Muses: Artist Lauren Crawford on Creative Devotion, Color as Language, and a Life-Altering Health Diagnosis
“A big part of my work is rooted in transformation. After facing a life-altering health diagnosis, I’ve come to see creativity as more than just expression… it’s devotion. It’s a way of choosing life, again and again.”
Welcome to Muses, our new interview series showcasing the heart, work & creative practices of women artists who inspire us.
Lauren Crawford is a painter, muralist, and designer (among other things - she’s prolific) based in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The first time we came across Lauren’s art, one thing in particular stood out: how vibrant and full of life it was. From her bold color choices, to the infectious joy that is somehow woven into each brush stroke, her art sparkles with a certain aliveness that can only come from deep within. It’s clear that her art is a reflection of the vibrancy of her spirit and her passion for creativity.
We sat down with her to hear more about her journey as an artist, her creative rituals, what inspires her, her favorite things to sip on while painting, and the songs she’s had on repeat lately.
In your own words, how would you describe yourself?
Hey there, I’m Lauren (cancer sun, capricorn moon, cancer rising).
I’d describe myself as a lover of vibrancy, a joy-maker, and a multidimensional artist and human. I adore all things color, not just in the visual sense, but in the emotional and energetic sense too. Color, to me, is a language! It’s a way to express feeling, to shift energy, and to invite people back into themselves.
A big part of my work is rooted in transformation. After facing a life-altering health diagnosis, I’ve come to see creativity as more than just expression… it’s devotion. It’s a way of choosing life, again and again.
My journey as an artist has been one of expansion, learning to trust my range, my intuition, and my desire to create without limits.
A big part of my work is rooted in transformation. After facing a life-altering health diagnosis, I’ve come to see creativity as more than just expression… it’s devotion. It’s a way of choosing life, again and again. That experience deepened my relationship with presence, with gratitude, and with the simple magic of being here.
My mission is to spread as much happiness, unity, and joy as possible through my artistry. I want my work to feel like a breath of fresh air, like a moment of lightness, like permission to feel good. If someone encounters my art in a public space or holds it in their hands, I want it to remind them that beauty is available to them, that joy is accessible, and that they’re allowed to take up space in full color.
At the core of it all, I’m here to create, to connect, and to leave the world a little more vibrant than I found it.
Color, to me, is a language! It’s a way to express feeling, to shift energy, and to invite people back into themselves.
Tell us about your journey as an artist, and what that path has been like:
I’ve been an artist since coming out of my mommy’s womb. I come from a family of artists, and from a young age, I was encouraged to express myself through different forms of art. It took me some time to fully embrace my range and identity as a multidimensional artist, so early in my artistic and entrepreneurial journey, I limited myself to just one medium.
Now, I find so much joy in working across multiple mediums and following my passion to spread joy, vibrancy, and color around the world. I do that through large-scale murals, commissioned canvases, painting just for fun, and my monthly art club (CLUB REN) among other things.
How do you get yourself into a creative state? Do you have any rituals that nourish your creative life?
Honestly, it doesn’t take much to get me into a creative flow, lol! I used to fight the urge to create because I was waiting for the perfect time, the perfect setting, or the perfect mood. But I’ve realized there’s beauty in transmuting my creative energy no matter what mood, place, or time I’m in.
A great playlist definitely helps, and a yummy drink alongside it to romanticize the experience.
What’s inspiring you lately?
The thought of more life has been inspiring me. Months ago, I looked death in the eyes when I was diagnosed with stage four cancer, and here I am, an entirely different woman with the opportunity for a 2.0 in this beautiful life of mine.
I’m grateful for every breath, every hour, every moment. Something shifted in me when I faced my own mortality. It showed me the path to living fully, to choosing peace, choosing joy, doing the things I truly want to do, saying no, saying yes, and opening my heart and mind more.
Every moment is inspiring to me, whether it’s “hard” or good.
What do you typically sip on while getting creative?
Oooou, OMG I’ve been loving my herbal coffee lattes. I used to be a coffee drinker in my teens, but once I hit my 20s, I realized it didn’t sit well with me, lol.
So now, I love a good blend of dandelion root, roasted chicory root, Ceylon cinnamon, mushroom blend cacao, and burdock root, with a sprinkle of Redmond’s sea salt, a touch of agave, and hot water. It’s so creamy! I also enjoy it as a gentle liver-supporting ritual, thanks to the dandelion root.
I love a good matcha here and there too (a strawberry one, in particular heehee). And of course, I let my heart guide me into whatever herbal infusion I’m feeling that day. It usually ends up being a yummy nettle infusion, red raspberry leaf, peppermint tea, or simply lemon water with chlorophyll drops.
What song(s) do you currently have on repeat?
If you had a personal motto, what would it be?
I have the words “inhale abundance, exhale limitation” tattooed on my back. And honestly, I forget it’s even there sometimes, lol! I have so many hidden tattoos. But I’m always reminded of how powerful that quote is.
The universe isn’t on a budget, so why should we be? Abundance is infinite. Abundance is beauty. It reminds me that I’m capable of abundance, that it’s my birthright, and that limitation is often just fear. I believe limitation blocks our ability to see abundance, it dims our capacity to recognize beauty in our lives!!
More from Lauren:
Explore Lauren’s art at soitsren.com
Keep up with her on instagram @soitsren
Get a taste of her art through her monthly snail mail club CLUB REN 💌
“A woman’s creative ability is her most valuable asset, for it gives outwardly and it feeds her inwardly at every level: psychic, spiritual, mental, emotive, economic. The wild nature pours out endless possibilities, as a birth channel, invigorates, slakes thirst, satiates our hunger for the deep and wild life."
Clarissa Pinkola Estés
🌀
