What it Means to Live and Create Authentically | Cecilia Lopez, Julia Hacker, and Anne Shackelford

In this feature, we dive into the inspiring worlds of three talented artists: Cecilia Lopez, Julia Hacker, and Anne Shackelford. Each of these women brings a unique voice to the canvas (and beyond), yet they share something powerful in common: a fearless commitment to create authentically.

These artists shared their journeys through their candid interviews, filled with personal evolution, cultural pride, motherhood, and healing. We learned how Cecilia celebrates her vibrant Mexican roots through joyful, soulful designs that feel nostalgic and fresh. Julia invites us into her world of abstract florals, blending intuition, femininity, and resilience in bold strokes. And Anne reminds us that art is energy—infused with intention, nature, and healing, crafted to uplift the spirit.

Their paths are as diverse as their mediums, yet each story is a testament to the power of art to reflect who we are, where we come from, and who we’re becoming. This is more than an interview series—it is a celebration of how women transform emotion, memory, and imagination into something profoundly beautiful. Let’s step into their studios and see what moves them.

Cecilia Lopez: A Love Song to Heritage and Nature

For Cecilia Lopez, also known as Ceciloel, art is not just expression—it’s remembrance. Born in Mexico and based in Poland, Cecilia infuses her work with the heart of her homeland: bold colors, soulful patterns, and nature’s quiet rhythms. Her style is a blend of realism and stylization, where still life becomes sacred, and every brushstroke hums with intention.

“I like to think my work evolved into a love song to my roots,” she shares. “Inspired by mesmerizing patterns and breathtaking hues, it reflects the emotional richness of where I come from.”

Cecilia’s palette dances between traditional motifs like Talavera Poblana and the spirit of Dia de los Muertos, blending acrylics, watercolors, ink, and digital media. But beyond the surface lies a personal journey—of balancing motherhood and creativity, of honoring tradition while carving a modern path.

“I want to capture the essence of still life by infusing it with soulful rhythms,” she says. “My goal is to create art that speaks directly to the heart.”

Her work is a celebration of Mexican heritage—one that feels both timeless and alive, deeply nostalgic yet fresh and playful. Whether you’re looking at her floral still lifes or cultural portraits, there’s a shared heartbeat in each piece: joy, reverence, and the urge to remember where we came from.

From moments of happiness and success to periods of sorrow and contemplation, every experience has shaped my work.

To learn more about Cecilia, click on the links below.

Julia Hacker: Painting the Seasons of a Woman’s Soul

Toronto-based artist Julia Hacker believes in painting as if no one is watching. Her large-scale, abstract floral works are bold, expressive, and deeply rooted in emotional storytelling.

Originally from Minsk, Belarus, Julia trained in fashion design before transitioning fully into art. With a Master’s degree and decades of design experience, her work now thrives at the intersection of intuition, femininity, and nature.

“I find inspiration in the seasonality of a woman’s life,” Julia says. “The changes, the cycles—we go through so much, and I use my art to express those layers.”

Her vibrant canvases—featuring sweeping floral forms, rich textures, and emotionally charged color—reflect personal evolution. Every painting is a conversation: about growth, about accepting change, about the unity between humans and the natural world.

“My art is a dialogue on unity, respect, and the profound connections between society and the environment,” she explains.

Julia’s story is also one of resilience. After immigrating to Canada following the Chernobyl disaster, she built a career from the ground up. Today, she’s a full-time artist, exhibiting internationally and collaborating on commissions and installations. But her deepest fulfillment? Connecting with women through her work and inviting them to see their own journeys reflected on canvas.

There’s a unique aspect to how I relate to my artwork. I’m a bit unusual in that I don’t feel possessive over my pieces. While I’m in the process of creating, I have a deep and intimate connection with my work—it’s a full-blown relationship.

To learn more about Julia, visit the links below.

Anne Shackelford: Creating Pieces of Peace

Anne Shackelford is a multimedia designer, healer, and creative force whose work is as much spiritual practice as visual art. Based in the U.S., Anne channels nature, intuition, and intention into everything she creates—from resin art and pyrography to sacred geometric designs.

“I’m relentlessly inspired by life and living,” Anne says. “I’ve explored so many mediums because I follow the pull of curiosity and joy.”

Anne’s creative process is rooted in healing. Her artwork often involves smudging, prayer, sound, crystals, and essential oils—each piece becoming not just an object, but a portal of energy. She believes that clarity is desirable, but fluidity is essential.

“The artwork I create is a result of my inner work,” she says. “I want it to mesmerize and uplift me—and in turn, bring joy and healing to whoever views it.”

Anne’s studio is a sanctuary where art and spirituality merge. It’s also a space where joy triumphs over perfection. For her, success isn’t measured in accolades, but in how deeply a piece resonates with the soul.

Her art is often described as “visual medicine”—and rightly so. Whether it’s a piece made from wood, resin, or layered symbolism, Anne’s work invites the viewer into a meditative, restorative space.

I believe that collectively we all desire to harmonize to a higher vibration and to connect with the wisdom inherent in nature.

To learn more about Anne, click on the links below.

What unites Cecilia, Julia, and Anne, despite their different media and geographies, is their commitment to art as a mirror of the soul. Each of these women uses their creativity to channel something larger than themselves: cultural memory, emotional truth, healing energy.

Spending time with them has reminded us of something significant: art is so much more than what we see—it’s what we feel. These artists have generously opened up about their creative journeys, sharing the beauty of their finished works and the deep, emotional processes behind them.

We’ve learned how art can be a celebration of heritage, a path to healing, and a bold expression of personal truth. Whether Cecilia’s joyful nods to Mexican culture, Julia’s vibrant abstractions rooted in resilience, or Anne’s earthy, intuitive paintings infused with intention, each story reminds us that creativity is deeply human.

Their journeys aren’t just about making art—they’re about making meaning. They are about showing up authentically, leaning into emotion, and allowing art to reflect and reshape life. As viewers, we’re invited to slow down, feel more, and maybe even pick up a brush ourselves. This isn’t just their story—it’s an open invitation to reconnect with our own creativity.

Explore their portfolios and stay inspired by the incredible women redefining art and its role in our lives—only at Women in Arts Network. Visit our website and follow us on Instagram.