The Courage of the Creative

Oh, the romance of a blank canvas. So fresh. So full of promise. So wildly intimidating.

At first, it feels magical. Like anything could happen. Every medium is calling my name. Every color wants a turn. Every moment of life I have ever lived suddenly feels like it needs to be expressed immediately. Acrylics. Watercolors. Pastels. Should this be abstract? Realistic? A moody phase? A joyful one? Who knows.

And then reality taps me on the shoulder.

Time. Responsibilities. Expectations. Dishes. Emails. Life.

Before I even get the brush wet, I am frozen. Stuck in that awkward pause where inspiration is loud but movement is nonexistent. A creative traffic jam with no exits. Just vibes and anxiety.

Turns out, this is not just an art thing. It is a life thing.

Life shows up exactly like a blank canvas. Full of possibility and excitement. You look around and think, wow, I can do anything. And then life casually adds limited time, health stuff, bills, responsibilities, survival mode, randomness, and the occasional tragedy just to keep things interesting.

That is usually the moment we freeze. Not because we do not want more, but because we want too much at once. We think we need the full plan before we can begin. We tell ourselves we will start when we have more time, more clarity, more energy, or more confidence.

Spoiler alert. That moment rarely arrives.

So the real question becomes, how do we move when we are frozen? How do we start when everything feels important and overwhelming at the same time?

For me, it starts with one very simple question.

What color makes me feel good right now?

Not what makes sense. Not what is productive. Not what will impress anyone. Just what feels good.

That one question lowers the stakes. It removes the pressure to be perfect or profound. I look at the shades. I choose one. I press brush to canvas. Pen to paper. Pastel to surface. I make a mark. One mark. That is it.

And here is the magic part. Once something exists, your brain relaxes. Momentum replaces fear. The color starts talking back. I look at what is forming and respond to it. I build from what is already there instead of forcing an idea that is not ready yet.

This is not about making a masterpiece. It is about creating movement.

Sometimes I do not even start with color. I start with symbols. Words. Shapes. Feelings I want to explore. Other times, I use tools like reference images or AI to help visualize what I am imagining. Used responsibly, tools do not replace creativity. They enhance it. They support it. They help turn a foggy idea into something you can actually work with.

The same approach applies to life.

If you are feeling stuck, do not ask yourself what the perfect next step is. Ask yourself what the smallest step is that makes you feel better. Five minutes of writing. One sketch. A single walk around the block. One honest conversation. One decision made with kindness toward yourself.

Action does not require certainty. It creates it.

Start messy. Start small. Start imperfect. Just start.

Creativity, clarity, and confidence are not things you wait for. They are things you build by showing up, even when you do not feel ready.

So if you are staring at your own blank canvas, literal or metaphorical, here is your permission slip. Choose the color. Make the mark. Let it evolve.

The canvas is waiting.

And trust me. It is not judging you.

ENJOY!

-ERICA