Behind the Scenes of a Burnout-Turned-Artist

Behind the Scenes of a Burnout-Turned-Artist

One year ago I started my one-year sabbatical from the work world. I had no idea that this sabbatical would transform me from a burnout to an artist, but that’s what happened.

After working in three stressful jobs in less than four years, I burned out. I didn’t know when I left my last job that I was burned out, but I was.

What clued me in?

Sleeping 10 hours per day, eating three meals per day, lying in bed many hours of the day, taking a walk sometimes, rinse, repeat.

For many weeks, that was all I could do.

It was hard to make decisions. Even choosing what to eat was difficult, and when my husband Marcus would ask, “What do you want to eat for lunch (or dinner)?” Almost every time, I’d say, “You decide.”

The work in my last three jobs felt neverending, and two of them were also rife with politics, emotional labor, and microaggressions.

It left me exhausted, with incredible decision fatigue.

Despite all this, there was one decision that wasn’t hard to make during my sabbatical.

That was my decision to make art again.

You see, not many people know that from age six to 13, I drew almost every day. Then during my four years in high school, I made art several times a week. While in college from age 18 to 22, I also made art regularly. Because my parents wouldn’t pay for tuition if I majored in art, I took art classes as electives whenever I could.

That’s 17 years when my life included drawing, painting, or some other kind of art making.

Then, one day, everything changed.

I moved from Southern California to Seattle, Washington, entered graduate school at the age of 23, and put my artistic endeavors aside to dive into the world of environmental policy.

It took me 30 years to finally return to my first love.

30 years, people.

I know. It’s a long time.

Well, it wasn’t like I never drew or made anything in three decades. I did occasionally doodle or draw. There was also a fun couple of years when my friend Alisa and I got into rubber stamping, making cards, and scrapbooking. But during those three decades, I mainly studied; built skills in writing, coaching, advising, and teaching; developed relationships; and worked in many, many different jobs.

30 years later, at age 53, in March 2025, I finally had all the time in the world to pick up a pencil, pen, or brush and make art once again. My intuition was tugging me in that direction.

So, that’s exactly what I did.

Over the course of a year, I took seven watercolor painting classes, and other creative classes too.

I started out with three watercolor painting workshops hosted by Case for Making in San Francisco. Each online workshop was 90 minutes long, low risk, and I could attend from the comfort of my home. Taking these workshops was like dipping my toe in the water when I hadn’t swam for 30 years.

Then, Marcus and I took a road trip to San Francisco so I could take a 3-hour watercolor workshop in person at Case for Making. I was so nervous about this class, but after learning how to paint Moods of the Sky from the talented and encouraging Dave Muller, I felt motivated to take more classes in person.

Back in Seattle, I searched for watercolor painting classes and eventually found Watercoloring Garden Veggies and Fruit with Robin Bundi at North Seattle College Continuing Education. It wasn’t until July, so I had another few months to sleep, eat, lie in bed, go for walks, etc.

It was during this time was my friend Heather and I began meeting once a week for crafting sessions. We started in May, and ten months later, we’re still going strong! These weekly crafting dates were not only fun, they gave us a regular time to share our creations and cheer each other on as we explored different mediums and techniques. They’re now a highlight of my week.

As I experimented with watercolors, I started writing affirmations on my paintings using Posca pens. Here’s the first one I created using a sky and hill that I painted in Dave’s workshop where I added the word “BELIEVE” in gold Posca pen. This sparked something in me.

Despite still feeling tired most days, I continued making these “watercolor messages from the Universe” because I felt good each time I made one. Over the course of the year, I made 30 affirmation paintings.

I thought painting these affirmations was a way to make pretty and inspiring art, but I didn’t think my art would change me.

But it did.

About two months after my sabbatical started, the work-all-the-time-stressed-out-super-practical-and-frugal Peg of the past had morphed into a semi-relaxed-recovering-Type-A Peg that was taking things slower and was actually okay with it.

At the end of May, my intuition pulled me to take a Moss Art class by Little Orchid Annie, at a local plant shop called Fancy Plants. Glue different colored mosses artistically into a wooden frame? Yes, please. The little artist Peg in me was thrilled.

In July, my Watercoloring Garden Veggies and Fruit class with Robin Bundi started. Once again, I was nervous and so anxious in the first class that I was sweating profusely. But, my teacher Robin’s welcoming personality and patient teaching methods calmed me down during the next two and a half hours, and by the time I left, I knew this was the right class for me.

In that first class, I learned to paint blueberries. I was shocked that some of my paintings looked like blueberries. With relief I realized that I still had it.

In the next class, I painted an eggplant. Folks, I have never painted an eggplant in my life. But like the blueberries, I was surprised when my eggplant looked like an eggplant.

Over the next two weeks, I painted more vegetables including baby chard leaves and cranberry beans, then moved on to the final project for our class: designing a “vintage” fruit or vegetable crate label.

I decided to create a label for an imaginary apple farm owned by me and Marcus in the made-up town of Cloudhaven, Washington. I had the best time designing and painting my label.

Over the course of six weeks, one class per week, I learned to focus my energy, calm myself, and stay in the present moment by painting fruits and vegetables.

I realized that my artistic skills from my childhood and early adulthood were STILL. IN. ME. My skills hadn’t faded, they had just been put on hold.

It was a revelation.

Slowly but surely, I was getting my energy back.

I was recovering from burnout, one painting at a time.

Around the same time as this class, my energy healer, Heidi Palmer, had finished her training in somatic coaching and needed clients to work with to practice some new techniques. Making things with my hands had helped me a lot already, so connecting more with my body seemed like a good idea. So, I ventured forth to be one of her first somatic coaching clients. I’m so glad I did as these sessions helped me to listen to my body and intuition even more. I felt like I came home to myself.

By autumn, I was half way through my sabbatical. In October, I started Watercoloring Butterflies and Moths, again with Robin Bundi. In this class, I discovered that I loved painting flying insects. It also helped me appreciate every butterfly and moth I’d see in real life.

Here is my favorite painting from class of a Light Emerald Moth transforming from a vibrant green color to a more white color as it ages. I thought, this moth is like me, as I noticed white hairs popping up here and there on my own head.

The holiday season came and instead of getting stressed out by all the activities, I did my best to metaphorically ride downstream each day like a river. Whatever happens, happens. Instead of trying and striving, I’m just going to let this river carry me. The new Peg continued to emerge.

In January, 2026 arrived and it felt good. Despite the oppressive and inhumane policies being carried out by the U.S. government, I didn’t let it rob me of my peace. I stayed informed through strategic curated news from Marcus (he reads three different newspapers!) and protected my energy.

The Year of the Fire Horse arrived in mid-February and I was excited for this dynamic year. A day after its arrival, I started my third class with the amazing Robin Bundi, Combining Watercolor and Ink.

I learned to combine ink with watercolor paints and absolutely loved it. It allowed me to merge my love for drawing with my newfound love for watercolors. Again, my intuition had led me to just the right class to take in the new year.

Here’s my drawing of three echinacea or cone flowers.

Here’s what it looks liked with several washes of watercolor over it. Painting this filled me with joy.

Every painting I made reminded me that I still had it. I was still an artist.

Returning to making art, to doing something that I used to love to do, helped me to return to myself.

This one-year sabbatical helped me gain back my energy, my motivation, and my desire to create.

I am grateful to myself for having the courage to wave goodbye to the work world for a year.

I am grateful to my intuition for guiding me to the classes that were right for me.

I am grateful to Heather for being my friend and creative comrade in arms.

I am grateful to Heidi for being my somatic healer and coach before, during, and after this pivotal year.

I am grateful to all my art teachers–but especially to Robin Bundi–for their supportive, encouraging, and skillful teaching.

Lastly, I am grateful to Marcus for supporting me in so many ways throughout this momentous journey.

I went from burnout to artist in 12 months.

I had no idea that this would be one of the best years of my life.

I am grateful for all of it.

Peg Cheng (she/her) is an author, artist, and educator living in Seattle, Washington. If you enjoyed reading this post, subscribe to Peg’s newsletter to get new posts sent right to you.