Kristen Drozdowski: Painting a Doorway to Self-Discovery

What did you use to do during recess?

When I think of recess as a kid the same memory comes up. Me and a couple of other girls are off in the distance at the playground while the other kids play sports and games. We’re huddled around a big tree making things out of the bark, arranging the rocks and sand into little worlds, and showing each other the weird little tchotchkes in our tiny backpacks. 

Did you think of yourself as a creative kid? What does creativity look like for you these days?

I definitely was a creative kid, but I also remember being really hard on myself. I compared myself to others a lot, and thought everything I made was second-rate or unoriginal. I see now that I was so hard on myself not because I actually had negative views of myself, but because of how much I cared about what I created! This level of care and burning desire to create things I like is what fuels me today! I have so many creative outlets now, I run a creative business, make art and my own art supplies, teach workshops, and collaborate with others in their creative projects too. It is my passion to be creative, and I am so happy and grateful I get to do it for a living.

How much time do you get to work on creative projects? 

It truly depends on the week and what is going on with all of my projects, business admin, and my family. I like to make time to do something creative, big or small, each day. Sometimes just the smallest connection to my art practice is extremely satisfying and can make me feel better on weeks that I am not able to carve out a lot of hours for creating. Making art just for the sake of exploring and not necessarily for the sole purpose of selling is crucial for my creative survival, so just knowing I have a growing practice for that is really wonderful, even if I don’t get to do it for all of my work hours.

How did motherhood change your creative practice? 

In such beautiful ways! My last two posts on my Substack actually have to do with seeing creativity through my son’s eyes (he is 9 now) and experiencing it with him. I can so clearly see the nature of creativity by observing how it plays out through my child. It’s so raw, relatable and beautiful and helps me learn more about myself.

How does art enrich your life? How does being a mother enrich your art?

I experience both art-making and parenting as doorways to spiritual and self-discovery. These relationships are always teaching me something. Being an artist and a mother has brought up a lot of patterns to the surface and helped me heal them. It’s an ongoing process! It takes a lot of bravery and vulnerability to be a parent and an artist in an authentic way. Being so in touch with myself influences both by art and my parenting, and they influence each other.

When do you feel most creative? 

Ah, I wish I knew the secret formula or moon phase or set of conditions, but most of the time when I am feeling most creative it sort of bursts out of nowhere. I want to say, likely, after a good period of rest and recharge! 

What helps you make time and space for being creative? How do you avoid burn out?

If I don’t make enough time and space for creativity it feels like my quality of life is suffering, so a lot of this is being in tune with how I’m feeling in my body. Sometimes if I go too long without being creative I can feel a pent up energy, it sort of functions like an emotion - if you don’t let it out it builds up! Tuning into my body helps me know when I really need to prioritize time for creativity. Same with burnout, I never push myself if my body is telling me no, no matter how much I want to continue.

Who would you love to collaborate with? What’s a dream project for you?

I’ve always thought about how wonderful it would be to collaborate with wellness spaces. This could be painting a soothing mural on a wall in a yoga studio, or collaborating with someone working in a wellness field on a product or experience for facilitating healing and personal growth in others.

What’s inspiring you outside of your own genre?

Fossils! I am inspired by this genre of fossils that are being dated before the Cambrian period, found in rocks older than what we thought were the oldest rocks containing evidence of animal life. These creatures are being called Ediacaran Biota. If you google it, you’ll see these beautiful renderings of plant-like / sea-creature-like beings that allegedly existed earlier and became extinct. Theories are actively being formed, it’s really fascinating! I don’t have a science background at all so it’s truly outside of my realm, but fun to learn about, specifically in terms of the creative mind and how curiosity and imagination fill in the gaps we don’t have data for.

How would you like the world to see artists and mothers? 

I want the world to see artists who are mothers as people who can be just as successful and prolific as any artist. Being an artist and a parent is not only totally doable, normal, and acceptable but also it is vital to society. 

How can we support and encourage each other more?

Through conversations like these! It’s always great to simply connect with one another over things we can relate to, it makes us feel like we are seen, and a part of a supportive network!

If you could give everyone a small treat, what would it be?

A little vial of pink liquid that when you drink it you gain the ability to see everything and everyone, including yourself, through a lens of self-compassion acceptance and love. You can’t un-see it. And now, everyone you look at also gains this same ability and so forth. In a matter of days, all world problems are solved as all of human consciousness is permeated with such an understanding that world peace is practically automatic and the earth is fully healed in 30 days.

—

Kristen Drozdowski

(she/they) is an artist, designer, writer, and founder of Worthwhile Paper + Studio. They live with their partner and 9 year old son in Ypsilanti, Michigan. You can follow their work at @worthwhilepaper or @kristendroz on Instagram. Their Substack is one of my favorites.

—

Hi! I’m Heidi. Writer. Editor. Mother. I’m interviewing 100 creative mothers, because I believe the more we see other mothers making beauty and meaning in small moments, the more we will be inspired to make our own kind of art, whatever that may look like during this intense season of life. Support the project by sharing with a friend.