I believe you can paint. I really, honestly, truly believe that everybody is an artist. Everyone is creative. Everyone can create something beautiful. I love doing so much - writing, painting, photo-taking, even music-making (though not for a very long time), that I often find I am trying to push myself to do one more than the other and I feel like I am cheating on parts of myself. Now, I just have to go with what I feel drawn to. This time last year, I was really into jamming with my friends and I actually forgot I ever took pictures, or painted. Once, I can recall thinking about making a painting, and I actually felt sick to my stomach. I just couldn't even think of anything else but sitting in a room with buzzing amps and laughter and beats and beef and bangs. I've always loved painting, and I'm pretty sure its always been who I am, but it wasn't until I got myself a place to paint freely that I really found what I was looking for. I worked in a restaurant a couple years ago, and  I did nothing but think about working in a restaurant. I went from taking my journal and my camera with me everywhere to sitting static on the bus dreading my shift. I did nothing for 8 months, and I hated myself for it, but I couldn't do anything about it.  I guess my point is, your pining for artistic expression is half the battle! You are an artist, that is very obvious. And man, you have a baby! That is the most beautiful thing I can imagine in this life.  I don't think I could imagine doing anything other than watching my child breathe for the first year of its life. I think our lives are really quite different, at least day-to-day, but your pining for expression is right on beat. You'll get there, I promise, and I'm sure it will be/feel fantastic. 

To say that I inspired you to start breathing out again, is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. I have been completely overwhelmed lately. To have anyone stop by to say a nice word about my work is just unreal. To say I've inspired you is more fulfilling than anything I've ever felt before. Thank you so much. If you'd like, message me your address, I'd love to send you something in the meantime. :)