3 Things No One Tells You About the Creative Life
1. Creativity Takes Time, Effort, and Persistence
Not everyone is born with a paintbrush in their hand. Many artists start later in life, and that doesn’t make their art any less meaningful or authentic.
I remember attending a three-day seminar with a well-known artist who kept calling us “hobbyists.” We were working on trompe l’oeil paintings—highly detailed, realistic art that demands a lot of skill and patience. I felt insulted by the label, especially since the course wasn’t cheap! The implication was that we weren’t “real” artists because we were learning from him. But here’s what I’ve come to understand: only you can define your creative journey.
Believing in yourself is key, especially when others might not see your potential right away. The truth is, the journey of an artist is rarely smooth because...
2. Artists Are Their Own Worst Critics
In my 40+ years of creating art, I’ve often judged my work too harshly. Many times, I’ve looked at pieces and thought, “This isn’t good enough” or “I don’t have a clear style.” Even though I’ve sold many of these works and received positive feedback, I still found myself questioning their worth.
There’s a quote by the painter Thomas Hart Benton that has stuck with me: “The artist's life is the best life… if you can get through the first forty years.” Looking back, I see how true that is. Now, after decades of making art, I’ve learned to appreciate my work and the journey it took to get here. It’s a gift to create, and sometimes the hardest part is giving yourself the grace to keep going.
3. Practice Doesn’t Always Mean Perfection
There’s a lot of advice out there about how much time you should dedicate to your craft. Malcolm Gladwell’s famous (and now debated) 10,000-hour rule suggests that mastery takes a lifetime of practice, while art teachers often recommend drawing daily for 15 minutes.
But life isn’t always so accommodating. For years, I balanced art with raising a family. I knew a successful artist who locked her kids out of the studio so she could focus on her work, but I didn’t want to take that route. Instead, I carved out creative time while my kids were at school or asleep. Sometimes, I couldn’t do any art at all—months, even years passed without touching a canvas. And yet, when I came back to it, my work didn’t suffer. In fact, I believe that living life, with all its interruptions and detours, made me a better artist when I returned to the studio.
There’s a beautiful quote by Henry Van Dyke: “Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no birds sang except those that sang best.” Art isn’t about perfection; it’s about expression. Your life will shape your work in ways you can’t always plan or predict.
Final Thoughts
The creative life is full of unexpected twists, self-doubt, and hard-earned breakthroughs. But it’s also deeply rewarding. Whether you’re just starting or have been on this journey for years, remember that your art matters—if not to everyone, then to the One who gave you the gift to create in the first place. Keep going, keep growing, and trust that your unique voice has a place in the world.
About the Artist: Denise Clark Weston is a lifelong artist with over 40 years of experience in various mediums. From realistic trompe l’oeil paintings to landscapes, Denise's work is a reflection of both skill and personal journey. Through art, she explores themes of faith, beauty, and the richness of everyday life.