Cue the cinematic montage: paint-stained hands, a cluttered desk, the glow of a laptop screen at 1:47 a.m. This is the life of an artist — or at least, it’s mine.
Becoming an artistic badass isn’t as romantic as it sounds. Sure, it’s got its flashes of magic, like that one time I painted a realistic dog and suddenly felt like an all-powerful creative sorceress. But for every moment of "I’m unstoppable!" there’s a quiet (or not-so-quiet) "What am I even doing?" Here's a look at the wild, weird, and wonderful journey of embracing my inner artistic badass — the good, the bad, and the "omg, I’m going to throw my iPad out the window" moments.
The Pitfalls (Aka 'What Have I Gotten Myself Into?')
1. The Comparison Trap Instagram is both a muse and a monster. You’re scrolling, feeling fine, then suddenly — BAM! — you’re spiraling into "Why don’t my paintings look like THAT?" territory. It’s wild how quickly "inspiration" becomes "insecurity." I've learned to shut it down by focusing on my unique style (hello, whimsical portraits and Halloween cuteness) and reminding myself that nobody else can create exactly what I do.
2. The Perfectionist’s Loop of Doom There’s a fine line between "I want this to be good" and "I’ll never finish this because it’s not good enough." Perfectionism is the ultimate creativity vampire. It’ll drain your spirit and leave you second-guessing every paint stroke. My secret weapon? Deadlines. No time for perfection when you’ve got a live event illustration to finish by 2 p.m.!
3. The "Am I a Real Artist?" Crisis This one’s sneaky. You’ll be riding the creative high, and suddenly, a voice whispers, "Are you actually legit? Or are you just playing at being an artist?" Spoiler alert: You’re legit. If you’re making art, you’re an artist. End of discussion.
4. Burnout (But Make It Artsy) It’s so easy to overdo it when you’re fueled by passion (and maybe three too many iced lattes). One day you’re vibing, and the next, you’re a crumpled ball of "I’ll never paint again." I’ve learned that rest is just as important as "the grind." A creative mind needs space to breathe, not just produce.
The Delusions (Aka 'I’m Definitely in a Movie Montage, Right?')
1. "If I’m Talented, It Should Be Easy" I’m sorry, but no. Talent is a seed, not a fully grown tree. You have to water it (aka practice) and prune it (aka fail sometimes) and keep it in the sun (aka stay inspired). If it’s "easy," you’re probably not pushing yourself hard enough. It’s supposed to feel a little hard. That’s growth, baby.
2. "Once I Hit X Goal, I’ll Feel Legit" Spoiler alert: The goalposts move. First, it’s "I’ll feel legit when I’m featured in a gallery." Then it’s "I’ll feel legit when I have 10k followers." Then it’s "I’ll feel legit when I’m booked six months out." Guess what? You’re already legit. The only one moving the goalposts is you.
3. "If I Build It, They Will Come" You’ve got to market your art, my friend. Nobody’s stumbling into your studio uninvited like it’s a meet-cute in a rom-com. I’ve learned to put myself out there — live illustrating at fairs, crafting reels for Instagram, and even embracing the awkwardness of TikTok. Art doesn’t live in a vacuum; it’s gotta be seen.
The Lessons (Aka 'Here’s What’s Actually Working')
1. Done Is Better Than Perfect Perfectionism will have you stuck in "drafts" forever. I’d rather have 10 finished pieces in the world than one "almost perfect" one hiding in a folder. Hit publish. Post the process. Share the messy middle.
2. Your Weirdness Is Your Superpower When I leaned into my weird (upcycled craft kits, spooky bookmarks, whimsical pet portraits), my art felt more me than ever. People connect with that authenticity. It’s not about being "good" in a traditional sense; it’s about being you in a bold, unapologetic way.
3. Rest Is Part of the Process Rest isn’t laziness; it’s compost for creativity. I’ve learned to protect my "off time" just as fiercely as I protect my "work time." Inspiration can’t show up if you’re constantly booked and busy.
4. Community Over Competition Other artists aren’t your rivals — they’re your creative kin. Engaging with my community of fellow artists has led to collaborations, friendships, and ideas I’d never have dreamed up on my own. It’s less "dog-eat-dog" and more "can I pet your dog while we talk art supplies?"
5. There’s No Such Thing as "Real Art" Art isn’t some exclusive club. There’s no secret password, no official badge. If you’re creating, you’re an artist. Period. No one gets to gatekeep that for you.
Final Thoughts (Omg, Are You Still Here?)
If you’re in the thick of it — the doubt, the chaos, the "why did I choose this?" fog — just know that’s all part of it. Every artistic badass you admire has been there. They’ve doubted, cried, and questioned themselves. You’re not alone.
Take this as your official permission slip: Be bold. Be weird. Make bad art. Make weird art. Post it anyway. Sell it if you want. Give it away if you want. But most importantly, keep going. The world needs what’s inside of you.
And if you’re ever doubting your journey, just know there’s at least one artist (hi, it’s me) cheering you on from her cluttered desk at 1:47 a.m.