Susan Hensley: Space to Play

The world’s loud. Life moves fast. And for Susan Hensley, the quiet pages of an art journal became something unexpected: a place to breathe.

Her career didn’t start out that way. She began in the rush of TV news, thriving on deadlines and live broadcasts. But when motherhood reshaped her priorities, she stepped into human resources, helping others navigate their own work lives. It made sense—but still, something felt off.

Then, on a random Saturday, she tried art journaling. Just paint. Just paper. No rules. And something clicked. It wasn’t about making "good" art—it was about play. About curiosity. About the kind of unselfconscious creating we forget how to do as adults.

Walking Away from "Supposed To"

That shift deepened when she walked the Camino de Santiago. For weeks, life distilled down to footsteps. No titles, no roles—just moving, resting, noticing. She realized how much of her identity was wrapped up in doing, achieving, proving. The camino didn’t give her answers. It just let her be.

Back home, she carried that into her art. Scribbling with crayons, smearing paint—not to make something pretty, but to listen. To let her hands speak before her brain could censor it.

Why Art Journaling? Because It Doesn’t Matter.

That’s the secret, really. Art journaling works because it doesn’t matter. There’s no "right" way. No critique. Just colors and shapes and the quiet hum of your own mind settling.

Susan began teaching this—not as an art class, but as a way back to curiosity. A way to soften the voice that says, "You’re doing it wrong."

Now? She’s Still Playing.

These days, Susan’s work is about holding space for that simplicity. Whether it’s through coaching, workshops, or her own daily pages, she’s less interested in "big transformations" than in small, honest moments. The kind where you pick up a marker and let yourself be surprised.

Because joy doesn’t always come from doing more. Sometimes it’s in the things that feel like nothing at all.

You can find her (and maybe grab some crayons) at www.susan-hensley.com.