Erin Fitzgerald shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Erin, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Currently, I am working as a Resident Artist, an opportunity that has deeply influenced my creative process. I explore nature: ascending mountains, passing through grasslands, and moving across terrain that is shaped by mud, sand, and stone. The scenery is breathtaking.
In the evenings, I channel these experiences directly into my work, painting live during production shows. My practice is shaped not only by the natural world but also by the energy of the performers and the presence of the audience. This unique combination of exploration and performance continues to deepen my voice as a professional artist and expand the way I connect creativity with lived experience.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I believe creativity is something we access. It moves through us—shaped by our experience, surroundings, and personal histories. Defining that process in black and white is limiting because it is messy, expansive, and deeply human.
I’ve begun developing workshops centered on creative recovery, guiding others to reconnect with the creative voice that may have been forgotten or silenced. Through these classes, I invite participants to rediscover the job of making: of using their hands and minds to bring something new into the world. I believe the act of creating is not just a form of expression, but a fundamental human right—one that belongs to everyone.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Early in life, I struggled to truly fit into any one group—yet, somehow, I was always part of every group, I often stood at a distance: too different to belong fully, but too compelling to ignore. Even at a young age, my peers came to me with questions, seeking advice. And I offered it without hesitation.
I didn’t mind being on the edge of adolescent communities, I found peace in my art, my drawings, and the world I built through imagination. When someone stepped into that world with me, I welcomed them. I understood that sometimes, it’s hard to be in your own mind—we all need a break.
Looking back, I see that the world has gotten it right from the jump. Through everything, one truth has remained constant: I am an artist—and perhaps, a steady hand for others seeking peace.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I mentioned earlier that everyone is creative—but not everyone is an artist. To be an artist is to live with a certain kind of delusion: the relentless need to create. Doubt doesn’t stop you, it sharpens you. Being an artist isn’t a choice, it’s a state of being. It is something you cannot turn off, it consumes your thoughts and drives your days.
From the moment I discovered the act of creation, I knew who I was—even if the world hadn’t caught up yet. I’ve struggled throughout my career to find where this truth fits in a society that doesn’t always make space for it. No matter the job or role I find myself in, one thing remains unchanged: I am, and will always be, an artist.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
When I say that doubt shouldn’t dictate your creative life, that it should instead fuel you instead of stopping you—it can make people uncomfortable. Not everyone understands what it’s like to have an uncontrollable, innate drive to create. And when I tell aspiring creatives that they do have time to make art, to chase their dreams, many push back:
“I don’t have time”
“I don’t have enough money”
“It’s not possible right now”
But the truth is—it is possible. Most of us, myself included, don’t realize how much time we truly have, or how much of it we surrender to habits we don’t question. Time is only as rigid as we make it. If you have ten minutes to smoke a cigarette on your lunch breaks, or scroll endlessly before bed, you have time to create. You have time to run towards the bus, your dream, and to believe you might just catch it.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What will you regret not doing?
Regret shows up in many forms, every choice I’ve made has led to a lesson learned, but if there’s one thing I would regret not doing is not building a community: an audience, a family, a shared space for creative connections.
Without community, the art world risks fading away—buried beneath wealth, exclusivity, and the hands of collectors who may never understand the true intimacy of art-making. Artists are not isolated. Despite the myth of the lone artist, we are not solitary beings. We are part of a team sport, passing an artistic baton through one generation to the other, sharing not just our work, but our commitment to the transformative power of creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Fitzfineart.com
- Instagram: @luckyerin
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artist-erin-fitzgerald
- Other: https://artfulinsights.beehiiv.com/
Image Credits
All images were shot personally.
