More than just the art

I’ve been live streaming my art for about a year now. It’s been amazing—but not without its fair share of hurdles, as most things aren’t. At first, I thought it’d be as easy as turning on a camera and doing what I was already doing anyway. And that’s how I started. But I didn’t really start gaining traction until I shifted how I thought about it.

I went from, “If they like it, they’ll come,” to, “If they like me, they’ll stay.” And that mindset shift was tough. I’ve struggled with feeling like I’m not good enough most of my life—for no real reason other than my own self-doubt. Oddly enough, art is one of the few things I do feel confident in. I can talk about art way easier than just about anything else.

It’s how I tell my stories. And it’s how I connect with people. Saying something like, “Oh hey aries296! I actually have a sweet Aries drawing—wanna see it?” gets way more of a response than a simple, “Hey, how are you today?” Art speaks to people. But I’m learning how to speak through it, too.

What I didn’t expect was how many people would stick around not just for the art, but for what I had to say about it. About creativity. About life. And honestly, I never get tired of hearing someone say they felt inspired to make something because of me. Because that first step—starting—is the hardest.

You don’t have to stream. You don’t even have to share what you create. Just draw. Paint. Write. Create.

What’s stopping you?

Aries - 18×24” Charcoal on paper