We recently connected with Lori Angdahl and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lori, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?
Overcoming creative blocks frequents itself a few times a year for me and has always been a journey of embracing patience and curiosity. When I find myself stuck, I take it as a signal to step back and reconnect with the reasons I started creating in the first place. Often, it means immersing myself in my favorite childhood arts and crafts or diving into something completely new, like exploring different art mediums or even something as simple as watching my children discover art with wonder in their eyes.
I’ve learned that creativity isn’t something you force—it’s something you nurture. When I can’t paint or draw, I journal or take photographs of everyday things that inspire me. I also lean into community, collaborating with other artists, engaging in creative conversations to ignite new ideas, and listening to podcasts. I’ve noticed it’s also just a great time to focus on me. My health, my diet, my routine, and my mental health. After a bit, I start to feel refreshed and the creativity comes back, I just needed some internal healing.
Ultimately, I’ve seen creative blocks not as barriers but as opportunities to explore a new direction, slow down, and rediscover the joy and purpose of why I create.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m Lori, the artist behind Happy Little Painter Co., an eclectic art business specializing in murals and window painting. My art journey began as a way to cope with loss and find healing. After my grandfather passed away, I started teaching paint parties, wanting to share the therapeutic nature of art with others. It was a time of rediscovery, rooted in memories of watching Bob Ross videos and admiring my grandfather’s artistic talent, which he passed down to me.
Life took a sudden turn when I got married, became pregnant, and lost my dad—all within three weeks. A few months later, COVID hit, and I needed to adapt again. I began painting windows to brighten businesses and the community while keeping my art alive. I explored new avenues, from markets and take-home paint kits to online memberships and mural projects. Eventually, I closed my paint parties and market journey to focus on windows and murals, which became the core of Happy Little Painter Co.
Today, I balance my art with being a part-time dental hygienist (by choice) and a mom of two. After having my second baby, I slowed down and honed in on murals and windows. I currently have over 40 windows lined up for November and am wrapping up a large-scale mural for a well-known company. Moving forward, I plan to focus on fewer but higher-value projects to spend more time with my family while still pursuing what I love.
In addition, I’m working on the third book in my hometown children’s series, “Hometown Holidays.” I hope to keep exploring illustration and continue my education in art. For me, painting is more than a career—it’s a way to quiet the chaos and create something meaningful for others to feel at peace or comfortable or even find that one smile or positive thought that gets them through another day.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Looking back, the three qualities that shaped my journey were resilience, adaptability, and empathy. Resilience kept me moving through tough times, like losing loved ones and navigating the pandemic. I learned to face challenges head-on and keep going, even when things felt uncertain.
Adaptability helped me embrace change and explore new paths, like shifting from paint parties to window painting and murals.
Finally, empathy. Whether in my art, as a dental hygienist, or just as a mom, connecting with people and understanding their needs has been key.
My advice? Be open to trying new things—sometimes, the best opportunities come from unexpected turns. Build empathy, listen more, pay attention to others, and think about how you can brighten their day. Your journey might not go as planned, but if you stay open and compassionate, you’ll find your way and make an impact.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
For me, variety is key. I get bored quickly and need new challenges to stay engaged. Early in my career as a dental assistant, I had a boss who constantly told me to focus on just one thing. He’d use the phrase, ‘Jack of all trades, master of none,’ but neither knew the full quote. We clashed often because I wanted to explore and learn as much as possible.
Years later, I discovered the whole saying: ‘Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one.’ It’s attributed to Shakespeare and meant to highlight the value of having a broad range of knowledge. In my journey as an artist and business owner, I’ve found that knowing a little about a lot helps me adapt, connect with people, and solve problems creatively. It also helps me answer the “why” questions from two curious boys.
In today’s world, especially with the gig economy, versatility is a considerable strength. It allows you to wear different hats, take on new opportunities, and see the bigger picture. So, my advice is to embrace variety. It keeps life interesting and can open doors you didn’t even know existed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happylittlepainter.co
- Instagram: happylittlepainter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happylittlepainterco
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