WHEN ART JUST ISN’T FUN ANYMORE

There’s an old saying that, “too much of anything may NOT be a such good thing.”

And while this may NOT be true for ALL things, it can certainly be true for most things.

For me, I love to eat candy – specifically, Swedish Fish! 

But, for my diet, I’ve learned that eating too many sweets is simply NOT a good thing.

The same can be said for exercise. I enjoy going to the gym and spending time keeping healthy.

But, going to the gym too much can be exhausting, over-exerting, and it takes time away from doing OTHER things I want to do.

But, of course, if I stop going to the gym, I start to falling back into old habits which make feel unhealthy.

So, there’s another old saying, which is, “everything in moderation.”

I heard this for years, and thought it was good advice – so I followed it!

Unfortunately, the term “moderation” is just a clever way of saying, “go ahead… it’s okay.”

The reality is that doing anything in moderation STILL gives us permission to indulge in bad habits,

and can even lead to compulsive or excessive behaviors if we’re not VERY careful.

So, what about when it’s something that we’re passionate about? Or something that just makes us happy?

Can it be a bad thing to immerse in something which provides a sense of joy and well-being?

The short answer is “YES.” It actually CAN be a bad thing.

And that’s the point of today’s discussion.

When over-indulging in our creativity can have a dramatic, negative effect on our creative spirit.

Like I said, for me - Swedish Fish can be my WORST enemy – even in moderation!

I can say the same thing about ice cream and chocolate chip cookies.

There were times in my life when these kind of foods were my “go to” way to feel good.

Eating junk and not thinking about my diet became a problem and I paid for it with weight gain and feeling awful.

Then, after many years, I finally learned to apply discipline and taught myself to eat RIGHT.

I’m definitely not in perfect shape and not at my peak – but I do feel really good about my health, nowadays. 

While those POOR decisions felt good back in the moment, I always ended up feeling terrible later.

So, now, my GOOD decisions feel even BETTER in the moment, and I ALWAYS end up feeling SO much healthier later.

But, it wasn’t easy. It took a long time to force myself to really look at what I was eating, when I was eating, and HOW I was eating.

With discipline and education, I started slow and built up to a diet and routine that worked for me.

I immersed into “intermittent fasting,” which is all about WHEN you eat.

I coupled that with WHAT I was eating, and I saw results very quickly.

It had everything to do with HOW my eating was affecting my health.

I typically DON’T eat before noon-time and THEN, I try to eat SMALL amounts of healthy foods until dinnertime. 

Then, I eat whatever I like.

Instead of rich desserts at the end of the day, I TRY to replace that with fruit which has the sugar that my body craves.

Again, I’m not perfect, so of COURSE I indulge in some Swedish Fish or a cookie every now and then!

I mean, life is too short to pass up on the sweet stuff ALL the time! 

But, I’m not consuming these sweets in the same quantities I used to, and that’s a HUGE difference for me.

Sooooo… what does ALL this have to do with art?

Well, if we replace the word “diet” with the word “art,” the two CAN be interrelated.

In the past year, making poor decisions with my DIET led me to feeling poorly about my physical self.

Well, I could ALSO say that in the past year, making poor decisions with my ART led me to feeling poorly 

about my CREATIVE self, as well.

In the way that eating junk food was NOT respecting my body, the poor HABITS I developed with my art, 

were not respecting my creative spirit.

In the past year, I RUSHED my artwork. 

I didn’t spend QUALITY TIME planning things out, and I worked at TIMES that were outside my comfort zone.

For example – Starting a drawing by going right into the INKING stage, first – INSTEAD of laying out a thoughtful sketch;

OR not developing of a CLEAR CONCEPT for a piece and just forcing out something random or cliche;

And the worst, coming home after working ALL day, and then TRYING to be creative AFTER HOURS 

when I was tired and SHOULD be resting.

These bad habits had a detrimental effect on HOW I created my art and led to work that I just wasn’t happy with.

Frustration, doubt, and feeling BADLY about my own creativity was the new routine.

Oddly enough, it felt VERY familiar to the routine I had with my diet. 

Frustration, doubt, and feeling badly about my HEALTH was the new routine.

Another bad habit I got myself into was creating art for OTHER people.

You might think, “But how can creating art for other people be BAD?”

Well, it’s one thing if we’re being PAID to create art for others.

But, it’s a very DIFFERENT thing if we’re NOT being paid.

I’m talking about SOCIAL MEDIA.

Something I NEVER used to ask myself, was, “WHY am I making ALL THIS ART for social media?”

I mean, what is the REAL reason SO many artists are posting their work online – FOR FREE – and just giving it away?

Is it to find WORK and make money? Is it to gain EXPOSURE and get their NAME out there?

Or is to be recognized as an artist in a larger community?

It COULD BE that it’s just to have a place to post what we DO where SOMEONE might enjoy seeing it.

But then again, maybe there’s more TO IT than that.

Maybe there’s a psychology behind it – a desperate NEED to prove ourselves.

A NEED for validation.

A NEED to have a safe repository to harvest SUPPORTIVE reactions from other people.

And MAYBE it’s even deeper than THAT… 

A NEED to fulfill some part of our LIFE that’s not being satisfied elsewhere.

I can’t speak to what motivates OTHER people, I can only speak for myself.

And for ME, I can very honestly ADMIT that posting my work online gives me a RUSH.

The recognition, the engagement with OTHER people, and the FEELING that, YES, I’m part of a supportive community.

It feels GOOD to have my work validated by others.

It feels GOOD when someone clicks “like” or leaves a comment.

For most of us, posting online TICKLES our creative spirit and provides COMFORT in knowing 

that our creative SELF is doing okay.

It’s that momentary SPOTLIGHT that allows us to SHINE brightly – even just for a couple of days.

It’s that DOPAMINE hit to the brain that makes us feel EXCITED to see a response 

to something WE’VE put out into the universe.

That act of CONTRIBUTION gives us a RARE and VALUABLE sense of worth and well-being.

But, as it is with social media, that spark of JOY soon FIZZLES OUT and our last post is quickly forgotten.

Does this sound FAMILIAR?

I KNOW about this and I’ve been STUDYING it for the past year with regard to MY OWN work.

It’s what happened to me with YouTube.

I was posting videos on a regular basis, keeping up with the DEMAND of the ALGORITHM to create fresh, new content.

After a few years, I started REALIZING that the process was starting to take a downward TOLL and feel like WORK.

The NEGATIVE feedback I would get from strangers. TROLLS trying to push buttons and get REACTIONS. 

And people with NO experience in ART constantly CRITICIZING or pointing out FLAWS was just getting to be TOO MUCH.

I had to LAUGH when one of MY OWN songs – that I wrote and recorded – was FLAGGED for copyright infringement.

It started to WEAR on me to the point where I said, “NO MORE.”

Creating CONTENT for YouTube and social media felt like consuming TOO MUCH junk food and it made me feel unhealthy.

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED that my content was entertaining and maybe even USEFUL for some people.

I’m glad I explored the opportunity and consider it a great experience!

But, AGAIN… I was NOT helping myself to be HEALTHY.

Spending COUNTLESS hours drafting a script, recording the audio AND video, and editing EVERYTHING became daunting.

I STOPPED creating art for MYSELF and was ONLY creating a VISUAL to fit that week’s narrative.

This went against a PROMISE that I made to MYSELF when I first started creating YouTube content:

“IF IT EVER STARTS TO FEEL LIKE A JOB – THEN, IT’S TIME TO STEP AWAY.”

In other words, when you take FUN out of a task, it becomes a CHORE.

So, about a YEAR ago, I felt like I was in an UNWANTED commitment. I felt like I was STUCK in a job I didn’t like.

To be true to MYSELF, I decided to take a BREAK.

At that SAME time, INKTOBER was coming back around again.

People reached out to me on social media, asking if I was going to participate.

After SEVEN years of doing INKTOBER, I began to feel the same way – like it was WORK.

I asked myself, “Exactly WHO am I doing this challenge for?”

I mean, it seemed like the REAL benefit was for everyone BUT me.

Friends, family, and all the people on social media ENJOYED seeing a new, unique drawing from me EVERYDAY.

But, people COMPARED my work to other artists, offered UNWANTED CRITIQUES of my work, 

and made SUGGESTIONS about what I could’ve done better.

What BENEFIT was there for ME in creating ALL that work and with NO compensation and NO reward at the end 

– EXCEPT unsolicited feedback?

It goes back to the “validation” and “recognition” NEEDS we get from social media.

So, I gave up the LATE nights, the STRESS, the ANXIETY, and the PRESSURE to come up with 

something NEW everyday for INKTOBER.

Because, well…. It JUST wasn’t any FUN anymore.

It was HARD at first – I had PROGRAMMED myself to DO the challenge every year.

I had become DEPENDENT on the feedback of others, GOOD or BAD to justify WHY I kept doing the challenge.

But after the FIRST few DAYS, I started to feel UNBELIEVABLY liberated!

I realized that Instagram and Facebook were ALSO feeling like work, so I stopped posting as frequently.

Tik Tok was a CHORE that I just didn’t need – so I stopped posting there, altogether.

In the END, all the ENERGY spent creating, editing, posting, and waiting for feedback was SIMPLY working 

COMPLETELY against my OWN best interests.

Unfortunately, there was a price for all this.

I found that my ART took a big hit and became sterile, GENERIC, and boring.

I stopped taking RISKS and hid within the SECURITY of my comfort zone.

I began the process of “RINSE & REPEAT” creativity, drawing the SAME things over and over. 

Again, it just wasn’t FUN anymore.

It took a LONG time, but I had to break the BAD HABITS of my creativity and RE-TOOL my own way 

of thinking to fit MY needs.

Not the NEEDS of an algorithm, a platform, or the even VIEWERS who wrote to say, “I miss seeing your videos.”

It was time to RECLAIM the creative spirit I spent my WHOLE life nurturing. 

Over the past year, I created a FRACTION of the work I’d done in the past.

I spent LESS time in my studio than ever before and WATCHED my precious ART SUPPLIES collect DUST.

I was still FULLY creative – but my PASSION went into other things. 

I began working at MY OWN pace and for my OWN enjoyment.

I immersed more DEEPLY into digital art with new applications like Adobe Fresco, Animate, 

Firefly, and even MidJourney.

I STILL posted online – but to my OWN frequency and under MY terms & conditions.

This hiatus got me to REALLY question my work and my process.

It was STRANGE, but it felt VERY much like when I began to question my EATING habits.

In the past year, I UNDERSTOOD that I WASN’T having fun with my art and I LABORED over it.

I spoke to OTHER creative people who ALL had similar experiences.

One person said that, “after COVID, it was HARDER to immerse into creative work 

and to FIND JOBS that paid well enough to take on.”

They admitted that their creative output had SIGNIFICANTLY decreased.

Many of us chose to PULL OUT of our creative careers and take on NEW roles OUTSIDE the creative field 

to ensure our FINANCIAL security.

TECHNOLOGY has become MORE accessible to NON-creative people who are now looking to find WORK in that field. 

The creative job market is OVER-SATURATED and a lot of seasoned professionals are turning to 

ALTERNATIVE ways to make a living.

A good example of this was a neighbor of mine who was a STAY-AT-HOME parent.

I ran into them one day and they told me that they had taken a CLASS using AI software

and had JUST landed a FREELANCE job with a company creating AI backgrounds for their product photographs.

This person had ZERO experience in the creative field, but they were NOW getting work using AI software.

And this AI SOFTWARE is a brand new avenue that is having a DETRIMENTAL effect on the livelihoods of creative people.

In fact, Adobe lost one of their KEY TEAM MEMBERS in the past year.

KYLE T. WEBSTER, a well-known designer left Adobe ABRUPTLY to work for their biggest competitor, Procreate, 

after years with Adobe.

He stated that a BIG reason he left was Adobe’s integration of AI into their software applications.

If you use PHOTOSHOP or ILLUSTRATOR, then you’ve LIKELY seen the new CONTEXTUAL MENU 

and GENERATIVE FILL features.

Kyle T. Webster sounded distraught KNOWING that HIS company was literally putting their OWN customer base out of work.

I applaud the position he took and it inspired me to look at MY OWN reasons for being creative.

Again, “WHAT I’m creating, WHEN I’m creating, and now WHY I’m creating, too.”

Because, something I NEVER thought about before is the IDEA that MY work might just INSPIRE or MOTIVATE someone else – 

maybe a YOUNGER artist – to indulge and immerse in THEIR OWN creativity.

And THAT could potentially promote the NEED and DEMAND for REAL art created by REAL people.

We’re going to SEE just how important this is over the next few years, too.

We’re ALL watching as AI ARTISTS pop-up ALL OVER social media.

The results range from GENERIC and DISPOSABLE to WEIRD and FREAKY – to absolutely STUNNING and JAW dropping. 

But, the reality is that the people “CREATING” this AI content USUALLY have little-to-no creative EXPERIENCE or skill.

They’ve simply learned how to MANIPULATE software to develop COMPLEX PROMPTS to get their results.

In the past two years, I’ve EXPLORED using AI software, myself, to LEARN how it works and how it might be a benefit for ME.

I admit – it’s AMAZING technology and to create UNIMAGINABLE artwork in the BLINK OF AN EYE was REALLY impressive.

Last year, I used AI software on a freelance project and my client was BLOW AWAY at how FAST the turn-around

 was AND how the images looked.

I actually felt a little GUILTY getting paid for work that took me LESS time to create than paying a bill online.

But, THAT is the industry right now!

I DID have a sense that I was betraying my OWN creative MORALS using AI software, but DID come to terms with 

the IDEA that it’s just ANOTHER tool in the toolbox.

The thing is – if a person is NOT very creative to start with, then the results of AI work are not going to be very good.

HOWEVER, If the person IS very creative, then the work they CREATE using AI software are probably going to look REALLY good!

The creative field is being FORCED to make room for AI content creators – whether we like it or not.

And YES. some people ARE losing their jobs because of AI software – BUT, just like when HTML and Flash came along, 

there’s a WHOLE NEW generation of people out there – both creative and NON-creative, who are making a living from it.

So, in all – when we consider the LABOR of creating fresh, new content, the HOURS spent developing it, 

and the FRUSTRATION over how to LEVERAGE it in order to make a living, AND with the rise of AI generative artwork in the market,

it’s NO surprise that SO many artists are simply NOT having FUN creating art these days. 

So, HOW is it possible to NOT have fun creating artwork?

I mean, isn’t that the whole POINT of being creative – to have FUN and PLAY and EXPERIMENT?

Well, when we’re in that ZONE where our creativity flows steadily and NATURALLY – we NEVER question it.

We move ORGANICALLY through our creative process with CONFIDENCE and without HESITATION. 

We literally LOSE ourselves in that creative process.

It’s that “immersive meditation” that I ALWAYS talk about –

when we get so DEEPLY involved in a project that we TUNE OUT the rest of the world,

and focus SOLELY on the connection we have with our creative SPIRIT and our creative tools.

It’s an INCREDIBLE experience that most artists are COMPLETELY unaware they’re even having 

and which NON-creatives can’t relate to.

But, over time, when that CONFIDENCE begins to waiver or we HESITATE and QUESTION ourselves, 

that CONNECTION gets interrupted.

That’s when the ZONE we felt so GOOD IN becomes too small, CONFINED, uncomfortable, and UNSTABLE.

WHY does this happen? WHAT can cause our positive, creative flow to SUDDENLY become negative and stuck in the mud?

In my career and in my OWN experiences, I’ve seen a LOT of reasons for this to happen.

It can cause a LOT of frustration, anxiety, and even DEPRESSION when our creativity begins to falter and work AGAINST us.

Here are a FEW reasons WHY our creative process can SOMETIMES stop being FUN and actually become 

a DETRIMENT to our creative way of life: 

1. Personal Health & Well-being are Off

When we get sick, we can’t do much of anything, let alone be creative.

But, being physically sick is only one way our health can impact our creativity.

When we’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, sad, or even melancholy, our creativity can seem a million miles away.

The best thing to do when our personal heath is off is to get rest, focus on our well-being, 

and work toward a place where we CAN access our creativity.

It takes time, though. My attitude is “health first,” then “everything else after.”

Because let’s face it – if we’re not in a good place HEALTH-WISE, it will be reflected in everything we try to create.

2. When Life Gets in the Way

This is when work, school, family or our own personal commitments CONSUME our time 

and take us AWAY from what we WANT to do.

This probably affects more artists than anything else.

It’s like a SHOE RACK that only holds a certain number of shoes.

If we want to add a NEW pair of shoes, we have to move an OLD pair off the rack.

It’s about MAKING SPACE on the shoe rack.

The same goes for our creative time.

When it feels like LIFE GETS IN THE WAY of our creative time,

then we have to MAKE SPACE for that time.

Whether getting up an hour earlier each day or staying up an hour later.

Maybe we stop watching TV or scrolling on our phones at night and use that time for our creativity.

For me, I like planning my MEALS ahead of time.

So, for example, I made CHILI on Saturday and that’s been dinner for four nights.

So, for FOUR NIGHTS, I got to spend the hour or two I’d NORMALLY be in the kitchen,

in my studio working on a new project.

With my exercise routine, I used to go to the gym every night.

Now, to make ROOM for my creative time, I go three or four nights and use the off-nights for ME time.

And like exercise, creative time is something we NEED to make time for.

Creative time is exercise for the brain and a workout for the creative spirit.

3. Lack of Improvement

One of the most common – and frustrating – things that will affect our positive, creative attitude 

is not seeing improvement in our work.

Ironically, it happens to EVERY artist – ESPECIALLY for BEGINNERS or people coming BACK 

to their ART after a long time away from it.

Even though we devote our time practicing and creating new work,

everything starts to look the same and we repeat the same patterns in each piece.

Picasso was a big fan of changing his style whenever he felt he was stuck in one direction.

He said, “Nobody would pay attention if one always said the same thing, in the same words, 

and in the same tone of voice.”

To overcome our lack of improvement, we need to be HONEST with ourselves and SEE where our flaws are;

We need to seek out – and be open to – constructive criticism;

And we need to understand where we NEED to improve, like with anatomy, perspective, 

and value – and then immerse into those into those disciplines.

It helps to re-focus our creative energy on different projects and exploring new mediums.

Last year, I was feeling stuck so I went out and bought some MODEL MAGIC to play with.

It was SO FUN to try something completely new and work in a way I hadn’t before.

I made some little figures, a couple of coasters, and a new holder for my paint brushes.

It was a great way to step away from what I was STUCK in and try something FRESH.

And of course, stepping out of our own work and immersing into OTHER people’s work can influence our style, as well.

4. Seeking Perfection

Perfection is an UNATTAINABLE state that if we pursue, will make us go crazy!

Even in NATURE, the state of perfection does NOT exist.

The idea that something could be completely FREE of flaws, is simply NOT realistic.

And THAT’S what makes Nature so FUN as a subject – because it’s ALL flaws and NEVER has ANY straight lines.

And with artwork created using AI technology, well – the results look almost TOO perfect.

And THAT’S where the FLAW is – that you can TELL when something’s been created with AI 

because it is just too SLICK and PERFECT looking.

And funny enough, it’s THAT kind of perfection that most artists DON’T STRIVE for.

We are NOT Rembrandt or Michelangelo and we don’t have the TIME they had to put into our work;

So, OUR work is based on standards of perfection that WE set on OURSELVES.

And when that standard goes BEYOND or exceeds our skill level, then we get FRUSTRATED by our own results.

When I designed the sets for musical theater, I had a saying: DONE is GOOD.

Because, when I first got into that work, I used to get SO HUNG UP on the details. I wanted each piece to be PERFECT!

However, there was TOO MUCH work to do to spend ALL day painting EVERY blade of grass on a backdrop.

I learned over the years that when a piece was “good enough” to show the audience, then it was done – and DONE IS GOOD.

No one in the audience CARED about the blades of grass OR the shingles on the roof OR the stones in the wall.

They weren’t LOOKING at the details. So, as long as they could TELL it was grass or a stone wall… 

…they were happy – and so was I.

This same approach is true in illustration, graphic design, and even painting murals.

Embracing the idea that “perfection does NOT exist” can FREE US from being LOCKED into unreasonable expectations. 

It gives us PERMISSION to create work, at OUR EXACT skill level, without worrying that it may not 

meet some ARBITRARY standard.

Letting GO and NOT SEEKING perfection in our work allows for MORE FREEDOM and MORE JOY 

in the work we CAN create AND it REMOVES the restrictions, expectations, and the potential MISERY 

in the work we CAN’T create.

5. Envy & Jealousy

This is when we see the work of others and allow it to influence the joy and affection we have for our own work.

It’s HEALTHY to be competitively inspired by someone else’s work.

It INCITES us to be more VIGILANT and FOCUSED with our own work.

Whether it’s a visual artist, performer, chef, or athlete – we ALL share a competitive spirit, even if it’s quiet.

But, when that competitive spirit rises ABOVE our creative spirit, and we RESENT the other artist,

our emotions can keep us from accessing the JOY in being influenced by others.

That’s when ENVY and JEALOUSLY keep us from having FUN with our own work.

It’s a kind of FEAR that threatens our security, but we don’t know how to process it.

So, we get JEALOUS.

JEALOUSY is when we feel THREATENED by an outside influence.

With a RELATIONSHIP, there’s usually a third party involved.

With ART, it’s usually when another person is involved.

JEALOUSY with CREATIVITY is that ominous, competitive feeling when we think someone is BETTER than us,

OR when someone else gets more ATTENTION than us – and WE don’t think they necessarily DESERVE it.

I admit – it happens to me. MORE than I care to tell you!

When I see an AMAZING illustration in a magazine, in a gallery, or in a post online 

I can FEEL that mist of jealousy rising up.

It’s not that I don’t LIKE the work – It’s that it make me see the work that I haven’t CREATED.

I see the work that I SHOULD BE DOING and not recognizing the work that someone ELSE has succeeded at creating.

JEALOUSY leads to a downward spiral of NEGATIVE thinking which can RUIN the joy of seeing someone else’s work 

by IRRATIONALLY comparing it to our OWN work. 

For ME, when ENVY and JEALOUSY strike, I tend to CRITIQUE other people’s work and look for the FLAWS. 

I say things like, “I don’t WHY they used THOSE colors”  or “there’s something OFF about this piece – 

but I don’t what it is!”

I become CHURLISH and SOUR – but only because I’m PROJECTING negative feelings for NOT having 

the DRIVE to create the way SOMEONE ELSE did.

With ENVY, it’s similar – but instead of being just NEGATIVE, Envy can be POSITIVE, as well.

What I mean, is that ENVY can allow us to RECOGNIZE something good and EXHIBIT our appreciation for it.

For example, when I see an illustration that I KNOW is beyond my skill lever, I feel ENVY – NOT jealousy – ENVY.

Because I can SEE how good it, I can EXPRESS how much I appreciate it, and I’m SINCERE with 

my compliments about the art and the artist.

I’ll say things, “Wow, this is an artist who REALLY understands watercolors” or  “that is SO good – I can only WISH 

to paint like that!”

But, with both ENVY and JEALOUSY, I allow myself to REACT to someone else’s work PERSONALLY.

My COMPETITIVE spirit OVERTAKES my CREATIVE spirit and gets my heart pumping to respond with EMOTION.

It’s actually a very NORMAL response for most artists and this reaction CAN help us grow – IF we acknowledge it.

The BEST way to combat these NEGATIVE, COMPETITIVE reactions and emotions – is to either IGNORE them 

and WALK AWAY and REMOVE ourselves from the OPPORTUNITY to be JEALOUS, 

or do what I call – LETTING the other team WIN – even when the other team is completely UNAWARE that we exist,

The BEST way is to go BACK to our OWN space and create work that makes US happy, and forget 

how we felt when we were JEALOUS.

For Number FIVE – I could have called it “Comparing Ourselves to Others,” because that’s where 

ENVY and JEALOUSY always seem to appear. 

If we STOP comparing ourselves to others, we can RELEASE ourselves from the negative BIND that holds us back 

and keeps us from moving FORWARD with our OWN work.

Simply put – we just need to let our feelings happen and then NOT react to them.

It’s like recognizing there’s someone driving aggressively on the highway, cutting everyone off and weaving between cars.

I FEEL the frustration and annoyance, but if we can RECOGNIZE how we feel, and then NOT react, then we’ll be just fine.

And hopefully, the police are up ahead and that person gets pulled over.

Recognizing that our feelings are REAL, and EMBRACING that they’re NEGATIVE, we CAN twist our THINKING around 

so they INSPIRE us and MOTIVATE us into POSITIVE creativity.

Something I do when I’m browsing social media and I see NEW artwork that triggers my JEALOUSY is I take SCREENSHOTS 

of it with my phone.

When someone’s work GRABS my attention AND stirs my competitive spirit,

I’ll take a SCREENSHOT of their work and SAVE IT in an album on my phone called “Inspirations.”

Once I capture it, it’s no longer a THREAT, so my jealousy quickly begins to CHANGE.

I can look at the work later and study it to have a BETTER understanding AND relationship with it.

I transform that JEALOUSY into CURIOSITY and the FEAR into UNDERSTANDING. 

I THEN allow it to INSPIRE me – and to MOTIVATE me into creating something NEW of my OWN.

I use those CAPTURED screenshots ALL the time – for reference, inspiration, or just for INFLUENCE.

Something I like to do is to RE-CREATE other people’s art, in my OWN style.

For me, it’s been an INVALUABLE resource to help me quickly IDENTIFY when I’m triggered by someone else’s artwork,

which I can then TRANSFORM from NEGATIVE feelings into a POSITIVE response.

This allows me to REMOVE the burden of ENVY or JEALOUSLY, approach the other artist with AFFECTION and SUPPORT,

and be a BETTER artist where I can have more FUN with MY art, instead of getting HUNG UP on someone else’s.

6. Disinterest and Burnout

Something I’ve seen with students, online artists, and throughout my career is when people take on TOO much.

I know, because I’m GUILTY of it MYSELF!

I’ve seen INFLUENCERS burn out from trying DESPERATELY to keep up with an abstract ALGORITHM.

I’ve seen students frantically trying trying to juggle their PASSION for art along with classwork, sports 

and extracurriculars, and even working a part-time job. 

And for SOME people, being a SINGLE parent means raising KIDS, getting them to SCHOOL, 

buying GROCERIES, doing LAUNDRY, cooking, cleaning – the WHOLE thing…

and THEN trying to work FULL TIME.

It can be COMPLETELY overwhelming – but THEN trying to find time to LEISURELY draw or paint.

Forget about it!! 

I knew a young mother who was incredibly SKILLED with Zentangle-style artwork.

But, because she was a single MOM raising THREE kids, she felt she had NO time to indulge her passion for drawing.

So, I offered her an opportunity to meet up once a month for coffee at a local coffee shop.

She agreed and was able to have someone watch her kids for two hours and once a month, we got together.

We brought our paints and sketchbooks and enjoyed the most wonderful painting sessions while chatting 

about life, our kids, and our goals.

It was a fantastic way to support each other and FIND time to tap into our creativity that wasn’t there before.

We were both BURNED out from our day-to-day routines which caused DISINTEREST in creating artwork.

Something in our lives had to make way for all the other things we had to deal with.

But, finding that time to have COFFEE not only enriched our friendship, but it allowed us to REVIVE our interest 

and keep us excited about being creative.

I had a high school student who was working on a graphic novel, but was BURNING OUT from their schedule.

Frustration and STRESS over studying for exams, sports, and dating was leading to their DISINTEREST.

We sat one day in class, and I explained that they needed to find time SOMEWHERE in their schedule that would allow them 

to IMMERSE in their work.

Even for just 30 minutes a day! I explained that it wasn’t for FUN – it was to WORK on their graphic novel.

So, we went over their schedule and found that during the day, I had a PREP period at the same time they had LUNCH.

I offered them an opportunity – to bring their LUNCH to my classroom and spend their 40 minute lunch period on their work.

Without hesitating, they agreed and every day they came to my class during lunch and dove RIGHT into their work.

I saw a DRAMATIC resurgence in their ATTITUDE, enthusiasm, and their INTEREST in their work.

It was AMAZING to watch as that student couldn’t WAIT for lunch everyday.

There’s only ONE, sure-fire way to prevent BURNOUT and that is to PACE ourselves so the TIME we invest is 

NOT interrupted by OUTSIDE influence or tasks.

We absolutely MUST keep creating – even when we’re in the thralls of BURNOUT.

Because as soon as we put our work ASIDE and think, “I’ll get to it later,” or “I don’t have TIME right now,” 

it will lead RIGHT into DISINTEREST.

And it’s MUCH harder to recover from DISINTEREST than it is from BURNOUT.

DISINTEREST gives us PERMISSION to PUT OFF our interest and relies on EXCUSES to not keep us from working.

BURNOUT, on the other hand, is exhaustion that REQUIRES us to STEP AWAY to RECHARGE and REFOCUS our energy 

and mental capacity to get back into our work.

There’s no EXCUSES with burnout – only the need to change our ROUTINE.

There ARE times when LIFE takes over and we CAN’T ignore the reality that our PRECIOUS creative time MUST be set aside.

Family emergencies, health situations, school obligations, or financial reasons.

But, the SOLUTION is to make a firm AGREEMENT with ourselves to COME BACK to our creativity as SOON as possible.

When the emergencies or obligations are PASSED, then we COMMIT ourselves to RECLAIMING our time and effort.

Sometimes, letting GO of the pressure to create can help FREE ourselves so we can fully focus on other demands that 

need our IMMEDIATE attention.

Like I said in number one – Health and well-being come before ANYTHING.

And in number two, when “Life Gets in the Way,” we have to FIND ways to fit creativity into our routines.

The alternative is that our creative spirit burns out and eventually fades away.

And that should NEVER be acceptable if we can help it.

7. Being Under-Valued

When I began freelancing, I learned VERY quickly that clients were ALL ABOUT cutting costs and saving MONEY.

No matter HOW LOW my quote was – clients ALWAYS came back with an even LOWER number – usually MUCH lower!

If I said $2,000 dollars, they’d say “All we can do is $1,000.” 

If I quoted $4,000 for a job, they’d HEM and HAW, roll their eyes and try to LOWBALL my quote.

One client asked me, “what IS IT with you ARTIST people – why do you think your work is worth SO MUCH?”

They went on to say that ARTISTS overvalue their skills and that there’s always 20 more artists out there who will do the job for less.

It was INFURIATING that my TIME and SKILLS – and the YEARS I spent developing them – were at the MERCY of someone 

whose BOTTOM LINE was to undermine them. 

The funny thing is, I UNDERSTOOD it, but could you imagine going to your DENTIST and trying to LOW BALL the price of dental work?

Or DEBATE an auto mechanic that $500 is too much and you will only pay $200?

They’d probably just LAUGH as they showed you the door!

Fortunately, as my BUSINESS grew, I could be more SELECTIVE about who I worked with,

only taking on clients who RESPECTED my time and my work.

But, VALUE isn’t just about MONEY.

Value is also about how people RESPOND TO and APPRECIATE our artwork, as well.

It’s a HUMBLING conclusion when an audience DOESN’T take an interest in what we do.

Imagine going to the theater and for the final BOW at the end of the show, NO ONE claps.

That would be DEVASTATING to the cast and crew.

This kind of DE-VALUE can be a MAJOR contributor to burnout, disinterest, and even giving up creating art, altogether.

Whether showing our work in a gallery or exhibition, showing our work to a potential client,

or even posting our work ONLINE – if the response is negative, we can REACT. 

We can ENGAGE the audience to find out WHY it was received negatively.

But, when there’s NO response – when people don’t VALUE our work enough to even RESPOND,

that can be truly just as DEVASTATING.

I know for me, when I post one of my videos on my Facebook page

and not a SINGLE friend of mine comments or even clicks LIKE, it’s a real blow to my EGO.

Especially when another friend posts a video of a band they went to see and everyone loves it and comments on it.

Social media can make an artist feel INVISIBLE.

When we post on a regular basis, our friends and followers can get TIRED of seeing our work and just dismiss it.

Despite the HOURS we spent on a project, it’s EASY for people to STOP, LOOK, and walk away without a word.

Feeling like no one appreciates or values what we do, creatively, can be frustrating and disheartening.

It can affect us even MORE when there’s MONEY involved.

Recently, a person I used to go to CHURCH who moved out of state contacted me about an illustration project.

They said it would be PERFECT for me, so we discussed it and I was excited to get into it.

But, when I sent them a quote of how much the project would COST, the REACTION was surprising.

They were CONFUSED and, as they said, DISAPPOINTED.

They didn’t realize that I was going to charge them – after all, we were FRIENDS, right?

They literally said, “I just thought it would be a fun project for you” and “it would be really GREAT exposure” for me.”

They were unaware that I would EXPECT to get paid for the project, which still blows me away!

It was a long time since I’d heard those comments about “exposure” and “it’ll be good for my portfolio.”

But, I immediately declined the project, shaking my head as I hung up the phone.

The idea that a FRIEND would have such LITTLE value in ME, my WORK, and my TIME made me sad.

But, it was a GOOD reminder that this is how a LOT of non-artists view creative people.

VALUE is a two way street.

With selling our work, there HAS to be a mutual respect and appreciation between us and the client.

Without it, then one party will walk away feeling slighted or undervalued.

With posting our work on social media, we have to provide feedback to others in order to receive it.

If all we do is post our work and expect people to leave feedback, then people will get bored with us and stop following.

However, if we are able to provide thoughtful, supportive feedback for OTHERS, they will provide the same for US.

If we’re STILL not being valued online, then perhaps we’re presenting to the WRONG audience.

It’s important to examine WHO we’re posting FOR – and if it IS the wrong audience, then it’s time to seek out a new audience.

Finding like-minded artists or friends will yield more VALUE to us and our work than people with no connection.

Unfortunately, that’s what happens when I post my videos on Facebook.

Most of my friends and family simply are not interested to learn about ART or creativity.

They don’t respond because they have no CONNECTION and nothing to really contribute.

If I post a photo of my kids or myself doing something fun and RELATABLE, then I’ll get lots of feedback.

Something I used to teach is that, PERSISTENCE is the key to the DOOR of being RECOGNIZED;

and SINCERITY is the WELCOME MAT to being appreciated.

8. Creative Blocks

Whenever a LACK of motivation meets a DRAUGHT of inspiration, we get creative blocks.

Well, what IS creativity anyway?

Creativity is a complex INTERPLAY between PRECISE, controlled thinking and free-spirited, SPONTANEOUS thinking.

In other words, it’s when our CONTROLLED thinking is in perfect harmony with our SPONTANEOUS thinking.

When we MOVE through life without MAJOR concerns or distractions, 

then we’re usually able to ACCESS that interplay and EXPRESS our thinking in creative ways.

However, when we feel DEEP concern or WORRY about things in life or experience MAJOR distractions

then this can DISRUPT that interplay and throw our thinking OFF-BALANCE – both the controlled AND spontaneous.

When we focus TOO hard to CONTROL things in our life, ESPECIALLY when they’re OUT of our control, 

it can DETRACT from our spontaneity.

The result is it LIMITS us from our “FREE PLAY SANDBOX” approach to problem solving and accessing that INTERPLAY 

becomes REALLY difficult.

Instead, the more we TRY to force access, the MORE it’s denied.

It’s like a DAM that has been BUILT on our STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS that BLOCKS our free-flowing ideas and expression.

It’s what we call a CREATIVE BLOCK and it happens to just about EVERY creative person.

There’s a HUGE range of reasons why this happens, from a change in seasons,

MONEY issues, the monotony of a daily GRIND, or even being emotionally compromised. 

Do a SEARCH on YouTube or Google for “How to Clear a Creative Block” and you’ll find TONS of content.

But, it’s only when we’re IN a creative BLOCK do we realize there’s no switch that turns it OFF. 

There’s no video or website that can help someone clear a CREATIVE BLOCK when their in the middle of one.

And while there’s a LOT of advice out there, there are only two TRUE WAYS to get out of a CREATIVE BLOCK:

You either WAIT IT OUT or you WORK IT OUT.

WAITING IT OUT means finding other NON-creative interests to indulge our CONTROLLED THINKING.

For me, I enjoy working in my yard, playing my guitar, or just getting outside and being part of nature.

Like the DAM on the RIVER, over TIME, the BLOCK will become dislodged and the stream will start flowing again.

Some people like to WORK IT OUT and FORCE their CONTROLLED THINKING to give-way to SPONTANEOUS thinking.

This means instead of slowly dislodging the DAM on the stream of consciousness, 

they’ll go at that DAM with FULL-FORCE, like a wrecking ball!

Doing color swatches, practicing FOUNDATION level exercises, like perspective or value, 

creating sketch patterns, or even organizing our supplies can be GREAT ways of WORKING IT OUT.

The idea is to WORK out the BLOCK until it comes LOOSE, allowing that COMPLEX interplay 

to be like a child visiting a new playground. One common thing with creative blocks is that they ALL take time. 

Some take more than others, but they eventually come undone.

Only in the rarest cases have I heard of a creative block lasting more than a few weeks OR having 

a long-term effect on an artist.

9. No Desire to Explore

Whether we work traditionally or digitally, if we don’t explore new techniques, styles, and mediums,

then we get CAUGHT in the “rinse & repeat” cycle of creating the SAME work over and over.

Work with NO enthusiasm… NO character… NO personality… NO life.

If there’s no INTEREST in growing or expanding our skills, then THAT will communicate to our audience.

A LACK of INTEREST to explore NEW things will usually leads to one result: BOREDOM.

I used to teach my students that, “BOREDOM is a LACK of IMAGINATION.”

But, what boredom REALLY is, is the “ABSENCE of DESIRE in finding creative OPPORTUNITIES.”

If we DENY ourselves the interest to EXPLORE, we DENY ourselves the OPPORTUNITIES to GROW, learn, 

and experience new things.

And without THOSE, our WORK will lack DEPTH, range, expression, and the ability to COMMUNICATE.

There was once a man who traveled the world, yet he NEVER left his home.

All the experiences he had were from the BOOKS he read – the most wonderful, fantastic stories from all over.

But, as much as he FELT as though he’d been around the world, he knew very little of what the world was really like.

He never knew what French food tasted like…

He never knew what the sound of the ocean was like…

And he never knew ANYTHING about falling in love…

He only knew what OTHER people wrote about these things.

Had the man left his home and stepped OUT of his comfort zone,

he might have learned ALL about these things from his OWN experiences.

The same is true for artists.

If we don’t EXPLORE new styles, mediums, and techniques… 

If we don’t EXAMINE the work of other artists, cultures, and time periods…

If we don’t EMBRACE new opportunities to challenge our creative skills and take RISKS…

…Then we’ll never be able to EXPERIENCE them for ourselves and watch OTHERS benefit instead.

We FORFEIT the opportunities to GROW and create a NEW range of our OWN work that is FRESH and UNIQUE

which could actually inspire a whole NEW audience to explore THEIR creativity, as well.

I’ve seen this with younger artists who ONLY choose to work with digital media.

They LACK the experience working in traditional media, favoring the COMFORT and EASE of a digital canvas and brush.

But, working digitally can ROB us of the tactile experience we NEED to understand the mediums we work in.

I can create a digital watercolor painting that LOOKS like a real watercolor painting.

However, a large part of the experience of painting a watercolor painting is LOST when I create digitally.

Knowing how to manipulate and control the medium is KEY to the success of the work.

But, if I had no interest in using REAL watercolors and ONLY painted digitally, I’d have NO IDEA about that.

And after a few digital watercolor paintings, I’d probably get BORED because I can only do so much with it.

And again – that would COMMUNICATE to an audience and my work might be seen as BORING.

For artists who can’t – or WON’T – shift gears and explore new, creative techniques, 

the process can become anything BUT fun. 

It can becomes tedious and repetitive.

For artists who follow the “rinse & repeat” approach, their works becomes safe, predictable, and unfortunately, cliché.

It’s important for ALL artists to constantly be seeking out new ways to develop their skills.

When I was teaching art, I had a student who LOVED drawing anime-style characters on their iPad.

They had used ball point pens and Micron pens, but had NEVER used a dip pen with ink before.

So, I introduced them to DIP pens and challenged them to see what they could do.

While that student was excited and thrilled to try REAL dip pens and ink for the first time,

they quickly realized that without an UNDO button or an ERASER tool, REAL pen and ink was VERY difficult to control.

Eventually, with some basic instruction, they were able to explore the new medium and create sketches that were similar 

to what they could create on the iPad.

Taking an INTEREST in exploring NEW WAYS of doing things ONLY serves to ENHANCE what we already know.

Of course, for me – I KNOW how much I could benefit from an UNDO button when I paint with REAL watercolors!

10. Laziness

Maybe the most OBVIOUS reason that creating art MIGHT lose its appeal or STOP being fun is just simple LAZINESS.

How many times have we spent an HOUR scrolling on our phones only to realize just how LAZY we’re being?

No productivity, no movement, no interactions… just SCROLLING.

We WATCH and PROCESS and ANALYZE, yet our REACTION doesn’t actually yield ANY action at all.

Sure, we might become EMOTIONAL at a post or video – like laughing, being disgusted, or even getting angry…

…but we REMAIN in the same spot.

Static, unmoving, and physically UNCHANGED.

SCROLLING takes absolutely ZERO effort and provides us with absolutely ZERO in return.

So, in life it’s same to assume that zero EFFORT yields zero RETURN.

And that’s the thing about BEING creative is that it takes EFFORT.

My formula for SUCCESS is: TIME + ENERGY + EFFORT = SUCCESS.

And that success can be measured by education, growth, experience, or productivity.

It takes TIME to be creative:

Finding time outside of work or school, setting up our space, getting our supplies ready, and so on.

It takes ENERGY to put motivation into ACTION, which will get our blood pumping and get our BRAIN in a creative mode.

And it takes EFFORT to pick up that PEN or move that BRUSH across the canvas.

The SUCCESS is found in learning how to use our tools better, explore new opportunities, and experience the tactile sensations of our materials.

The SUCCESS is also in that moment in our life when we can fully immerse into our creative self 

and tune out EVERYTHING around us.

It’s an AMAZING feeling when we’re in that IMMERSIVE state and SO rewarding when we finally come OUT.

There’s a word that we often don’t associate with art or creativity: the word FORTITUDE.

Fortitude is the MENTAL and EMOTIONAL strength we find WITHIN our spirit to forge ahead through the challenges 

that are in front of us.

FORTITUDE is what helps us CUT THROUGH the weeds of a creative block and FORGE a path through 

the BRAMBLES of FEAR and DOUBT.

We NEED that FORTITUDE to help us COMMIT to putting our TIME to good use, our ENERGY into our work, 

and our EFFORT to making it work for us.

If we DON’T commit ourselves to that time, energy, and effort and ONLY indulge in trivial, useless, and LAZY habits,

then we adopt the negative philosophy that IT’S OKAY to put IMPORTANT things OFF for LATER.

There’s an old saying, “Don’t put off for LATER, what you can do right NOW.”

And it’s SO true, too!

Procrastination, laziness, and sloth. 

These are ALL words for dismissing TIME, ENERGY, and EFFORT in favor of relaxation, a QUICK-FIX, easiness, or fun.

These words ALSO allow us to SHIFT THE BLAME for our LACK of success onto someone or someTHING else.

You might hear someone say, “I didn’t get the job interview because they never emailed me back.”

A statement like this shifts the BLAME for not getting a job interview from US to the employer, 

as though it were THEIR fault for not contacting us.

It’s up to US to be VIGILANT in following up on our communications, especially when we want something from someone else.

Another word that I like to apply here is: PERSISTENCE.

PERSISTENCE is when we do something and encounter a difficulty, obstacle, or opposition YET despite all that, 

we KEEP pushing through it and MAINTAIN our determination to achieve success.

Back when my kids were young and I needed a job that was close to home, 

I found the PERFECT design job with a small agency just 20 minutes away.

They were looking for a mid-level designer, so I applied for the job online.

I didn’t hear from them, so I assumed that my experience working for large companies and being 

an art director probably put them off.

So, I found the name of the agency’s art director on their website, and emailed them about the job.

My email was polite and professional, yet I expressed my sincere interest in the job.

Finally, after a few weeks, they replied. They said, “thank you for your interest, but we’re going to continue 

our search to fill the role.”

Well, I won’t minimize it – but, this ticked me right off!

I had put a lot of TIME, ENERGY, and EFFORT into crafting my resume, updating my portfolio, and contacting this company.

I was not about to be turned away without a LEAST a conversation about WHY I wasn’t being considered.

So, I found the OWNER of the agency’s email address and emailed them.

The short version of the story is that the owner and I ended up talking on the phone for an hour, 

sharing stories about the design industry.

They invited me in for an interview and as I was about to leave, they offered me the job right there.

I worked at that agency for several years, and one day when I spoke with the art director,

they told me they didn’t like that I went over their head to talk with the owner.

Still, during the interview, it had become clear that I was qualified for the job and worth interviewing, after all.

It was my PERSISTENCE that got that job… My UNWILLINGNESS to accept NO as an answer before even being interviewed.

For me, I had nothing to lose by being persistent. And it paid off.

It was a BOLD move to go over someone’s head, but fortunately it was worth it – AND we’re still friends, even today.

The point is – if there’s a JOB to be done, there MUST be ACTION in order to DO IT.

And ACTION is the process of putting something into motion that will produce a reaction or consequence.

For better or for worse…

And as we’ve all heard, “For every ACTION there is a REACTION.”

If you break an egg to make an omelette, there are several things that MAY happen:

• you get egg shell in your omelette

• you spill the egg all over the counter

• or you SUCCEED and make a delicious breakfast.

HOWEVER, it could also be said that for every INACTION, there is a REACTION as well.

If you need to make an omelette, but choose to sit on the couch watching television, several things MAY happen:

•  your hunger increases and you end up getting something else to eat that’s faster and less healthy

• you end up rushing and making a big mess or even burning yourself or the meal

• or you FAIL and have nothing to eat.

For ME, the worst part of LAZINESS and PROCRASTINATION is that we USUALLY have to do the tasks ANYWAY.

Like changing the sheets on a bed.

Nobody LIKES this chore, but it has to be done.

So, we can either get out of bed, pull ALL the sheets off and toss them in the washing machine and dryer

OR put it off until the sheets become dirty, smelly, and even unhealthy to sleep on.

I’ve had experiences when I’ll go to bed and find that the sheets were STILL in the laundry.

I put OFF making the bed when I had the CHANCE during the day, so NOW I have to make the bed 

at 10 o’clock at NIGHT when I’m tired.

LAZINESS is a bad habit that needs to be FORCED out.

We need to LISTEN to that little voice inside that TELLS us to get up or to get off the phone.

We need to ACT quickly and WITHOUT hesitation to get things done.

With our artwork, laziness can RUIN paint brushes, DIMINISH out passion and desire to create, 

and FORFEIT opportunities to experience JOY.

Because if there’s no JOY in our work, then creating ART will NEVER be FUN.

And if there’s no FUN, then there’s no POINT.

SO, TO SUMMARIZE, HERE’S A BULLET VERSION in how to keep art FUN or to bring the FUN back to your art:

And that goes for ANYTHING. 

John Lennon once sang, “If it don’t feel right – you don’t have to do it. Just leave a message on the phone and tell ‘em to screw it. 

Cuz after all’s been said and done, you can’t go pleasing everyone – so screw it. I’m steppin’ out!”

I love that song and I can relate to the message!

So, if we come to the point where we’ve become BORED with our work or it feels like a CHORE or a JOB,

then it MAY be time for US to trying “stepping out” for a while and try something different.

After 30 years of being a professional artist, I STILL enjoy my creative passion and continue taking on small projects.

But, it took ME to step OUT of the commercial design field and get a job in a TOTALLY different field to find the JOY in my OWN art again.

I burned out of the corporate GRIND – working in a cubicle every day and being told my artwork wasn’t what somebody ELSE was thinking of –

despite following the marketing direction down to the finest DETAIL – all it took was one person to change EVERYTHING on a whim,

deciding that they preferred the color BLUE now, instead of YELLOW like they originally WANTED. 

Months of meetings and brainstorming – and ALL that hard work – was SCRAPPED and my team had to start ALL over from scratch.

I LOVE graphic design, but I didn’t love managing people and projects that left me feeling UNDERVALUED and that my creative spirit was suffocating.

I also resented the idea of spending RIDICULOUS amounts of time working on a project,

only to feel JEALOUSY when our department head got ALL the praise and accolades.

I remember feeling days where my motivation would sink and I felt unhealthy sitting under those bright, fluorescent lights for 10 hours a day.

But, for me, I eventually realized that for my routine to change – I had to change my routine.

The corporate art world is not a place to expect people to be sympathetic or supportive.

In the corporate design field, no company or agency has EVER put a designer’s needs ahead of the company’s.

With social media, no one has EVER said, “I just LOVE working for an algorithm.”

And even with STUDENTS, they’ll never encourage you to take a break from THEIR demands and needs, and just go for a walk outside in the sun.

For me, when I’m at work, driving in my car, or out with friends,

the thought of being home in my little studio to PAINT or DRAW just makes me GIDDY with excitement!

Thinking about my art supplies raises my pulse and the idea of being creative makes me SMILE – inside and out – and feel REALLY HAPPY!!

And THAT is the entire point of this pos.

If you’re NOT feeling excited about your work – your supplies – your process – or your whole ROUTINE – then it may be time for a change.

If creating art for YOURSELF feels like a job or buying groceries, then it’s probably not much FUN to THINK about, either.

And again, it MAY be time for a change.

So, my hope is that this LONG discussion was helpful and may provide SOME motivation to help keep a fresh perspective on our art and our creative spirit.

Whether we’re creating art for OURSELVES, to hang it in a gallery, to post it online, or to make content for others –

It’s VITAL that the experience fills our HEART with JOY – even if we FAIL or make mistakes – Because THAT’S going to happen… …

It’s SUPPOSED to happen!

It’s how we LEARN, UNDERSTAND, and GROW. 

Well, I’m SO grateful for your time reading this today and I thank you SO much.

Check back again soon and I’ll post more content to get you thinking.

If you have thoughts, please share your comments and I’d enjoy learning about your experiences.

I hope you’re having FUN with your creativity and you continue to nurture your creative spirit.

Thank you again for coming by, stay healthy and as always, God bless!

Mark