We were lucky to catch up with Lyn Belisle recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

One of the biggest risks I ever took came when most people in my field were thinking about retiring. I’d spent 35 years teaching high school art, mostly to kids with learning challenges. It was deeply meaningful work—these students learned to express themselves through art when words didn’t come easily. I loved it and thought I’d finish out my career there.

Then, out of the blue, I got an offer to teach design and software skills in the Computer Science department at Trinity University—my alma mater. I wasn’t really qualified. I didn’t exactly lie, but I definitely overstated and overestimated my tech skills in that initial conversation. I had written some grants to get computers into my classroom and dabbled in a few programs, but I was far from an expert. Still, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity, so I said yes.

It was terrifying. For two years, I sat in on a friend’s class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday so I could turn around and teach the same material to my students on Tuesdays and Thursdays. My teaching assistants got me through more than once. But I stayed with it—and ended up teaching at Trinity for 12 years. In the process, I learned web design, digital tools, and communication technology—skills I still use in my own creative work and in supporting arts nonprofits like the San Antonio Art League + Museum. That one bold (maybe slightly exaggerated) “yes” opened a door I never would have imagined.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m Lyn Belisle, a lifelong artist, teacher, and creative explorer based in San Antonio, Texas. My journey began in the classroom, where I taught art to high school students with learning challenges for 35 years. That experience shaped everything I do—helping others express themselves through art is at the heart of my work.

After a mid-career leap into teaching design and digital tools at Trinity University, I began blending traditional techniques with emerging technologies, always following where curiosity leads. Now, I create mixed-media artworks that combine collage, fiber, found objects, and ancient symbolism. I also offer online and in-person workshops to guide others in discovering their own creative voice.

My work often explores the idea of vessels—both literal and metaphorical—as containers for memory, meaning, and transformation. I believe that art can hold what words cannot say, and that even the smallest shard of inspiration can tell a powerful story.

I’m most proud of the communities I’ve helped build—like The Enso Circle artist residency—and the thousands of students who have trusted me to walk beside them on their creative path. If there’s a thread that runs through everything I do, it’s a belief in the healing, connecting, and storytelling power of art. Storytelling runs, in the family. One of my favorite creations is my son, Rick Riordan, an influential author of books about other cultures, Greek Gods, and adventurous inclusion that have encouraged young readers for 20 years.

What sets my work apart is its authenticity and approachability. I’m not here to teach rules—I’m here to offer tools, prompts, and encouragement so others can find their own way forward. Whether you’re exploring your creativity for the first time or deepening an established practice, I’d love to be part of your journey.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

In my experience, one of the most important things society can do to support artists is to take their work seriously—not just as decoration, but as essential to how we connect, reflect, and grow. I’ve seen how transformative art can be, whether it’s helping high school students with learning challenges find their voice, or watching artists in a residency push through fear and discover something new in themselves.

But to keep that creative ecosystem alive, artists need more than encouragement—they need real support. That includes funding, yes, but also time, space, community, and fair compensation. It means having affordable places to work and show their art. It means being invited to the table when public and cultural decisions are being made.

What makes the biggest difference, though, is connection. I’ve found that in my own life—through teaching, through The Enso Circle, and through my work with the San Antonio Art League. When artists are part of a community that believes in their work, they thrive—and that creative energy benefits everyone.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I think one thing non-creatives—or people who believe they’re non-creatives—might not fully understand is that creativity isn’t some exclusive club. It’s part of being human. We all make creative choices every day: in what we wear, how we arrange our spaces, the music we listen to, the meals we cook, the stories we tell. Our lives are collages of our values, our tastes, our memories.

When I say I’m an artist, I don’t mean I’m different from others—I mean I’ve chosen to pay close attention to that creative thread and follow where it leads. My journey might look more visual or hands-on, but the impulse to create is universal. It’s how we make meaning, connect with others, and understand ourselves. I am 81 now, and am still able to live every day with wonder and awe by just paying attention – anyone can.

So if there’s any insight I can share, it’s this: you’re already creative. The challenge is to trust that, nurture it, and give it room to grow in whatever form it takes. That’s where the magic is.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.lynbelisle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynbelislestudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynbelisle/
• Other: pinterest: www.pinterest.com/lynbelisle

Image Credits

All photos by Lyn Belisle