How they used creativity to stay grounded, curious and connected | Fabiola Smorto, Jacqueline Inez, and Jasmine Veronique

What draws someone to art isn’t always a lightning bolt of inspiration. For many, it’s more like a quiet tug- a lifelong pull that begins in childhood and keeps returning, no matter how far life drifts from paint, pencil, or canvas. For artists Fabiola Smorto, Jacqueline Inez, and Jasmine Veronique, making art isn’t just about creativity—it’s about staying connected to who they are, how they feel, and what matters most.

Each has taken a different path: one started drawing as a child and never stopped, another came to painting after working in museums and design, and one rediscovered her love for nature through her daughter’s eyes. But they share that creativity is figuring things out— making sense of life, connecting with others, and staying honest with themselves.

Through moments of doubt, experimentation, quiet wins, and surprising turns, these artists show us what it means to live a creative life. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about staying open, showing up, and letting your work grow with you.

Art as a Lifeline: Fabiola Smorto’s Need to Create

For Fabiola Smorto, art isn’t something she decided to pursue. It was always there—an essential part of her life journey. Born in Rome and now based in London, Fabiola grew up filling her school desk with drawings and doodles. She went on to study architecture and design, but art remained her true constant.

“I didn’t grow up thinking I wanted to be an artist,” she says. “But I solely knew myself as someone who needed art to affirm her identity.”

Fabiola’s work often comes from a place of inner searching. Her creative process is fueled by curiosity and experimentation—ways of defining herself through visuals rather than words. Whether she’s working on a project for someone or just playing with materials, it’s always been about connection.

“I see art as a conversation,” she explains. “It helps me connect with people, hear their thoughts, and share parts of myself I can’t quite say out loud.”

Even her challenges—like creative blocks or deciding when a piece is done—become part of the process. They remind her that art isn’t about control, but about discovery.

I am searching for absolute harmony, for everything to come together until each different piece mutually excludes the other.

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

Jacqueline Inez’s Journey from History to Animals

Raised in Ontario and now living in Jasper, Alberta, Jacqueline Inez didn’t begin her creative path as a painter. She studied history, worked in museums, and spent years exploring graphic design and illustration before finding her rhythm with paint.

Today, she’s known for bold animal portraits that fuse realism with geometry. Her work is full of tension and energy: a careful balance between structure and spontaneity.

“I love puzzles, stained glass, mandalas,” she says. “I take those patterns and use them to shape the animals I paint. The eyes might be realistic, but their bodies become something else—fragmented, colorful, expressive.”

Jacqueline’s approach isn’t just about visuals—it’s about feeling her way through the work. She mixes vivid colours that don’t match reality but still feel right. Through this blend of precise shapes and playful colour, she finds joy in expression.

“The most rewarding part of this journey is living authentically,” she says. “Every piece I make brings me a little closer to that.”

This fusion of structure and creativity remains a driving force in my work, continually inspiring my exploration of form, color, and emotional depth.

To learn more about Jacqueline Inez, visit the links below.

How Jasmine Veronique Finds Grace in the Wild

On the Sunshine Coast of Australia, Jasmine Veronique paints florals and figures that feel untamed and tender. Her process is slow and layered, often beginning with underpaintings that create texture and mood before she adds her final marks. But her path to becoming a painter wasn’t straightforward.

“As a child, I spent hours drawing big cats and wandering outside,” Jasmine remembers. “But I didn’t always think of myself as an artist. That came later, after taking classes as an adult and falling in love with painting again.”

After the birth of her daughter, Jasmine’s sense of connection to nature grew stronger, and it began to guide her work in new ways. She started exploring themes like impermanence, freedom, and beauty—not in a polished way, but in a raw, human one.

“I love to explore the coexistence of wildness and grace,” she says. “Painting lets me express things that words can’t. It’s how I stay grounded in what matters.”

Her work has since gained attention across Australia, and she now teaches and mentors others through Art School Co., encouraging new artists to embrace their individuality and trust their instincts.

Painting is a conversation between instinct and intention, a process that mirrors the unpredictable and fleeting nature of life itself.

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

After hearing from Fabiola, Jacqueline, and Jasmine, one thing becomes clear: art isn’t always about big statements or perfect plans. Sometimes, it’s simply about staying curious, following a feeling, and letting your work become part of your life.

These artists have shared the highs and lows of creating—how they work through doubt, where they find inspiration, and what keeps them returning to the canvas or screen. They’ve shown us that art can be a steady thread through change, a way to stay connected to yourself, and reach others without needing words.

Their journeys are full of learning—not just about techniques or styles but about tuning into what matters, sometimes letting go of control, and allowing the process to shape the outcome. Whether it starts in childhood or later in life, making space for creativity can open unexpected doors.

So, whether you paint every day or are just thinking about picking up a pencil again, let this be your reminder: you don’t need to have it all figured out to start. You need to be willing to begin.

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