A Wistful Beginning

By Rhonda Northrup | Week 1 of My Artist Journey

My Wistful Beginning Artist’s Journey began at age four: I held a scrap of fabric in my hands, its frayed edges soft against my fingers, as I pieced together what I envisioned as a ball gown for my Barbie. Though the dress was simple and imperfect, the act of creating it felt transformative—like magic. I could turn remnants of chaos into something beautiful, a skill I didn’t yet realize would define much of my life.

Reflecting on that memory, I now see how my journey as an artist began long before I understood what being an artist could mean. Even then, creativity was my way of finding beauty and control in a chaotic world. That was the moment my journey as an artist took root -built not on formal training, but on instinct, need, and imagination.

As I’ve grown, I’ve come to understand that creativity doesn’t just offer beauty—it offers comfort, identity, and healing. For me, art became the place where my feelings had room to exist, especially when words felt out of reach. Over time, I’ve come to see that this wasn’t just my experience -it’s something many others have discovered, too.

In fact, studies show that engaging in creative activities like drawing, painting, or crafting can reduce stress and promote emotional well-being. This article from Verywell Mind explores how art can serve as a therapeutic outlet—even for those who don’t think of themselves as “artists.”

A Childhood That Shaped a Wistful Artist’s Journey

That small childhood moment—piecing together fabric for a doll—offered a glimpse into a larger story. Born in Chicago in 1964 to a Lithuanian mother and an Italian-German father, my early years were anything but ordinary. My parents divorced when I was two and a half, and my mother quickly remarried—to my uncle.

This unexpected and complicated family dynamic reshaped our household. Boundaries blurred, relationships tangled, and my sense of belonging fractured. Navigating this complexity demanded an emotional sensitivity that would later shape my creative identity and how I saw the world.

This moment was only the beginning of A Wistful Beginning Artist’s Journey which continues to shape how I process the world through art and emotion.

To be continued…

New to this 4-part artist journey series? Start from the beginning with the Introduction to Rhonda Northrup’s Artist Journey.