Our motivation. Our inspiration. Our muse.
About An Artist’s Laments
Hi! Welcome to An Artist’s Laments
An Artist’s Laments is my quiet corner of the internet—a reflective space where I untangle thoughts, memories, and creative threads as I navigate life after retirement. This blog is part journal, part sketchbook, part reckoning. It’s where I explore the joys and frustrations of being a lifelong creative rediscovering her voice through art, storytelling, and self-inquiry.
You’ll find musings on the creative process, personal reflections on identity and belonging, glimpses into grief and healing, and the occasional practical tip for artists who, like me, are finding their way in a new season of life. I write for the late bloomers, the reinventors, the in-betweeners—anyone who has ever paused to wonder, Now what?
This is not a blog about having all the answers. It’s about living the questions—with paint on your hands and a little defiance in your heart.
About Me
I’m Valerie Valentine, a retired teacher turned full-time artist, born into a life of movement and resilience. Art has been my lifelong companion—an anchor through shifting landscapes and identities. Though I spent decades teaching government and history, my creative spirit never left; it simply waited. Now, in this new chapter of life, I explore memory, emotion, and meaning through texture, color, and repurposed materials. An Artist’s Laments is where I reflect on the messy, magical process of making art and making sense of a life woven from both joy and ache. Here, I write with the same raw honesty I bring to the canvas—one brushstroke, one word, one truth at a time.
AI Disclaimer
As an artist, writer, and blogger, I use a variety of tools to support my creative process—including AI. From Grammarly to ChatGPT (my assistant “Sol”) to Canva Magic Write, these tools help me with tasks like editing, organizing ideas, generating captions, and brainstorming.
It’s important to note:
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All stories, reflections, and creative insights are my own. AI doesn’t create for me—it simply helps me refine, organize, or present my ideas more clearly.
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AI is a tool, not a replacement. Just like a paintbrush, palette knife, or sketchpad, AI assists me, but the heart of the work is entirely mine.
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Transparency matters. I’ll always be upfront about my use of AI because I believe artists and writers should feel empowered to embrace new tools with curiosity, not fear.
Think of AI in my process the same way you’d think of spellcheck, a thesaurus, or a digital canvas—it supports creativity, but it doesn’t replace the human touch behind it.
