Why Art Shouldn’t Come First
(and what every artist needs to hear)

Maybe it’s a controversial opinion, but someone needs to say it:
I’m an artist, and I don’t think art should come first.

Stay with me.

Here’s Why:

For about ten years, I went all in on art. I learned every technique, every skill, every medium I could get my hands on. I got really good—technically speaking. Confident enough that if I could imagine it, I could make it.

But then I hit a wall.
I hated it.

I was uninspired, boxed into four walls, endlessly drawing pets and portraits of other people’s lives. I even found a note in my diary that said:

“I never want to be a full-time artist.”

So I stopped creating for three whole years.

Finding My Spark Again

Instead of forcing myself to make art, I went out and lived.
I chased the things that made me feel alive again: skydiving, paragliding, parakiting, exploring the world.

And somewhere along the way, I found that spark again. That unstoppable urge to create.

After those three years, I didn’t want to make art. I had to.

The Real Artist’s Block

Here’s what I’ve realised: every artist eventually reaches a point where they’ve mastered their craft. You know your tools, your process, your technique.
The hard part isn’t how to create anymore. It’s what to create.

What inspires you?
What moves you?
What do you love enough to turn into art?

Most of us spend so long being productive and learning that we forget how to live. We get stuck trying to make something perfect, instead of experiencing something worth creating about.

That’s the real challenge.

Art Comes From Life, Not Algorithms

Throughout history, art has always been rooted in experience: storytelling, emotion, adventure, love, loss, joy.

But somewhere along the way, things changed. We started creating for likes. For algorithms. For what we thought people wanted.

And honestly? I think it made a lot of artists kind of sad.

My Take: Don’t Fall Into the Productivity Trap

Don’t get so caught up in being productive that you forget to live.
Don’t lose the spark that made you want to create in the first place.

I make sure I talk about this in every workshop and event I run — because I want young artists to see this trap before they fall into it.

Art Is Essential. But living comes first

Art is absolutely essential. It’s how we connect, express, and make sense of the world.
But it shouldn’t be your whole world.

Live boldly. Experience deeply. Go absolutely wild.
Then bring it back to your art.

Caveat: art and creativity aren’t the same thing.

Art is something you make.
Creativity is a way of thinking and living.

Creativity should always come first. It’s the curious, questioning, problem-solving energy that fuels everything: your art, your work, your adventures, your relationships.

It’s how you approach the world, not just what you produce from it.

That’s a whole other conversation (and blog) coming soon.

Katie H.

Keep Creating from Life — Not Just for Likes

If this resonated with you, you might love my Fine Art Workshops where we reconnect creativity with real-life experience. Join me for a relaxed morning of painting, storytelling, and rediscovering your creative spark.

See upcoming workshops
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