Making Art in Nicaragua: An Artist’s Perspective from Playa Yankee
Making art in Nicaragua can feel like stepping into a completely different rhythm of creativity. For Lauren Buckland, a young artist from the United States, the move to Nicaragua was not part of a carefully structured life plan. Instead, it began with curiosity, family, and a willingness to explore what creative life might look like outside the fast pace of the United States.
Lauren arrived in Nicaragua only a few months ago, yet her experience already reveals something many travelers and expats discover here. The country has a way of slowing things down, shifting priorities, and reshaping how people approach both work and creativity.
Today she lives near Playa Yankee, just outside San Juan del Sur in Nicaragua’s Rivas region, where ocean views, wind, and open landscapes have become part of her daily creative environment.
In this interview feature for NicaSeeker, Lauren shares what it’s really like building a creative life in San Juan del Sur, how her artistic style evolved, and what surprises come with making the transition from a structured studio to painting in the open air.
A Creative Journey That Started Long Before Nicaragua
Lauren originally grew up on the East Coast of the United States before later moving to Colorado, where she spent nearly a decade building her creative career. In Colorado, she studied art therapy for two years and graduated in May.
Her background combines artistic expression with psychology. Art therapy naturally encourages experimentation, emotional symbolism, and intuitive creative processes.
Before Nicaragua entered the picture, Lauren was deeply involved in the Colorado art community. She painted in a studio, participated in art markets, and displayed work in galleries across Denver and Boulder.
Those early experiences helped her develop confidence in sharing her work publicly. Hanging a painting on a gallery wall for the first time is something many artists remember vividly.
“It’s a proud moment,” she says. “Seeing your work on a wall with other artists is exhilarating.”
Her work also appeared in local art markets and exhibitions where she interacted directly with collectors and fellow creatives.
How Nicaragua Entered the Story
Lauren’s arrival in Nicaragua was partly spontaneous and partly inspired by family. Her sister had been living here for two years and encouraged her to visit.
With art school completed and a sense of openness about what might come next, Lauren decided to take the leap.
The decision reflects something common in the expat artist life. Many creatives arrive in Nicaragua without rigid plans, but with curiosity and a desire to experience something different.
“I came here a bit on a whim,” she explains. “My sister lives here, and I wanted to explore the culture and experience what it’s like to paint here.”
Now she lives in a small coastal community near San Juan del Sur, close to Playa Yankee, where daily life revolves around nature, family, and the surrounding landscape.
Life as a San Juan del Sur Artist
The lifestyle shift between Colorado and Nicaragua has been dramatic.
In the United States, Lauren’s days were structured around studio time, exhibitions, markets, and the constant movement of city life. Here in southern Nicaragua, the rhythm is noticeably different.
Life revolves around simpler daily routines.
- Helping family with cooking and cleaning
- Working in the garden
- Exercising and spending time outdoors
- Going to the beach
- Painting whenever inspiration strikes
For Lauren, this slower environment has created space for reflection.
“The United States can feel very fast and overstimulating,” she says. “Here the days are still full, but they’re filled differently.”
Many artists who relocate here describe something similar when experiencing Nicaragua art life. Creativity often becomes less scheduled and more intuitive.
The natural landscape around San Juan del Sur also plays a role. Ocean views, changing light, and dramatic winds create an environment that constantly shifts the mood of the day.
Creating Art Without a Studio
One of the biggest adjustments Lauren faced when making art in Nicaragua was losing the stability of a traditional studio space.
Back in Colorado, she had a dedicated room where everything was ready to go. Brushes, paints, easels, and canvases were all within reach.
In Nicaragua, the creative setup looks very different.
Her current “studio” often consists of cardboard, tape, and a canvas balanced at an angle so she can sketch before painting.
Sometimes she simply carries supplies outside and paints wherever inspiration appears.
“I didn’t realize how necessary an easel can be until I didn’t have one,” she laughs.
Still, painting in nature offers something a traditional studio cannot.
Ocean breezes, tropical light, and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean shape the atmosphere of each piece she creates.
For artists interested in working abroad, painting in Nicaragua often means learning to create with fewer tools and far more improvisation.
The Themes Behind Lauren’s Artwork
Lauren’s artistic style blends surrealism, emotional symbolism, and vibrant color.
Her work frequently features human figures placed inside imaginative environments filled with natural elements, shapes, and unexpected textures.
Some of her favorite works include:
The Blue Mandala Figure
This piece features a blue woman seated on a stool surrounded by a mandala made from hand-cut paper shapes. The layered composition reflects emotional balance and intuitive experimentation.
The Birth and Postpartum Painting
Created for her sister and her newborn baby, this deeply personal piece symbolizes pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.
“Habromania”
This colorful painting was one of the first Lauren created after moving to Colorado. The title refers to a mindset of wandering and imagination, combining surreal figures with fruit-inspired symbolism.
The piece reflects a recurring theme in her work: the movement between inner emotions and external landscapes.
What Nicaragua Teaches You
Many visitors say Nicaragua acts as a mirror.
Lauren describes the country in a similar way.
Living here can highlight both strengths and personal challenges. It encourages people to slow down and confront things they might normally avoid.
For Lauren, one of the biggest lessons has been patience.
Power outages, weather, and unpredictable logistics are simply part of daily life in coastal Nicaragua.
“Sometimes the electricity goes out for hours or even days,” she says. “You learn to prepare differently.”
That means planning food differently, keeping headlamps charged, and adjusting expectations when daily routines change unexpectedly.
Creativity in this environment requires flexibility, but it also encourages deeper presence.
Nature becomes part of everyday life, and the slower pace allows more space for artistic exploration.
Dreams for the Future
Lauren hopes to continue growing her artistic practice while living in Nicaragua.
One direction that excites her is creating murals and collaborating with local communities.
She is also interested in teaching art classes for children.
Her background in art therapy makes this a natural extension of her work.
Art can give children a safe place to explore emotions, imagination, and creativity.
In communities around San Juan del Sur, where creativity and connection often go hand in hand, this type of work could have a meaningful impact.
Advice for Artists Considering Nicaragua
Lauren offers simple advice for anyone thinking about relocating here.
Come prepared, but remain flexible.
Nicaragua operates on its own rhythm. Resources may be different, timelines may be slower, and expectations sometimes need to shift.
But those adjustments are often part of the transformation.
“Come with intention,” Lauren says. “But also come without too many expectations.”
For artists especially, the experience can open entirely new creative perspectives.
Understanding the cultural context of the country also helps. The Instituto Nicaragüense de Cultura highlights how art and tradition remain deeply connected to Nicaragua’s national identity.
You can watch the full interview with Lauren and view her artwork on our NicaSeeker YouTube channel here.
Discover More Creative Stories in Nicaragua
Lauren’s story is just one example of how creativity and adventure often intersect in Nicaragua.
From painters and musicians to entrepreneurs and community builders, the country attracts people searching for a different pace of life and a deeper connection to place.
If you’d like to explore more inspiring people, businesses, and experiences across the country, visit the NicaSeeker Blog.
Nicaragua continues to reveal remarkable stories — and many of them are still waiting to be discovered.
