I never really liked art class.
That might sound funny coming from an artist, but it’s true. I spent so much time looking at my neighbor’s work, comparing my paintings to theirs, and thinking, Mine isn’t nearly as good. I didn’t realize back then that most people don’t start off amazing. Sure, some are born with raw talent, but most have to work at it—over and over again, thousands of times—before their work becomes something they’re proud to share.
But I didn’t know that.
So, when I first started painting, I wasn’t creating masterpieces. I wasn’t even creating meaningful art. I was simply putting color on a canvas. Just colors—straight lines that gently complemented each other but formed no real design.
And I thought it was good.
Good enough to give to friends.
Now, years later, when I scroll through my contacts, I’ll sometimes see those paintings as their profile pictures. And I laugh. Because—really? That’s what I gave you? A random swirl of colors with no deeper meaning?
But then, I look at it again.
What I see now isn’t a lack of skill or artistic direction. I see a will to try something new. I see a desire to follow my passion, even when I wasn’t sure where it was leading. I had no grand vision. I wasn’t setting out to create my life’s work. I was just showing up. Being present. Exploring. And that was a gift.
I would love for more people to experience that—creativity without the burden of expectations.
Creativity Takes Time (And That’s Okay)
I think a lot of people hesitate to try something creative because they assume they have to be good at it from the start. And if they aren’t, they think it means they aren’t talented, or it’s not meant for them.
But here’s the truth: It takes time. A long time.
Even God created the earth in seven days, but—hey—that’s God. You and I? We’re human. And creativity isn’t a seven-day project. It’s a lifetime of showing up, experimenting, and letting yourself play.
So why not just start?
Paint something, even if it’s just colors on a canvas.
Write something, even if it never sees the light of day.
Take a class, even if you feel like a beginner.
Try something new, even if you don’t know where it’s leading.
It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be good. It just has to be done.
And who knows? Maybe one day, years from now, you’ll look back at your first attempts and smile—not because they were masterpieces, but because they were proof that you had the courage to try.
Go for it. Explore. Create. Not for perfection, not for praise—just for the joy of it.
You’ll never know where it might lead if you don’t take that first step.
Kind nudges…