Why Mistakes are Part of an Artist’s Creative Process
Meet Renee Pupetz, a nature-led artist who finds her themes in the small conversations between elements, especially trees and the sun. This interview, produced for the Women in Arts Network website, traces Renee’s path from the Halifax scene around NSCAD and early charcoal sketches, through years away from painting, to a return sparked by loss and a long bout with vestibular migraine. What began as a way to cope has become a daily practice.
Renee shares why people rarely appear in her work, how a quick flash of a composition or colour palette sends her straight to the page, and why enjoyment, not struggle, is her compass. She talks about working mainly in watercolour (with fluid acrylics and inks in the mix), the ease-and-challenge balance she looks for while creating, and the small self-coaching moves she uses when doubt shows up. We also get a candid look at life with two teenage creatives at home, painting full-time, and choosing not to map out the future too tightly, while hoping her practice encourages others.
What we learned: a career can start again without a grand plan; flow matters more to Renee than perfection; problem-solving is part of the fun; and process beats product every time. She leaves readers with clear advice: stay true to yourself, don’t rush, make the work for you, and treat “mistakes” as fresh openings. Dive in for the whole conversation.
I grew up in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which was definitely a hub for budding artists. The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design was a bustling, popular art college located in the heart of downtown, and I worked as a bartender in a popular bar that catered to the art scene. I, myself, dabbled in some artistic endeavours, but mainly alongside my boyfriend, who was an art student at the time; I assisted him on some of his projects in the darkroom, tagged alongside while he went out on the field, etc. My favourite thing to do was sketch with charcoal on large sheets of Newsprint. It was cheap, and I would get it from the local newspaper factory. I was also writing and composing music with a friend who had a music studio.
He collaborated with numerous popular bands in the local music scene at the time. I moved around quite a bit and ended up eventually in Vancouver, BC. I was married to an artist, and many of my friends were creators as well. I would pick up things from them, particularly on the philosophical or historical side of art. Still, I do remember feeling frustrated sometimes at not being taken as seriously during discussions because I really had nothing to contribute. I didn’t consider myself an artist at all. The first time I picked up a paintbrush was just before I had my two children (2008). I was pregnant with my first child, which makes me wonder if this new fertility inside had some influence. I remember it came pretty easily to me for a first timer, and I was absolutely obsessed with the feeling it gave me—pure freedom. I didn’t paint again for over a decade.
1. How did you get started in your art career?
A few years ago, I went through some heavy experiences. My father was dying, and I had developed a 24/7 Vestibular Migraine. I had no idea what it was at the time, and I was terrified, and everything kept getting worse. After my father died, I could no longer do the things I once enjoyed, like watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to a podcast. I also couldn’t be around people or shops; any movement was a trigger. I was bed-bound for months, trying new therapies, meds, needles in the head, etc.. Nothing helped, and I was getting really bored too! I decided, after about a year with some therapy /counselling work behind me, to try painting. I am so glad I did! I immediately felt all the wonderful feelings I had experienced a decade earlier flood back, but tenfold! I have been painting daily ever since.
Just stay true to you and try not to jump ahead. Enjoy the process. Don’t create for anyone else but yourself.
Renee Pupetz
2. When you’re creating something new, what makes you pause and say, This is working?
When I am painting/ creating, I have to be enjoying it. That is all. There is always a bit of a challenge, but it can’t be overwhelming. It must flow with some ease for me to know it is working. I usually feel very in tune and lost in the moment. I ENJOY problem-solving and let my inner guide lead the way. As I mentioned before, I must feel absolute freedom, no self-doubt. If I do start to feel those niggles of self-doubt, which is rare, I tell myself that it’s ok and to keep going, and things usually work out ok.
3. How do you balance your personal life with your art career?
I am fortunate to get to paint full-time. I do feel it is somewhat consuming for me and I have two teenagers to guide through life, school, changes etc..I know they want me to talk about something other than ‘art’, so I do try to make time for that. Both my children are also artists, so that helps! They are the ones who inspired me to get back into painting. They inspire me every day.
4. How do you envision the future of your art and its impact on the world?
Being an intuitive artist and thriving on the element of surprise, I try not to have a vision of the future. I got here without one, and I will continue my path forward in the same exciting fashion! I hope I do inspire others, though, including my two children. As long as my influence is a helpful, positive one, then I’m good with that.
When I am painting I have to be enjoying it. That is all. There is always a bit of challenge but it can’t be overwhelming.
Renee Pupetz
5. What mediums and techniques do you primarily work with?
I work mainly with watercolour and fluid acrylics. Watercolour is my main squeeze.
6. Do you have any parting words of wisdom for our readers or aspiring artists?
Just stay true to you and try not to jump ahead. Enjoy the process. Don’t create for anyone else but yourself. Mistakes are really just opportunities to trust in the process!
Renee Pupetz’s artwork draws us into the subtle interactions between nature’s elements, especially the way trees and the sun seem to play with one another. Through her journey, we learn that creativity does not always follow a straight path; it can pause, return, and take on new meaning when life’s circumstances change.
Her approach shows us the importance of process over product, the value of staying present in the act of creating, and the freedom that comes from letting ideas unfold naturally. What stands out is how art became both a lifeline and a daily practice, reminding us that curiosity and joy are often the best guides.
To learn more about Renee, visit the links below.
