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Photo: Chris Brancaccio

Rediscovering My Creative Compass

A Journey Through Loss and Transformation

For years, I worked as a counselor and educator, guiding others while quietly ignoring my own creative spirit. Art had always been part of me — from childhood through my undergraduate degree in art — but over time, I set it aside for something more "practical": a career in counseling.

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Then life changed everything. I lost both parents to cancer, my best friend to illness, and witnessed the upheaval of a global pandemic. These experiences were more than personal tragedies — they were a cosmic invitation to reevaluate my priorities and my entire approach to life.

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Burned out and restless, I left my "secure" university job. I tried to play it safe by starting a career coaching practice, but deep down I knew my heart wanted something else. My inner artist was still waiting.

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The turning point came in Bali, when a friend gifted me a mandala workbook. What began as a simple exercise quickly became so much more — a meditative practice, a source of healing, and a path back to myself. Through mandalas and sacred geometry, I rediscovered my creative voice and my lifelong love of pattern, symmetry, and repetition.

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Today, my work has expanded into a broader exploration of color, pattern, and the visual richness of the world around me. I'm endlessly inspired by nature, architecture, travel, and culture — the intricate geometry of Islamic tilework, the bold graphic energy of mid-century modern design, the organic exuberance of Mexican alebrijes, the meditative repetition of folk art and woodblock printmaking. I'm drawn to art that is bold, vibrant, and active, but I have an equal love for the simple, the clean, and the quietly whimsical. My work tends toward the illustrative and decorative — stylized rather than realistic, pattern-forward, and rooted in a deep appreciation for the way human beings across cultures and centuries have used art to make sense of the world.

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I still carry my background in counseling and education into everything I do. It shapes how I think about creativity — not as something reserved for a select few, but as something deeply human, accessible, and worth making space for. Whether I'm designing patterns, traveling, painting a mural, or sharing pieces of my process and experience, I'm interested in the ways creativity helps us feel more connected: to ourselves, to nature, and to the world around us.

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This space is where I share that journey — through art, writing, travel, and reflections on building a life that feels true. My hope is that something here will inspire you to reconnect with your own creativity, challenge the scripts you've been handed, and rediscover what matters most.​

Begin Your Journey to Inner Calm

Need a moment of peace? Download my free mandala coloring page and enjoy a little creative self-care—no experience needed! Simply print it out, grab your colors, and unwind.

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Your Free Mandala Awaits

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 Let's Connect!

I’d love to hear what creativity means to you—drop me a note or say hi on social.

© 2025 KARA ELISSA. All rights reserved.

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