From the very first collage I created in my thirties, I dreamed of doing art for a living. But life has a way of asking us to set our dreams aside for a while. There were mortgages to pay, a corporate career to build, and responsibilities that demanded my attention. The dream never disappeared, though. It simply waited patiently in the background, tucked away until I was ready.
At age 57, I finally saved enough money to leave my corporate career and take a leap into the unknown. I didn’t have a clear roadmap for what came next. I only knew that if I didn’t do it then, I might never do it at all. So I stepped away from the security of a paycheck and into a life centered around creativity.
What surprised me most wasn’t the freedom. It was the questions that freedom created.
For years, collage had been my creative outlet. It was the one thing I consistently returned to between meetings, deadlines, and business travel. Yet once I suddenly had unlimited time to create, I began wondering if collage was really my passion or simply the only art form I’d had time to pursue. What if there was something else out there that would light me up even more?
Rather than rushing to build a business or establish myself as an artist, I gave myself permission to explore. For the next couple of years, I followed my curiosity wherever it led. I tried portraits, landscapes, flowers, oil pastels, oil painting, watercolors, and countless other creative pursuits. Some of it was enjoyable. Much of it taught me valuable lessons. Every experience expanded my understanding of art and creativity.
But none of it made me want to dive deeper.
I enjoyed many of the classes I took, but I never found myself signing up for a second workshop on the same subject. I wasn’t staying up late thinking about what I would create next. I wasn’t becoming obsessed. Something was still missing.
Then one day, I took another collage workshop and the shift was immediate.
I wasn’t just learning techniques. I was captivated by what I was creating and I couldn’t wait to get back to my art table. I wanted to learn more, make more, and explore every possibility collage offered. The thing I had been searching for all along turned out to be the very thing where my creative journey had begun decades earlier.
At first glance, it might seem as though all those years of experimenting were unnecessary. Why not simply stay with collage from the beginning?
Without wandering, I never would have known for sure.
Those years of exploration taught me something important. Collage wasn’t my passion because it was familiar. It became my passion because I had explored other possibilities and consciously chosen it. The wandering gave me certainty. Every workshop, every abandoned project, every creative detour helped me understand what truly lit me up.
That’s why I think so many artists are harder on themselves than they need to be.
I often hear from people who feel guilty because they move between mediums, start multiple projects, or haven’t yet settled on one artistic focus. They worry that they’re scattered, or they wonder if a “real” artist would be more disciplined or more certain about their path.
I don’t believe that’s true. I think many of us are exactly where we’re supposed to be.
The creative path isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes it’s a winding road filled with experiments, false starts, and unexpected discoveries. Every class you take, every medium you explore, and every project you begin teaches you something about yourself. Your eye for beauty develops. Your instincts become stronger. Your artistic voice slowly begins to emerge.
What if the wandering isn’t the problem?
What if the guilt is?
Following what lights you up in the moment isn’t a distraction from your creative journey. It is your creative journey. You aren’t starting over every time you try something new. You’re gathering experiences, skills, and insights that eventually become part of your unique creative voice.
And someday, perhaps when you least expect it, you’ll stumble upon the thing that makes you want to drop everything else. The thing that keeps calling you back. The thing that feels like home.
When that happens, you’ll know. Until then, trust the wandering.
What are you searching for right now?
I’d love to hear about your own creative journey. Are you exploring new mediums, looking for your artistic voice, or discovering what truly lights you up? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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