Reflecting back on her life, Roxanne Steed realizes that she has always been a creative in one way or another. But when she thinks about low points in her life, she realizes that it was art that helped her get through and rise above the challenges.

As a Navy wife, Steed was used to moving around and building a new community wherever she went. When her twin daughters were young, she put her own career painting oils aside. Her creativity was channeled into activities such as homeschooling art projects and sewing matching outfits.

While living in Virginia Beach, her daughters were in high school and Steed was part of an artist co-op.

“We had a real strong community there,” she recalled. Then, a turning point came.

At the same time that her daughters went off to college, her husband was assigned to Groton. After the relocation, Steed’s art sales plummeted — nobody in the Northeast knew her work. These transitions hit her hard.

“Everything changed at once,” she said. “I realized that I was depressed. I knew I was at my lowest point ever. It was in painting that I found purpose again.”

Technology was changing at the same time. The website eBay was becoming popular, and a friend suggested to Steed that she join the Daily Painting movement and sell her work online.

“The daily practice gave me a focus, so I couldn’t think about the broken-heartedness of missing the past. I had to look forward to my future,” she said. “Painting gave me a reason to get up every day. It got me out of bed. I had a new focus and I had an intention.”

Soon, Steed was being paid to paint again. As an artist-entrepreneur, she keeps painting and expanding her work. In addition to oils, she returned to her love of watercolors and sketchbooks. She has also developed a variety of classes, including trips that combine her love of travel with painting.

For Steed, transitioning into the role of teacher was unexpected — and amazingly joyful. With a passion for creating paintings of nature and painting en plein air, she has found a true calling as she shares this passion with her adult students.

“Sharing painting with others is so much fun. Watching everyone grow, I think it heals their lives in some way,” she said. “Watching my students transform... I see how painting enriches their lives.

“Painting is what I do. It’s not who I am,” Steed said. Then after a pause, she added, “I’m one of God’s children — our creator made us in his image — and that is for us to create as well!”

It is clear that, through creating, Steed has found and sustains her well-being.

Emma Palzere-Rae is the associate director for Artreach, Inc. and founder of Be Well Productions. If you have a story about how creativity has helped you heal, please contact emma.artreachheals@gmail.com.

Who: Roxanne Steed

Town: Mystic

Creative outlet: Painting

Helpful Resource: www.RoxanneSteed.com/journal