Back to the Canvas - My journey back to the creative world.

It's been a while since I've picked up a canvas. For those of you who knew me in younger years, you’ve probably seen some of my sketches or paintings. As I got older, though, art kind of slipped away, like so many childhood hobbies do. I realized it's been nearly 10 years since I really made time for it—since I've used an easel or done a proper painting or sketch.

The Canvas

The Paint

The view of Canvas and Paint

When I was 17, I was at a crossroads: follow my love for art or dive into the corporate world. I chose the latter. I loved art, but I also loved sports and thought a business path might open more doors down the line. Like many creatives, I worried about making a career with just art as my background. So, instead of following my initial plan of studying Fine Arts. I decided to get a Bachelor's in Commerce while playing varsity soccer. Life got busy. Between training, studying, and working, art slowly took a backseat.

When my soccer career unexpectedly ended, I felt lost for a while. Without training and being sidelined due to concussions, I didn't know what to do. So, I gave my body a break with a lot of yoga. Once I could be active again, I turned to non-contact sports like surfing and snowboarding. Sports I never had much time for before. It was a breath of fresh air—sports became about having fun rather than performance. I started enjoying the non-competitive side of athletics again, just hanging out with friends outdoors and simply having a good time. 

Then, covid hit. I couldn't do the sports I loved, and on top of that, I lost my job. With so much time on my hands, I found myself turning back to art. I started drawing and painting again, and it made me wonder if maybe an artistic path was where I was meant to go all along. It opened my eyes to the possibilities outside my current small-town life. It gave me the push I needed to get back into design and art. I dabbled in visual arts, architecture, and graphic design. Eventually, I decided to go back to school to study graphic design and interactive media. For me. school was never intimidating—I’ve always been a bit of an academic. I loved my program and finally felt like I was doing something I was passionate about. It was exciting to create again, just in new ways. Having my creative expression back made me so happy.

Over the years, I've experimented with lots of different art forms—mainly photography—but I'd always pack a small sketchbook whenever I traveled. That spark of creativity was something I was so thankful to have back in my life. I’ve always been a driven person, which helped me succeed in both athletics and my professional life. But I’m also a textbook workaholic. If you know me, you know I usually have a million things going on at once. I love being busy—it’s just how I’ve always been. Art, though, was a way for me to slow down and live in the moment. It gave me a different perspective, away from the fast-paced, work-centred world I’m used to. Without sports or work as an outlet, I knew I needed something to channel my energy into. Like many, I struggled with not having a focus during the pandemic, and turning back to art gave me a renewed sense of purpose.

Fast forward to now. I work in the corporate world for a audio visual production company. I’m lucky enough to use my creativity every day in my full time job. I also run a freelance design business, where I get to work with clients who share my passions and values. My world is full of art, but recently, I’ve felt like something was missing from my creative process. I think I let my creativity become all about work and forgot to keep it fun—and that’s something I never want to lose. So, here I am today, with an easel I haven’t touched in over 10 years and a paintbrush in hand. I’m taking a step forward, back toward creating just for the joy of it. Not for a job, not for a brand—just for me.

So, here’s a little toast to whatever your "paintbrush" is in life. It’s time to start, or maybe start again. Here’s to my journey with art that’s been forgotten for way too long.

Love Always xx, Rachel Alexandra Photos taken on 35mm by Rachel Alexandra