Daily Inspiration: Meet Rachel Gentner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Gentner.

Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey really began with a life-changing moment. I was diagnosed with melanoma, and that experience forced me to slow down and reevaluate everything. I decided to focus on healing — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — and that process opened the door to a much deeper relationship with myself.

At the same time, I was navigating life as a divorced mother of two. I made the decision to continue to finish college, which wasn’t easy, but it felt necessary. I earned my BFA in Painting and Drawing, and later completed my Master’s in Education with PK–12 Visual Arts licensure. Art became a huge part of my healing — it gave me a voice and a way to process everything I was moving through. Teaching art also deepened my understanding of how creativity connects to emotional wellness and personal growth.

As I continued on my path, I felt called to expand beyond traditional education. I pursued Reiki training and became a Reiki Master. That wasn’t just a certification for me, it felt like an extension of the healing journey that I needed to continue. I also became a certified intuitive life coach because I wanted to better support women, not just energetically, but practically — helping them navigate transitions, mindset shifts, and personal transformation.

What started as my own healing journey has grown into a healing arts studio and community space where I blend intuitive energy work, creativity, and structured wellness experiences. I founded Crystal Lake Creatives, a name inspired by the road I grew up on. Choosing that name was intentional — it honors where my story began and reflects the foundation that shaped me. The studio is an extension of my roots: a space grounded in resilience, creativity, and transformation, where others can begin or continue their own journeys.

I work primarily with women, especially those moving through major life transitions, helping them feel grounded, empowered, and reconnected to themselves. Out of that work, I also created Grounded Woman Collective, an online community designed for women seeking connection, growth, and stability during life’s transitions. The Collective brings together wellness practices, creative exploration, and supportive conversation, offering women a place to feel seen, supported, and empowered as they evolve.

When I look back, every life chapter — cancer, single motherhood, art school, education, energy work — wasn’t random. Each step built the foundation for the work I do today. My path has been about resilience, reinvention, and creating spaces where women can experience their own healing and growth in a supportive, nurturing environment.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely has not been a smooth road — but I believe the challenges are what shaped both who I am and the work I do today.

Being diagnosed with melanoma was one of the first major turning points in my life. Facing a health scare forces you to confront fear and uncertainty very quickly. It made me reevaluate everything and commit to truly healing — not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

At the same time, I was navigating life as a divorced mother of two, and I was also working through and ultimately surviving abusive relationships. That season of my life required immense strength. There were moments of self-doubt, rebuilding my confidence, and learning to trust myself again. But it also taught me resilience, boundaries, and the importance of creating safe spaces — something that deeply influences how I serve women today.

Going back to school to earn my BFA in Painting and Drawing, and later my Master’s in Education with PK–12 Visual Arts licensure, while raising two children, was not easy. There were financial pressures, exhaustion, and moments where I questioned whether I could sustain it all. But art became part of my healing, and education gave me structure and stability.

Transitioning into Reiki, becoming a Reiki Master, and later a certified intuitive life coach required another level of courage. Stepping into holistic and intuitive work means fully owning your voice and path — even when others don’t understand it. Building a business in this field comes with financial risk, vulnerability, and constant learning.

There have been setbacks, slow seasons, burnout, and reinvention. But every struggle strengthened something in me — my empathy, my leadership, my boundaries, and my clarity of purpose.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But surviving cancer, abusive relationships, single motherhood, and entrepreneurship has given me a deep understanding of transformation. The work I do now isn’t theoretical — it’s lived. That lived experience allows me to hold space for others in a grounded, compassionate, and authentic way.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in figurative painting and sculpture, focusing on the human form and the emotions it carries. I’m less interested in painting a figure as just anatomy and more interested in what the body is holding. There’s often a quiet tension in my work — a balance between strength and exposure.

I earned my BFA in Painting and Drawing from the University of Akron, studying in the Mary Schiller Myers School of Art. That experience was foundational for me. It gave me strong technical training, but it also opened doors to work alongside professional artists and gain exposure beyond the classroom. Through the program, I had opportunities to travel to places like New York City and attend Art Basel Miami Beach, which really expanded my understanding of contemporary art. Being immersed in those environments pushed me conceptually and challenged me to think bigger about scale, material, and presence.

While painting is my primary medium, I also work in mixed media and sculpture. I’m drawn to texture and layering, physically building and disrupting surfaces. I like the idea of constructing something and then partially deconstructing it. That process mirrors the themes in my work — identity, survival, and transformation.

I think what sets my work apart is that it feels embodied. It’s grounded in strong academic training, but it’s also shaped by lived experience. The figures aren’t static — they feel like they’re in process, evolving. And that’s something I’m really proud of — creating work that feels honest, vulnerable, and deeply human while continuing to grow and experiment as an artist.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
My journey has been shaped by both challenges and growth. Facing a melanoma diagnosis, surviving abusive relationships, navigating life as a divorced mother of two, and pursuing higher education all taught me the value of resilience, patience, and self-trust. Each of these experiences shaped not just who I am, but how I create and how I hold space in the world.

I’ve learned that hardship doesn’t close doors — it often reveals new ones. Some of my most meaningful discoveries came during seasons when I felt like I was rebuilding from the ground up. Through that process, I developed a deep trust in intuition, creativity, and the power of starting again.

One beautiful thread that runs through my life and work is the tradition of making kitchen witches. Growing up, my family always had them hanging in the kitchen — a symbol rooted in European folklore, where a kitchen witch is said to bring protection, good fortune, and positive energy to the home. They were both comforting and mysterious to me as a child. Today, I create my own handmade kitchen witches, each one unique, carrying that same spirit of warmth, protection, and tradition.

For me, they represent more than folklore. They symbolize resilience, domestic strength, creativity passed through generations, and the sacredness of everyday spaces. Making them feel like honoring both my ancestry and my personal story — blending art, storytelling, and lived experience.

What I continue to learn is that discovery never really stops. Whether I’m experimenting with a new material, exploring a new idea, or stepping into something unfamiliar, growth is always available. It’s never too late to discover a new passion, return to an old one, or reinvent yourself entirely. Some of the most powerful chapters of my life began after I thought I had already “figured things out.”

That mindset — curiosity, courage, and the willingness to evolve — is central to who I am. My life and work are both ongoing explorations, and I’m proud of the fact that I continue to grow, learn, and create from a place of authenticity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.crystallakecreatives.com
• Instagram: crystal.lake_creatives
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084184951650
• Other: @crystal.lake.crea crystallakecreatives@gmail.com