Your Art Is a Mirror
what's it saying about you?
Have you ever looked back over the art you’ve created?
Did you notice any big shifts? Maybe smaller changes that led to a different trajectory over time? Perhaps your art shows itself in chapters. Bite sized portions that highlight different flavors of expression even.
The thing I’ve noticed recently is how much our art mirrors us. Like, the current state of our nervous systems, the way we’re showing up in our spaces, how we feel about ourselves, how we want others to perceive us, our hopes, fears… it’s all rattling around in there. Some to a higher degree than others, but it’s likely that a mix of these things is manifesting as our “Art.”
For years, mine reflected a well-dressed control freak through extremely detailed illustrations, razor-clean lines, and premixed colors because heaven forbid I accidentally deviate from “the established plan.” I know now that it wasn’t just aesthetic choice or style, it was the equivalent of bubble-wrapping myself so that I could lean on technical proficiency without sharing vulnerably.
At the time though, I didn’t even know this about myself, I just thought I was being “precise.” After all, the attention I was getting was all focused on the standards and excellence I held myself to. And honestly, that got me pretty far in academia.
But looking back the mirror was giving it all away: It was a pretty big sign that said, “I’m afraid.”
It showed me someone terrified of mistakes, someone painstakingly choreographing every mark and every brushstroke without leaving room for spontaneous expression. My creativity was basically zip-tied and held hostage by nobody else but me. I’ve even referred to this feeling like creating with the e-brake on, like you don’t know why it all feels strained but it does.
Well, dismantling that approach has been one of the biggest lessons I’ve been learning—and even though I’m not done yet, I can see what a difference my art is mirroring about me now.
You can give this a try:
If you’re feeling brave, go stare at what you’ve been making and see what it has to tell you. It just takes a little self-observation, some kindness, and a bit of honesty to receive what your work is sharing with you.
An important nuance to remember though, is that not everything that gets mirrored back to you is necessarily a problem. There was also a lot of dedication that was mirrored back to me, thoroughness, precision, deeply unique color choices… I think it’s important to remember that when we assess what’s going on for us creatively, we do so in a balanced way. This is how we grow. This is how we cultivate our intuition. And this is how we launch our creativity to new heights.
If you try this out and learn something about what your art is mirroring to you, I’d love to know if you care to share. Drop it in the comments if you’re braver than most. ;)
Until next time, friend. Create bravely and keep betting on yourself.
P.S. If you’d like to see more of my art and peek into my creative life, come follow me on Instagram. 🌹