Skillshare Teacher Spotlight: Mimi Chao, Master of Mindful Creativity

From her sun-soaked Los Angeles studio, Mimi Chao teaches thousands of Skillshare students how to draw, find their style, embrace mindfulness and even build a website. But Mimi’s background isn’t that of someone who knew they wanted to be an artist from a young age—on the contrary, she worked as a lawyer before taking the plunge and becoming a full-time creative, and learned plenty of valuable lessons in the process.

We caught up with Mimi to learn more about her roots and identity, get the story behind her transition from law to art, and discover what mindfulness means to her.

Meet Mimi

A woman sitting at a brown wooden desk in a room with white paint on the walls. She is turning the page of an art book. On the wall behind her is a pegboard filled with art supplies. The window on the right side of the room is letting in natural light. — Mimi Chao is a self-taught artist with thousands of satisfied Skillshare students.

If you’ve ever taken one of Mimi Chao’s Skillshare classes, then you already know she’s a talented artist. But what you might not know is that she didn’t set out to be an artist from the beginning.

Instead, Mimi began her adult life by going to college and then law school, earning a law degree and becoming a lawyer. But after a few years working in a law firm, she yearned to follow a more creative path, and took a management job at a design agency.

There, she was inspired by the countless creative professionals surrounding her, and soon began drawing as a hobby. After growing an online presence with her art, commissions started to roll in, and she soon began building her new career as a freelance artist. (Hint: If you’re curious to know more about Mimi’s background, check out our previous blog post about her unique career path.)

Today, Mimi’s creative pursuits are flourishing. She’s a full-time artist and teacher and the owner of her independent studio, Mimochai.

But we wanted to go beyond Mimi’s resume. Ahead, we dig deeper into her background, explore her career change in-depth and see how she brings mindfulness and creativity together.

Zen Philosophies and Western Values: Mimi’s Roots as an Artist

An art book open to a page displaying the print ‘Sumida River Sekiya Villages’ from Hokusai's ‘Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji’ series. The print depicts people riding on horseback across a grassy field with Mount Fuji in the background. — Mimi blends Eastern and Western influences in her unique art style. In the Skillshare class “Learn to Draw: A Comprehensive Introduction to Drawing Foundations and Style,” she teaches students how to nail the drawing basics before finding their own style.

Nature Plus Nurture

“My creative practice is shaped by both my Asian heritage and California upbringing,” Mimi told us.

On one hand, “the aesthetics and values in my work—balance, harmony, interbeing, simplicity—are rooted in Zen philosophies.” But on the other hand, her “ideals of creativity and purpose are drawn from a Western mindset of individual exploration and self-inquiry.”

“I love the blend and the balance,” she said, “and that shows up in everything I do.”

Universal Ideas

Instead of identifying with philosophies or traditions from one particular culture, Mimi connects most with “universal natural philosophies—a thread that runs through Taoist and Zen Buddhist traditions, indigenous wisdom and perennial teachings.” For instance, “living in rhythm with nature, cultivating inner stillness, seeing our interconnection, and finding meaning through service are all ideas that resonate with me.”

While Mimi uses her “creative work to explore these themes,” they’ve also “become a compass for how I live, create and teach.”

Representation is Freedom, Not Confinement

In keeping with her affinity for blending cultures, ideas and philosophies to create something new, Mimi believes that “representation is about showing that there are many ways to live, create and belong.”

“It’s not about fitting into a mold,” she said. Instead, “it’s about expanding what’s possible. I hope my presence and my work quietly give permission to others who wish to realize their own dreams and follow their own paths.”

From Lawyer to Artist

A woman’s hand resting on an open notebook that’s resting on a wooden tabletop. Both the notebook’s visible pages are filled with illustrations of a woman and handwritten text. — Mimi worked hard to become a lawyer, but once she’d achieved her goal, she realized something was missing. In the Skillshare class “Daily Pages: Build A Sketchbook Habit with Drawing Ideas & Journaling Prompts,” she shows students how to spark their creativity with a daily journal practice.

The Turning Point

The basic story behind Mimi’s switch from law to art is fairly simple on the surface: She started as a lawyer, wanted to pursue a more creative path, and switched to freelance art. But what was the turning point that pushed her to take that exciting and terrifying plunge?

“It was a quiet knowing that kept growing louder,” Mimi told us. “I had done everything ‘right,’ but I felt disconnected from who I really was. I reached a point where I had to choose between staying safe or choosing something that felt more alive and authentic.”

So, she “did a lot of reflecting and planning, but the most important thing was that I eventually took action and leapt. I didn’t know exactly what I was heading toward, but I knew I at least had to try.”

Inspiration from Life and Death

For Mimi, inspiration didn’t necessarily come in the form of role models who were living the life she wanted. Rather, “I remember reading that the biggest regrets people have at the end of their lives aren’t the things they did, but the things they didn’t do. That stayed with me. The fear of dying without truly living outweighed any other fears I had at the time. I wanted to live a meaningful life.”

Understandably, she “still had a lot of doubts.” But she was also “lucky to have two girlfriends who were pursuing independent creative careers, and they encouraged me at that critical time. That kind of support was something I never had before.”

Besides those friends, Mimi also “found inspiration in books and people I didn’t know.” In fact, “I sent myself an email on my last day on the job with the subject line: ‘They did it.’ The body was just two names—Kandinsky and Matisse, both artists who started as lawyers. That is still the first email in my inbox to this day.”

A Humble (Re)Beginning

So, what did starting over from scratch at 28 teach Mimi about reinvention and growth?

“First of all, it was very humbling,” she said. “But that was a good thing, and gradually I realized that it’s never really a blank slate—you carry everything with you. I brought my discipline, my curiosity, and my questions with me. Reinvention is less about becoming someone new and more about allowing yourself to become who you truly are.”

If you’re feeling like you might have missed your chance to start a creative career, Mimi begs to differ: “It’s not too late. A creative path is a way of living, not a final destination, so there’s no way to ‘start too late.’ That’s what’s wonderful about life.”

“There is a Chinese proverb that goes, ‘The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.’ It’s so important to just start.”

Where Creativity and Mindfulness Meet

A digital painting of a woman in an all-black outfit meditating in a cross-legged pose on an orange cushion. The background is a peachy pink color. Around the woman’s head are white clouds, stars and a full moon. — Once Mimi discovered mindfulness, it changed her life for the better. In the Skillshare class “Mindful Drawing 101: Guided Prompts for Creative Self-Care,” she helps students combine mindfulness with engaging drawing exercises.

Better Now Than Never

Mindfulness is a core component of Mimi’s creative practice, so we wanted to find out how it became such a powerful influence on her art and teaching.

As it turns out, Mimi hasn’t always been passionate about mindfulness—far from it. “I didn’t learn about mindfulness meditation until I was 30,” she told us. “Since then, mindfulness has helped improve every part of my life—my creativity, my relationships, my mental health. It’s given me so much.”

As a result, “sharing mindfulness through my art and teaching feels like the most meaningful thing I can offer in return.”

Start Simple

If you’re just getting started with mindfulness, there’s no need to begin by tackling long meditation sessions or complex yoga routines.

“Start with noticing,” Mimi advises. “Following the breath is the classic practice, but I find many people can’t connect with that right away. So one simple exercise I recommend is a Five Senses Reset—just pausing to name what you see, hear, feel, smell, and taste with a kind, nonjudgmental awareness.”

While that exercise is straightforward, it still “anchors you in the moment and opens the door to creativity through observation and presence.” Plus, “it’s even more powerful if you can do it while being in nature.”

So next time you’re taking a walk in the woods, relaxing in your backyard or picnicking in the park, try taking a few moments to do a Five Senses Reset. It might just be the first step you take on a long and fulfilling mindfulness journey.

Finding Magic Here and Now

Mimi’s new Skillshare class, Natural Explorer, is now live and is already receiving glowing reviews. As student Trissa M put it, it’s “such a fun and engaging class.”

So, what inspired the class to begin with? “Natural Explorer grew out of my personal practice,” Mimi explained. “I’m always reading books like The Creative Act, Braiding Sweetgrass, The Nature Fix, and The Miracle of Mindfulness,” she went on, “and I noticed the same message again and again: we find clarity and healing through nature, creativity, and presence.”

“These practices are accessible, free, and transformational,” so “I wanted to offer something that combined all three in a way that is fun and easy to do.”

Beyond that, “Natural Explorer is also a reflection of how my work has shifted—from fantasy and escapism to being grounded in real life. I used to look for magic far away. Now I’ve found it here.”

Now that Natural Explorer is out, Mimi is “working on a new illustrated book about just that—finding magic here and now instead of far away.” She’s also “continuing to create books, tools, and classes that help people reconnect with themselves, each other, and the natural world. I’m excited to keep exploring and expanding on what’s possible.”

Get in Touch with Your True Self

If Mimi’s story can teach you anything, it’s that reinvention is not about becoming someone other than yourself—it’s about returning to who you’ve always been. So whether you’re interested in drawing, painting, knitting, photography, writing or something else entirely, don’t ignore whatever creative itch you’re feeling. Instead, try running with it—you never know where it might lead.
And if you’re looking for some guidance to help you navigate your creative journey, start with Skillshare. From Mimi’s drawing and mindfulness classes to our vast library of online classes on just about anything, our expert teachers can help you learn the skills you want to master.

Written By

Carrie Buchholz

Carrie Buchholz is a freelance writer who lives in Northern Colorado with her husband and dog.