Episode #020
Sendy Mom Denise Gasser @denisegasserart, painter, mother of special needs children
“It’s ok if it’s not finished. It’s still beautiful”
Denise Gasser
Episode Description:
Is there something that makes you, you? Did you know that you can be you and be a mother at the same time without the guilt? Learn with me about being a great mother and being creative in any outlet you love. Today I’m talking with Denise Gasser. She is an artist with every part of her and also a mother 100%. Find out how you can be a creative mother 100% of the time!
Meet my Guest:
Meet Denise—a talented painter, creative firestarter, artist mentor, and mom of four boys who somehow manages to turn chaos into beauty (on canvas and in life). With 18 years in the art world and a BFA to back it up, Denise has shown her work across North America and sold to collectors worldwide. But her real magic? Bridging the messy, magical space between motherhood and creativity.
She’s the founder of Art After—a series of small paintings that occur in one sitting and must be ‘finished’ once she is interrupted. This project has had a large global reach on social media and acted as a catalyst to facilitate a larger conversation about the challenges and rewards of making art after motherhood.
Her passion project for 2025 is all about making bigger art for smaller budgets! Basically, the opposite of shrinkflation.
Denise is passionate, refreshingly honest, and obsessed with helping other creatives find clarity, courage, and joy.
What you’ll Hear:
- Denise emphasizes the importance of community in art.
- Art can be a therapeutic outlet for emotions.
- Balancing motherhood and creativity requires flexibility.
- Self-doubt is a common experience for artists.
- It’s essential to prioritize self-care as a parent.
- Denise’s ‘Art After Motherhood’ project embraces interruptions.
- Creativity can thrive even in chaotic environments.
- Finding joy in small moments is crucial for well-being.
- Mentoring artists helps foster their creative journeys.
- Art can be accessible and affordable for everyone.
Chapters:
00:00 Introducing Denise Gasser
18:23 Artistry and Courage in Expression
20:19 ADHD Diagnosis as an Adult
24:00 Learning Resilience from Your Parents
26:22 Recognizing What You Don’t Know and Continuing Forward
31:28 Navigating Self-Doubt and Intuition
33:39 The Compulsion to Create
37:20 Balancing Art and Motherhood
39:47 Navigating Financial Stability as an Artist
45:20 The Importance of Community in Art
57:31 The Motherhood Series: Art After Motherhood
01:05:18 The Importance of Intentions Over Goals
01:09:11 Modeling Resilience for Children
01:10:38 Navigating Motherhood and Self-Care
01:15:53 Rapid Fire Questions
01:23:31 The Gesture Series: Art for Everyone
Mentioned in the Show:
DeniseGasserArt – Instagram
The Choice by Edith Eger
The Gift by Edith Eger
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt
Devil in the Family: The Fall of Ruby Franke on Hulu
The Dawn Wall through Kanopy and your Public Library card
Sendy Spotlight:
“I was not born to obey. I was born to create, to care, to carry on.”
Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1755–1842)
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