Being Whole Through Art with Cindy Ingram - Joleen's Happy Time Craftcast 47

Hello, my creative friends! 🌼

Welcome to the 47th episode of Joleen’s Happy Time Craftcast! After a little pause (retreat season has been in full bloom here at Big Raven Farm), I’m so excited to be back with an episode that truly speaks to the heart of what it means to live creatively and courageously.

In this week’s conversation, I had the absolute joy of welcoming the incredible Cindy Ingram — artist, author, creativity coach, and the brilliant mind behind Art Class Curator. If you’ve ever found yourself feeling creatively stuck or wondering if your art still matters (spoiler alert: it does), this episode is one you’ll want to bookmark, replay, and share.

About Cindy Ingram

Cindy is someone whose journey genuinely moved me. She’s not just passionate about art — she’s passionate about what art can do. She helps people reconnect with their creative voice through emotion, reflection, and self-discovery. Her recent book, Art is About Being Whole, is part memoir, part emotional roadmap, and all heart. 

What’s extraordinary about Cindy’s story is how honest she is about burnout — how success can sometimes lead us away from the very things that bring us joy. During the pandemic, her business soared, but her personal connection to creativity quietly faded. And yet, through a return to journaling, playful exploration, and making art just for herself, she found her way back.

Lessons I Took from Our Conversation

This chat was such a beautiful reminder that creativity isn’t a talent — it’s a practice. Cindy and I talked about how we often believe we need some magical idea to strike before we can begin. But as Cindy so wisely put it:

“Creativity comes with action — it doesn’t just strike like lightning.”

Yes. That.

Cindy reminded me that the joy is in the doing — the messy pages, the weird color choices, the projects that don’t have a clear finish line. Her journey from “creative burnout” to creative wholeness is a gentle invitation for all of us to step back into playfulness, even if we haven’t picked up a paintbrush (or a glue stick) in years.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

If you’re tuning in, here are just a few takeaways you can expect:

  • How to rediscover creativity after a season of burnout

  • Why perfection is the enemy of joy — and how to embrace messy art

  • The emotional power of pairing art with personal storytelling

  • How creativity can become a mirror for healing and growth

  • That spark you’re waiting for? It’s already inside you — you just have to start

A Heartfelt Thank You

Cindy, thank you for showing up with so much warmth, wisdom, and honesty. Your story is a gift, and your art is a reminder that we’re all artists — even when we forget. From Frida Kahlo to mosaic dinosaurs (yes, really), this episode was filled with gems that made me smile, reflect, and want to pick up my art journal again.

So go ahead — grab that half-finished journal, doodle on a napkin, or just let your imagination roam free for a bit today. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to begin. 

With love and glitter,
Joleen

 

PS: 🎥 Watch the full episode below:

Guest Bio

Cindy Ingram is the soulful powerhouse behind Art Class Curator, a creativity coach, and the author of Art is About Being Whole. Her passion? Helping others reconnect with their inner artist through self-expression and deep emotional connection to art. She's not just talking about brushstrokes—she's talking about wholeness.


Follow Cindy

 

Episode Chapters with Timestamps:

[00:00 – 03:11] – Welcome Back!  Life Updates & Retreat Season at Big Raven Farm
[03:12 – 05:09] – Meet Cindy Ingram
[05:10 – 08:44] – Burnout & the Creative Disconnect
[08:45 – 12:29] – Rediscovering Joy Through Art Journaling
[12:30 – 15:59] – Writing ‘Art is About Being Whole’
[16:00 – 20:59] – The Truth About Creativity
[21:00 – 26:39] – Releasing Perfection, Embracing Play
[26:40 – 29:59] – Art, Emotions & Frida Kahlo
[30:00 – 34:14] – Getting Messy On Purpose
[34:15 – 37:59] – Mosaic Dinosaurs & Giggle-Worthy Art
[38:00 – End] – Final Reflections: Creativity as Wholeness

Quotes from the Episode:

"Creativity comes with action — it doesn’t just strike like lightning." — Cindy Ingram
"The transformation happened during the writing, not when I held the book." — Cindy Ingram
"Art is not about skill — it's about connection." — Cindy Ingram
"The creative process is thrilling—it's about the doing, not the outcome." — Cindy Ingram


Resources and Links:


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