Hello my artist family!
Today I get to introduce you to a truly special soul in our community — Denielle Baldwin from Anchorage, Alaska. Denielle’s story is one of courage, healing, and rediscovering creativity when it mattered most, and I’m deeply honored to share it with you.
Denielle has always been drawn to art and creativity, but like so many of us, fear had a way of talking louder than curiosity. Growing up, she was told she was “smart” and should go into business. Trusting that advice, she followed that path instead. She even tried taking art classes as an adult, but struggled, felt defeated, and eventually stepped away from painting altogether.
That is, until she found me, Matt, and Let’s Dabble.
And I have to say — sometimes art waits patiently for us. It doesn’t disappear. It just waits for the right moment, when we finally give ourselves permission to begin again.
Denielle lives in Alaska, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, and that environment absolutely inspires her. But what truly pulls her to the canvas are her emotions, passions, and imagination. That inner landscape is just as powerful as the one outside her window, and painting gives it space to exist freely.
When I asked what she loves about DabblePaints, her answer made me smile from ear to ear:
“I reach for DabblePaints because they’re like a favorite pen, pair of jeans, morning coffee or good friend — tried and true and they give you confidence to create beauty in your world.”
Honestly, if paints could have a personality, that description would be exactly it. Comfortable, reliable, and quietly cheering you on while you create.
The painting Denielle chose to share holds deep meaning. Over the past six years, she has experienced profound loss — losing her dad and husband just three months apart, followed by her aunt, best friend, and oldest sister, all unexpectedly. As if that wasn’t enough, a house fire displaced her and her daughter for over two and a half years, moving between hotels and rentals while navigating grief, stress, insurance issues, and endless rebuilding
Through all of it, painting became her anchor.
She shared that painting kept her sane and helped her process grief and overwhelming emotions. Hearing that is a powerful reminder of why art matters so much. It doesn’t erase pain, but it gives us a place to hold it — and sometimes, that’s exactly what we need to keep moving forward.
When asked what advice she would give someone just starting to paint, Denielle shared this:
“Just try. Dive in and trust the process and Jen as your teacher. I bought the supplies then stared at them for three months because I was too afraid to try. Jen walks you through each step in every single painting. You’re not alone.”
And she’s absolutely right. No one creates in isolation here. This community exists to support, encourage, and lift each other through every brave first step and every messy middle.
Denielle, thank you for sharing your story, your resilience, and your art with us. Your journey is a beautiful reminder that creativity can bring light back into even the darkest seasons. You inspire more artists than you know.
Keep creating, keep shining, and keep bringing more beauty into the world.
XO,
Jen