We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laurie Maves. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laurie below.

Alright, Laurie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Earning a full time living as a fine artist can often be challenging. But if you keep evolving as a creative, you can find ways to build on your business. Even though I wanted to be a professional artist right out of college, the idea, although lofty, is not actually reasonable. I believe most creatives run into this issue from time to time. If you’re not willing to evolve, I believe your work becomes stale, and oftentimes, you lack relevancy.
I chose to become an Art Therapist a couple years after I received my bachelors degree in art. I found that I could use art in ways that could help other people, and pursuing a masters degree in art therapy is what I did. I always found a balance somehow over the past 30 years of making and selling custom and original artworks, along with offering expressive arts classes and abstract painting sessions. Art making for me offered so many personal insights, I found that sharing that process with others has been super rewarding for me.
Last year, I added onto this by starting a regular blog on the Substack platform. My blog is titled, “The Sketchbook Diaries of an Evolving Art Therapist.” Here I can share with a much wider audience the healing aspects of the creative process, while also sharing my own artwork, projects, classes, etc. Adding the blog was one of the greatest things I’ve done in awhile. I almost have 500 regular readers to date, and that number seems to keep growing. In this way, I can continue to reach others who want to not only learn about art and abstract intuitive painting, but also how using a sketchbook and regular journaling can help ease stress, manage anxiety and follow a path for self-discovery. And on this platform, I have the opportunity to capture paid subscribers, so that also adds income to my small business, Laurie Maves ART LLC .

Laurie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always loved art.
I’ve always been a creative person.
I find that I’m never bored. It matters not the situation, my mind is always creating something. If I’m not writing for my blog, I’m working in my sketchbook. And I’m often documenting all of it, via Substack or YouTube. If I’m not doing those things, you can find me painting florals or some large scale intuitive abstract paintings. Lately, I’ve been running a weekly live stream from my home painting studio, on the Substack platform. That has been wildly fun, because it allows me to create or work on a large painting live, I find that it is quite entertaining for my viewers, and it provides feedback from others on my process, right in the midst of creating.
I’ve also started a “Creative Journeys Interview Series,” where I interview various persons and we chat about creativity and how it has helped them throughout their lives. This interview process has helped many people identify their personal histories of creativity, and encourages them to dive deeper into how one utilizes creative expression on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. (Maybe you, the reader, might be interested in sharing your own creative journey story with me?)
But my latest endeavor, pursuing and receiving my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification has been one of my greatest personal/professional surprises. At 54, I have started teaching yoga and meditation. It has been a brilliant addition to my background in Art Therapy and facilitating the personal expression of others. I have lead many abstract painting classes and expressive therapy workshops, Now being formally trained in meditation, is a wonderful addition that I can offer my painting students.
As I mentioned earlier, I think it’s so very important to keep evolving as a human being. I once was told by an elderly artist (she was in her 80’s) to never stop learning. She had a sign in her studio, “I have yet to reach my highest potential.” Since the day I met her and saw that sign, it has been my mantra. I am constantly experimenting in my studio with materials and approaches to art making. Sharing these processes with others, encourages them that maybe they could do the same thing, if they so desired. So I keep showing up, I keep painting, I keep trying to evolve as a painter, as a therapist, as a writer and now as a yoga and meditation teacher.

Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?

My view of NFT’s is that they are a waste of time. I find there are way too many scams out there, I’ve never found another artist to prosper from NFT’s. But I’m also more of a traditional artist. I am a paint on canvas type of person. There is true value is making real tangible things. In a world where everything is digital, I want to revolt and just keep making real, physical paintings and drawings. Ones that actually hang on the wall and can provide inspiration for those that view them.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission with my art, art therapy and yoga at 54, is to bring the joy of the creative process to as many people as I can. It’s never too late to start a creative process. It’s never too late to learn to paint, to learn to express yourself, or to learn to meditate. Encouraging others to be creative and to set aside personal time for creative activities is critical for mental health and wellness. My mission is to bring these ideas to all and any that will listen.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lauriemavesart.com
• Instagram: @lauriemavesart
• Facebook: Laurie Guglielmi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaurieMavesART
• Other: Substack @lauriemavesart

Image Credits

all images by Laurie Maves ART LLC