carrie schmitt on devotion, destruction and liberation through art

i first met carrie when i interviewed her for the podcast several years ago. her story of pain, loss and rebirth captivated me. her colorful paintings of flowers and women delighted me. her success as an artist intrigued me.

then we became friends and i fell in love with her passion for creativity, her devotion to the creative spirit and her wild, fierce questioning, soul. despite carrie’s heat allergy, which can drain her physically and emotionally, carrie is all light, painting beauty into the world.

carrie began painting after being diagnosed with a life-threatening heat allergy in 2009. “painting became a therapeutic practice and act of tenderness amidst the darkness. with time there was healing and the birth of my life as an artist.”

today carrie is a full-time artist, art retreat facilitator at her hōm: house of miracles, in steilacoom, wa, and author of “the story of every flower,” “painted blossoms: creating expressive flowers with mixed media,” and the children’s book, “a flower in her heart.” she licenses her art for stationary, home decor, clothing and other lifestyle products.

may this conversation inspire you to go within: to the raw, wild, expanse of mystery that is 
your beating heart, vibrating body, pulsing life in order to go beyond to utter the sacred: your words, dance, painting, art.

 

SOME THINGS WE TALK ABOUT…

• what it means to be a devotee of creativity
• how creativity awakens you to the most alive and empowered version of yourself
• transforming your relationship to creativity from fear or doubt to trust, love and divine guidance
• what your art says about you
• how destruction can be the most liberating part of the creative process
• money, charging for our work and success in art
• the power of naming and using your creativity to create your world

listen to all previous BEYOND episodes here

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learn about carrie here