Painting Your Soul Founder featured in CanvasRebel

Meet Karen Hanlon

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Karen Hanlon a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Karen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?

The Heart Behind Painting Your Soul Wellness

Painting Your Soul was not created as a product.It was born from love.

For years, I led Painting Your Soul workshops and witnessed people soften, open, and reconnect with parts of themselves they had long forgotten. I saw tears transform into clarity, silence become insight, and blank canvases turn into mirrors of the soul.

Then life asked something deeper of me.

A dear friend of mine was terminally ill. Even from her hospital bed, she cheered me on and encouraged me to continue sharing the workshops that meant so much to others. Eventually, she entered hospice care.

One day she said words that stopped me in my tracks:

“I would do anything to do a workshop with you. It is something that would really help me.”

In that moment, I felt both heartbreak and possibility. I could not bring her to a workshop, so I decided to bring the workshop to her.

With intention and love, I gathered paints, brushes, a journal, and carefully written guidance. I poured my presence into every instruction, writing as if I were sitting beside her. I assembled it gently and prayerfully, unaware that I was creating the very first Painting Your Soul kit.

She received the package in hospice. With nurses nearby, she followed each step. As she painted, something began to release. She cried during the painting session, surrounded by her nurses, allowing years of pent up stress and unspoken emotion to gently surface and move through her. It was not sadness alone. It was relief. It was surrender. It was healing.

Later, she shared something I will carry with me forever:

“I have not felt this much peace in years.”

In the midst of uncertainty and transition, painting gave her calm. It gave her space. It gave her back to herself.

That moment transformed my work.

What began as a loving gesture for one woman became a calling to make healing through art accessible to anyone, anywhere. The workshop in a kit became the Painting Your Soul kit, allowing peace and reflection to reach those who may not otherwise have access due to illness, distance, or life circumstances.

It has now been three years since I created this kit, and it has helped hundreds of people experience calm, clarity, and self-connection. The kits are being shipped worldwide, reaching individuals in hospitals, wellness centers, resorts, and spas. What started in one hospice room is now touching lives across the globe.

While I have conducted hundreds of in-person workshops rooted in empowerment and reflection, the Painting Your Soul kit has expanded that mission far beyond physical walls. The goal remains the same: to continue sharing these workshops and to support those moving through life experiences in finding clarity, strength, and inner peace.

Painting Your Soul kit exist because one brave woman reminded me that even in life’s most fragile moments, beauty, reflection, and serenity are still possible. What began as an act of love for her has become a pathway of peace for hundreds, offering comfort, clarity, and connection when it is needed most. Today, these kits reach people in hospitals, wellness centers, resorts, and spas around the world, allowing anyone, anywhere, to experience the healing power of creative expression and the profound gift of self-reflection.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The Heart Behind Painting Your Soul Wellness

Painting Your Soul was not created as a product.It was born from love.

For years, I led Painting Your Soul workshops and witnessed people soften, open, and reconnect with parts of themselves they had long forgotten. I saw tears transform into clarity, silence become insight, and blank canvases turn into mirrors of the soul.

Then life asked something deeper of me.

A dear friend of mine was terminally ill. Even from her hospital bed, she cheered me on and encouraged me to continue sharing the workshops that meant so much to others. Eventually, she entered hospice care.

One day she said words that stopped me in my tracks:

“I would do anything to do a workshop with you. It is something that would really help me.”

In that moment, I felt both heartbreak and possibility. I could not bring her to a workshop, so I decided to bring the workshop to her.

With intention and love, I gathered paints, brushes, a journal, and carefully written guidance. I poured my presence into every instruction, writing as if I were sitting beside her. I assembled it gently and prayerfully, unaware that I was creating the very first Painting Your Soul kit.

She received the package in hospice. With nurses nearby, she followed each step. As she painted, something began to release. She cried during the painting session, surrounded by her nurses, allowing years of pent up stress and unspoken emotion to gently surface and move through her. It was not sadness alone. It was relief. It was surrender. It was healing.

Later, she shared something I will carry with me forever:

“I have not felt this much peace in years.”

In the midst of uncertainty and transition, painting gave her calm. It gave her space. It gave her back to herself.

That moment transformed my work.

What began as a loving gesture for one woman became a calling to make healing through art accessible to anyone, anywhere. The workshop in a kit became the Painting Your Soul kit, allowing peace and reflection to reach those who may not otherwise have access due to illness, distance, or life circumstances.

It has now been three years since I created this kit, and it has helped hundreds of people experience calm, clarity, and self-connection. The kits are being shipped worldwide, reaching individuals in hospitals, wellness centers, resorts, and spas. What started in one hospice room is now touching lives across the globe.

While I have conducted hundreds of in-person workshops rooted in empowerment and reflection, the Painting Your Soul kit has expanded that mission far beyond physical walls. The goal remains the same: to continue sharing these workshops and to support those moving through life experiences in finding clarity, strength, and inner peace.

Painting Your Soul Wellness and the Painting Your Soul kit exist because one brave woman reminded me that even in life’s most fragile moments, beauty, reflection, and serenity are still possible. What began as an act of love for her has become a pathway of peace for hundreds, offering comfort, clarity, and connection when it is needed most. Today, these kits reach people in hospitals, wellness centers, resorts, and spas around the world, allowing anyone, anywhere, to experience the healing power of creative expression and the profound gift of self-reflection.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

What has been most helpful in my field has been learning to manage my time and prioritize effectively. When I first started, I was eager to network and attend many meetings. While these meetings often generated great ideas, I quickly realized they also stretched me too thin. I had to learn to focus on what mattered most and prioritize my energy.

I also learned the importance of understanding people’s motivations. Early on, I was somewhat naive, assuming everyone was well-intentioned. Over time, I learned to read intentions more clearly, which made me a better negotiator and helped me create stronger boundaries around my time.

As a small business owner, resources are limited, and you have to protect them carefully. Learning to manage my time, energy, and focus has been essential to building a sustainable business while continuing to provide meaningful experiences for the people I serve.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Training has always been important to me. I am constantly learning and seeking out resources to improve both my craft and my business. Early on, my focus was on education and structuring my work to develop my skills and expertise. Today, I continue that growth by reading business literature, listening to podcasts, and exploring a variety of learning resources to stay inspired and informed. I also encourage lifelong learning, believing that growth and improvement are ongoing processes that allow us to serve others more effectively.

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