Why I Left Fashion Print Design to Pursue Fine Art

From Fast Fashion to Fine Art: Slowing Down to Paint What Matters

For a long time, my creative world revolved around the fast-paced world of fashion print design. I worked with some lovely clients, designed hundreds of prints, and learned a lot... but over time, it started to feel like I was sprinting on a creative treadmill that I didn’t actually want to be on.

The pressure to keep up with fast-changing trends was exhausting. Every season brought new direction, new colour palettes, and new runway trends to match. And while trend-based design has its place, I started to feel creatively boxed in - constantly referencing what was “in” instead of asking myself what I actually wanted to make. I missed creating from intuition rather than instruction.

Eventually, I reached a point where I couldn’t ignore the disconnect anymore. Fast fashion just didn’t align with my values. The speed, the disposability, the pollution, and the demand to pump out new designs without pause - it felt out of sync with the kind of creative life I wanted to live.

So, I pivoted. I returned to something that had always been quietly calling me back.

And that was painting.

And honestly? It’s been the most freeing decision I’ve made.

Painting has brought me back to my own voice. It gives me permission to explore, experiment, and be messy. There are no rules or trends to follow; just me, my brushes, and the moment. I’ve found more creative freedom in this practice than I ever had designing for fast fashion, and it’s been such a relief to let go of the pressure to create for algorithms or seasonal buyers.

Beyond the freedom, there’s something else: emotional connection.

With fine art, I feel more present. More in it. I’m not just creating pretty pictures. I’m expressing emotions that sometimes don’t have words. Painting florals, in particular, has become a way for me to process things internally. It’s soft, it’s healing, and it mirrors the kind of feminine energy I’m learning to embrace in my own life. Art has become a form of therapy (alongside actual therapy, and there is no shame in that!).

Through both therapy and painting, I’m learning to slow down, let go of perfectionism, and be okay with the in-between spaces and imperfect brushstrokes. I’m building a creative practice that supports my mental health, not one that drains it. One that’s based on feeling, presence, and flow, not just hustle and deadlines.

This new chapter of my creative life isn’t about fame, followers, or financial goals. It’s about making work that feels like me, slowing down enough to hear my own ideas again, and trusting that slow growth is still growth.

And if you’re in a similar space... craving more intention, more freedom, more emotional connection in your creative life. I see you. There’s a gentler way to do this. I’m figuring it out as I go, and I’m glad to have you here with me.

Here’s to painting what matters.

Carolyn