Meet Christina Spence

We recently connected with Christina Spence and have shared our conversation below.

Christina , we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I did not find my purpose in art at once. I felt a bit lost; I didn’t know my path. I always knew my route was art. Instead, it was a slow unfolding — a series of quiet realizations, small victories, and deeply human connections that led me to where I am now.
Art was always the place where I felt most like myself. It was the language I trusted long before I had the words to explain who I was. As a young child, creating consumed my time. Art was a place to get lost. It wasn’t until I began working with individuals with special needs that I understood the full reason my creativity mattered.
The shift happened the moment I saw art open a door for someone who had struggled to communicate in other ways. In college our instructor showed the class a documentary on Judith Scott, she was born in Columbus Ohio. Judith was institutionalized for most of her life due to her diagnoses with down syndrome. At age forty-three Judith was introduced to Creative Growth. For the next eighteen years of her life, Scott created sculptures. Using items that were typically discarded, yarn, twine, and strips of fabric. Shcott was now seen, she had a voice through art. My instructors in college had a close relationship and collaborations with adults with special needs. They continued to introduce us to a world that I had no knowledge of and no first hand experience with. Throughout my courses we continued to collaborate through all types of art, creative writing and visual arts. We attended art exhibitions through Passion Works (Athens). After finishing my courses, I thought hard, I remember thinking this is something I want to do!
I searched for jobs closer to my home that would fulfill this desire to collaborate and help bring a voice to everyone. Eventually I got my foot in the door at a place that offered an art program to adults with special needs. Within a couple of years, I was the Art Director for their program called Can-Do-Creations (Logan). Again, there are no limitations through art. I worked with the artist there for 7 years. Through my experience with Can-Do-Creations, we created art, put on fine art gallery shows throughout the community, participated in various festivals, and entered juried shows throughout the state of Ohio. Eventually it was time to move on. At this point in lived in Lancaster and was looking for a job closer to home. I found a job at New Story Schools of Lancaster. New Story Schools have various locations throughout Ohio. They are a school focusing on children with autism. I was able to bring a passion for art to the school. My first year with the location we put on an incredible art show and continue to do so. I was able to implement more art classes for the children. I’ve been able to paint murals at different locations throughout the state of Ohio. Now, our location has been moved to Circleville. We have been able to reach more children. It never ceases to amaze me how a brushstroke could become a voice, how color could become confidence, and how the studio could become a space where limitations faded, and self-expression grew bold…
Working with the special needs community taught me that art is not just about technique or aesthetics. It is about access. It is about dignity. It is about giving someone the chance to be seen and heard in ways the world sometimes overlooks and how to merge the community.
And in that, I found my purpose.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I grew up in the Hocking hills. My experience with art has allowed me to share art and the experiences of art throughout various counties (Hocking, Athens, Fairfield, Pickaway, and Montgomery) with the special needs community.
Giving a voice and creative expression to those around me. To share my joy and passion, in hopes that someone else might find what excites them and gives them purpose.
I primarily have focused on teaching art to those with special needs. It is important to me to give those a voice and an outlet. I, however, need that outlet too. I have little art projects I do. I will mostly do special orders for people with certain requests. I’ve done murals, painting on wearable clothes (jackets, shoes, bags, etc) sewing memory items for past loved one’s (quilts, bears, pillows)

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Having an open heart and compassion for others. Being brought up in a small area and in Appalachia Ohio. Sticking true to myself. I know being an artist isn’t a guarantee of abundance. It is a passion, and I have to stay true to myself.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Art isn’t a guarantee in abundance. It is with uncertainty in success. However, without art I would be a shell of a person. Art takes me into a world, a world that I belong in and find solace within. With that being said, I am also my own biggest own critique and my own biggest hurdle. I have to overcome myself every day. But, once I’m in that world of “creating”, I’m home, I belong, and I happy. So, I keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Christinaspencecreativedesigns
• Facebook: Christina Spence Creative Designs
• Other: [email protected]