because I loved creating, and I wasn’t ready to give that up simply because someone else didn’t see the possibilities. By that point, I’d already taken three different Photoshop courses between high school and college. And somewhere along the way, I’d completely fallen in love with…
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Let Yourself Make Bad Art. Seriously, It’s Good for You.
On perfectionism, the inner critic, and why sometimes the best thing you can do for your mental health is create something without worrying about whether it’s good. Can I tell you something as an artist? Not everything you create needs to be good. Seriously. Not every drawing needs to become a masterpiece. Not every photograph needs to be perfectly composed. Not every painting needs to look like something you’d hang in a gallery. And not every creative idea needs to become a product, a social media post, or something you can sell. Sometimes you can just create. That’s it. No expectations. No pressure. No worrying about whether anyone else will…
Everyone solves their life issues at 3AM right?!