How to Overcome Creative Blocks |Mari Keeler Cornwell, Ivy Case, and Sara Drescher

What happens when three women from different walks of life pick up a brush and paint their truths onto canvas? You get a powerful glimpse into the heart of womanhood—resilient, complex, magical, and deeply human. In this special feature, artists Mari Keeler Cornwell, Ivy Case, and Sara Drescher open up about their creative journeys, what fuels their passion, how they overcame creative blocks and how their art becomes a voice for the stories that must be told.

Each of these women brings something unique to the table—Mari honours real-life heroines and the strength of her roots, Ivy invites us into a dreamlike world where childhood wonder still lives, and Sara blends realism and symbolism to challenge societal norms and reclaim women’s narratives. Through their interviews, they’ve shared not just their techniques or inspirations, but their struggles, the moments of breakthrough, and the deep intention behind every piece they create.

What we’ve learned is that their art isn’t just about what’s seen—it’s about what’s felt. Their journey is about rediscovery, courage, curiosity, and a commitment to amplifying women’s voices. And most of all, it’s about connection—connecting with themselves, with the women who came before them, and with all of us who stop and take a moment to really look.

Mari Keeler Cornwell: Honouring the Strength of Women, One Portrait at a Time

Mari Keeler Cornwell’s work is an ode to the power of feminine resilience. Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in a household led by strong women—including her grandmother, the first female aviator in Venezuela—Mari’s early experiences were colored by both the vibrant culture of her homeland and the unwavering presence of formidable women.

“I grew up with women who just didn’t ask for permission to take up space,” Mari tells us. “They were bold, loving, and relentless. That energy shaped everything I do as an artist today.”

Now living in Princeton, NJ, Mari balances her dual roles as an artist and English teacher for migrant students. Her home studio is a haven where she can lose herself in colour and composition while her children play in the next room.

One piece that holds special meaning for Mari is MONIZA, a portrait of Moniza Kakar, a human rights lawyer in Karachi, Pakistan. “When I heard her story on the radio, I immediately knew I wanted to paint her,” Mari recalls. “She defied cultural expectations to help Afghan women and children. Connecting with her was humbling. That’s what my art is about—creating curiosity and sharing the untold stories of women.”

Through every brushstroke, Mari works to amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. Her portraits are not just beautiful but bold statements of identity and empowerment.

I want anyone who identifies as a woman to feel seen.

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

Ivy Case: Inviting Us Into the ‘In-Between’

Ivy Case’s art lives in a world that feels familiar and otherworldly. A painter and lifelong dancer now based in Reno, Nevada, Ivy crafts vibrant, surrealist pieces that blur the lines between reality and imagination. Her creative ethos is all about one thing: curiosity.

“My work is about reconnecting with the wonder we all had as children,” Ivy explains. “That space of imagination, where fairies exist and anything is possible—I call it ‘the in-between.’ That’s where my art comes from.”

A Wyoming native, Ivy has spent the better part of two decades painting, though she says she only began to fully own her identity as an artist in the last five years. Her passion for movement and expression seeps into her work, which is full of bold colours, dreamlike figures, and symbolic stories.

“I create from intuition. I don’t overthink. I let go of perfectionism and play,” she says. “When people look at my art, I want them to feel a door opening—to be reminded of a time when the world was magical and everything was possible.”

Through dance and painting, Ivy invites us into a world where our inner child still believes in magic—and where that belief can fuel creativity in our adult lives.

I LIVED in the in-between my entire childhood, like many kids do. The in-between allowed for fairies, grand adventures to unknown lands, flight, time-travel, spirits, mind-reading, and… a place of Sanctuary.

To learn more about IVY, visit the links below.

Sara Drescher: Turning Oppression Into Artful Empowerment

Texas-based artist Sara Drescher doesn’t shy away from complex topics. With over 20 years of experience and a Master of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University, Sara has long used her art as a vehicle for storytelling and social commentary. Her latest work continues a consistent theme in her career—uplifting women’s stories and challenging the status quo.

“My art has always been about women and the oppression we still face,” Sara says. “Even when my style changes, the heart of my message stays the same.”

Sara’s past series, Reclaiming the Casserole, was a provocative look at how domestic kitchenware can serve as a metaphor for the double standards women still navigate today. Her symbolic use of everyday objects to explore deeper social themes made waves in exhibitions across Texas and beyond.

More recently, Sara has explored women’s roles in mythology and folklore, reclaiming archetypes like the wise woman and matriarch. “These women were powerful, spiritual leaders. Over time, their roles were diminished or erased. I want to bring them back into the light.”

Though she’s spent years teaching, exhibiting, and creating, Sara remains refreshingly honest about the challenges of the creative life. “I hit a wall recently. But instead of forcing it, I leaned into research and curiosity. That helped me find joy again.”

Her work reminds us that the process of making art—like the process of becoming—is often nonlinear, but always deeply personal.

I have always heard that ‘you should make art that is authentic to you.’ This experience has confirmed the importance of authenticity in my own art practice.

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

While Mari, Ivy, and Sara each have distinct styles, mediums, and messages, they share a powerful thread: using their creative voices to celebrate, examine, and elevate women’s experiences.

Mari does it through deeply personal and political portraiture. Ivy does it by inviting us back into our imaginations. Sara does it through symbolic realism and historical reclamation. Together, they are shaping a modern movement where art is both sanctuary and protest, memory and prophecy.

These women show us that art is not only a means of expression—it’s a form of activism, healing, and connection. They encourage us to listen more closely to women’s voices, honour our inner curiosity, and never underestimate the power of telling our stories through paint, dance, or whatever medium calls to us.

As the Women in Arts Network continues spotlighting influential creators like Mari, Ivy, and Sara, we’re reminded that art is not just what we see. It’s what we feel. And in the hands of these remarkable women, it becomes something even more: a force for change. Stay tuned to the Women in Arts Network for more stories amplifying diverse, powerful contemporary art voices. Visit our website and follow us on Instagram.