Artist Shelly Lang on Finding Creativity Through Nature and Feminine Energy

Shelly Lang is an emerging artist who shares her journey of creativity and becoming the artist she was always meant to be. In this interview, she talks about how, for years, she kept her creative side hidden, not believing she deserved to express it. But after going through life changes—like leaving her second unhappy marriage—she reconnected with her passion for art. Shelly explains her process of creating custom portraits, called Pure Essence Power Portraits, that capture a person’s energy and help them live from the heart. She also dives into how nature and feminine energy inspire her work. This interview gives us a glimpse into Shelly’s background, her creative process, and the deep meaning behind her art.

Artist Shelly Lang has been featured in the Arts to Hearts Project’s book The Creative Process and is recognized by Women in Arts Network as a portfolio partner. Women in Arts Network is a proud portfolio partner of the Arts to Hearts Project’s books and magazines.

Shelly Lang’s educational journey began at the University of New Mexico, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Art History and took her first studio classes. She later studied drawing and painting with Brian O’Connor at the Harwood Art Center. In 2023, Shelly received a tuition prize for a project submission to the European Cultural Academy, which marked a significant moment in her artistic career. Her work and creative process have also gained media attention, with a feature in Voyage LA in July 2023.

Shelly’s work is about honoring and unleashing this creative force within people beyond cultural ideas of separation. Her art frequently features women and nature—symbols of wild, uncontained feminine energy. In her bespoke portraits, known as Pure Essence Power Portraits, Shelly captures her subjects’ pure, innocent expression, helping them connect with their heart and innate genius. These portraits serve as a tool for empowerment, offering individuals a reflection of their authentic selves. Through an intuitive process, Shelly taps into the energetic field of her clients, allowing the portrait to come through her as a profoundly personal and spiritual piece of art.

Shelly’s Pure Essence Power Portraits have earned heartfelt testimonials from clients. One client shared how Shelly’s intuitive reading and artistry unveiled a deep understanding of their “authentic self” that felt cathartic. Another client, initially hesitant about having a self-portrait, now views their portrait as a reminder of strength and empowerment. The impact of Shelly’s work extends beyond artistic beauty; it provides emotional and spiritual healing. One client commissioned a portrait during their battle with cancer and described the painting as a daily reminder of their inner strength. Shelly has helped many connect with their true selves through her art, and her portraits are cherished as artworks and transformative experiences.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I live in Los Angeles, but I am from New Mexico. My home state had a big influence on me. It’s called the land of enchantment because of the quality of light, expansive landscape, and rich culture. Even so, I always wanted to move to big cities because, culturally, they were more aligned with my open mind and my interest in art as an expression of a broader culture. I also love fashion and believe it to be an expression of the culture.

My imagery is of women and sometimes nature, right now because women and nature are the most immediately recognizable material expression of the wild and uncontained creativity that is the feminine.

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2. What inspired you to become an artist?

I wasn’t inspired to become an artist. I just always was an artist. It’s more like my whole life has been a journey of getting out of the way to allow myself to be the artist that I am,

3. What is your creative process like from start to finish?

I am still relatively new, but my process so far has been to 1. Be inspired by an idea – either entirely from my imagination or sparked by something visual. 2. Use some imagery (either a photo I have taken or the initial inspiration that sparked the idea) as a reference to begin laying out a painting. 3. Trust my intuition as I create the painting, like a back and forth between the source material and being led to bring in other elements. I try to keep my focus on my intention – which is always going to be to inspire, uplift, or inform.

4. Where do you find inspiration for your artwork?

Nature is pretty much a given as an inspiration for my work and my super strong desire to empower the feminine, which, for me, is really about cracking open the heart to our connection to the divine within us, which is who we are. I believe our feminine, receiving part of us connects us to love, which is the same thing as pure creative essence – this goes for every man, woman & child. I also feel passionate about breaking down cultural structures of separation. In our true nature, separation is never proper, only unity.

I create bespoke portraits called Pure Essence Power Portraits that are an activation of a person’s pure and innocent expression to help put them live in their heart and genius abilities so they can create a life they love. I use my intuition to tap into their energetic field and then I allow the portrait to come through me.

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5. Can you tell us about a particular piece of art that holds special meaning for you?

They are all from my heart, but The Water Goddess uncovered myself and the always present ripeness of wonder, excitement, and freedom to reach for more experience, love, and adventure. She stands for youthful, feminine vitality, which is the creative force within us all, but we block it because of our fear.

Shelly Lang’s journey shows us how powerful self-expression can be, especially when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable through art. Her work is not just about her personal growth—it’s also about inspiring others to connect with their true selves. To learn more about Shelly, visit the links below.

You can explore Shelly’s journey and the stories of other artists by purchasing our Creative Process Book here: