We recently connected with Alexander Laughlin and have shared our conversation below.

Alexander, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Within the first year of offering my Soul Portraits and spiritual guidance sessions, I was also working full-time at an escape room. I enjoyed the job, but I was also looking to escape it—longing to pursue my passions more fully.

Around that time, I came across a belief shared by a spiritual teacher on TikTok: that what excites you the most is actually your purpose—and when you’re aligned with your purpose, you’ll be divinely supported in following that excitement. This idea resonated deeply with me, but I had to ask myself: Was I really willing to follow my excitement and become a full-time artist while diving deeper into spiritual education? Honestly, it was terrifying. I knew how difficult the “successful full-time artist” path could be. And I had rent and bills to pay. My mind raced with doubts.

Still, being something of a risk-taker already, I decided to quit my job and pursue my art and spiritual work full-time. Thankfully, my manager at the escape room was incredibly supportive and even told me she’d rehire me if I ever needed to come back—so I had a safety net, which made the leap feel a little less daunting.

Even so, I was nervous about how I’d cover my expenses. The “starving artist” story crept back into my thoughts. But this wasn’t the first time I’d faced those fears, and I knew how to ground myself and move through them.

After quitting, I focused on building a website for my artwork and services. I didn’t make any big announcements—just quietly shared the shift with close friends and family. Then, about 3–4 weeks later, something amazing happened: a noticeable influx of commission requests came in. Around the same time, I was selected to display my art at a beautiful restaurant in downtown Kansas City. I also received free spiritual mentorship from a teacher I deeply respected. And, to top it all off, I manifested a living situation where I didn’t have to pay rent or utilities for over a year.

It all felt magical and incredibly validating. The belief I had adopted just a month earlier—that I would be divinely supported if I followed my highest excitement—was being affirmed in every direction. Logically, quitting my job to pursue a “risky” career in art and spiritual entrepreneurship didn’t make sense. But soulfully, it made perfect sense.

Now, I can see that the choice I made wasn’t a risk at all—it was an aligned, authentic step toward my soul’s calling. And in that alignment, success as an artist and spiritual guide was not just possible—it was inevitable.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Creating art is something I’ve always done, and having a spiritual mindset has been a natural evolution since childhood. Growing up, painting and drawing were encouraged by my parents and peers, and pursuing art felt instinctive. At the same time, though, I was holding onto limiting beliefs that dampened both my creativity and sense of identity. I internalized the “starving artist” narrative—convincing myself I had to struggle in order to succeed—and in the process, I suppressed much of my authenticity.

In college, I went through a very dark period of deep depression and overwhelm, mostly due to the ongoing suppression of my true self. Eventually, I reached a breaking point and knew something had to change. I decided to create a painting—what I now call a Soul Portrait—that would reflect the parts of myself I wanted to embody more fully. Using symbols, colors, and imagery, I crafted something I could see each day to remind me of who I truly was and who I was becoming.

I meditated with this artwork and others I created, and through that process, I accessed profound parts of my authentic consciousness. Seeing myself reflected in the art gave me the clarity and confidence to take inspired action and shift my life in a more positive direction.

In many ways, my artwork helped reprogram my consciousness. It allowed me to reclaim my authentic self and let go of limiting beliefs and outdated identities. I believe this kind of art can be truly transformative for those who feel spiritually stagnant, unsure how to shed old versions of themselves, and ready to embody more of their divine truth. That’s the power of art—it can literally rewrite the stories we tell ourselves, replacing them with ones that are more empowered and true.

Each Soul Portrait I create is either hand-drawn or painted using acrylic or watercolor.

Over time, creating these portraits also led me into the field of spiritual guidance. Think of it like life coaching, but more spiritually focused. I use a technique called channeling to connect with specific, in-depth messages from your spirit guides, ancestors, Source, and what many call the higher self. This kind of session is ideal for those ready to explore the energetic influences around them, gain a deeper perspective on their life path, and take practical, grounded, & aligned steps toward fulfilling their soul’s calling.

It’s an absolute honor to do this work. I’ve been in the depths of despair. I know what it’s like to ignore my soul’s voice and bind myself to others’ expectations. But I also know what it’s like to break free—and live in alignment with my dreams and purpose.

Today, I’m proud to say my artwork hasn’t just changed my own consciousness—it now helps others heal, awaken, and remember who they truly are.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Slowly, over many years, I developed the belief that becoming a full-time artist would always be difficult—and that in order to be successful, I needed to stick to just one style of art. That belief stifled my creativity. I felt defeated before I even made it to the canvas.

Any time I felt inspired to explore a new form of creative expression, thoughts like these would arise: “That’s too different from what I’ve already established,” or “I can’t focus on one thing—this must be why I’m not successful.” I also worried, “What if people don’t like my art?” or “How will this sell if it doesn’t look ‘acceptable’?” I was taking on commissions that didn’t excite or inspire me—sacrificing my creative joy in the name of financial safety.

Social media added fuel to the fire. I’d scroll through artists’ “perfect” content—seamlessly curated and polished—without seeing the messy, real parts of the process. There’s nothing wrong with that kind of content, but at the time, I let it shape unrealistic expectations about how art should look, feel, or be shared. And growing up in a small Kansas town with only 800 people, I didn’t have access to diverse creative influences or communities of artists. My world was small, and so my vision of what was possible felt limited.

For years, I boxed in my creativity for the sake of stability. You could say suppressed creativity was my unofficial brand.

But everything shifted when I created my first Soul Portrait—a piece I made for myself. Which is now the foundation of my business & what has attracted so many clients. I realized these unique custom portraits could reflect the most authentic aspects of other people too. Suddenly, it all made sense: the reason I was drawn to so many different styles of art was because I needed to express the multi-layered, nuanced nature of each person’s soul. In order to accurately capture someone’s inner world, I had to be flexible with form, technique, and symbolism. No two souls are alike—so no two Soul Portraits could ever look the same.

In that moment, years of creative tension melted off my back. It took nearly 30 years to unlearn that massive creative block, but I’m deeply grateful I did.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part for me has been becoming my own boss. I value my time and peace far more than I value money. Learning how to align my work schedule with my lifestyle has allowed my nervous system and body to truly heal and relax.

Since middle school, I’ve dreaded being tied to someone else’s schedule—especially when it felt forced or rigid. I’ve never been a fan of the traditional 9-to-5. I’m a night owl by nature, and most of my creative work happens in the evenings or even early morning hours.

Now, I’m grateful to sleep in, block out time for leisure and self-care, and have the freedom to choose when I work. I also have the ability to travel more often—and sometimes even bring my work or studio with me, depending on the location.

Some of us—myself included—just weren’t built for the 9-to-5. And it’s incredibly rewarding to create a schedule that truly aligns with how I function best.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.soulinspiredart.com/
• Instagram: @soul_inspired_artist

Image Credits

Samantha Levi | Commerical Brand Photographer