A shift that changes everything
Lately, I’ve been thinking about what happens when we give ourselves permission to approach art differently—when we set aside the rules, the “shoulds,” and the little voice that says you can’t do it that way.
One of the great joys of teaching this year's free Creative Reset course, has been seeing what unfolds when artists take that leap. This year’s group has been nothing short of inspiring.
When I asked them to draw a series of self-portraits without looking—sometimes only by touch, sometimes with their “wrong” hand—they didn’t blink. They just went for it. The results were astonishing: touching, raw, emotional, and far more revealing than a carefully observed likeness could ever be.
Later, I asked them to make a bad painting on purpose. That might sound ridiculous—after all, don’t we all want to make good paintings? But here’s the secret: when the pressure to make something “good” disappears, the work often comes alive. Many of those so-called “bad” paintings pulsed with energy, freedom, and excitement. They had a spark that often gets lost in more careful and controlled work.
What struck me most wasn’t just the work itself, but the willingness of the artists to dive into these experiments. These exercises aren’t about creating masterpieces—they’re about dismantling the walls we unknowingly build around our own creativity.
So why does this work?
Because the biggest obstacles we face in art aren’t usually technical. They’re mental. We hold ourselves back with beliefs like:
I’m not talented enough.
I have to get this right.
People won’t take me seriously if my work is too messy/childlike/strange.
I should be further along by now.
Each of those thoughts is a brick in the wall between us and our creativity.
But when you try something playful, unconventional, or even deliberately “wrong,” those bricks begin to loosen. You discover that nothing terrible happens if your drawing is upside down, or if your painting looks messy. In fact, sometimes that’s when your truest voice sneaks out—because the inner critic has finally been tricked into stepping aside.
Do you see? The more our inner critic is involved, the worse the art gets (and the unhappier we get).
And once you’ve had that experience of losing your inner critic, you start to realize: if I can let go here, where else can I let go?
This is why I believe so deeply in the power of a creative reset. It’s not about tossing out everything you’ve learned. It’s about remembering that rules are optional, mistakes are fertile ground, and joy is a vital compass for your art.
The transformation I’ve seen in this year’s group has reassured me that my crazy ideas work. These aren’t just quirky assignments I dream up—they genuinely help people make huge shifts. With the right mix of curiosity, courage, and community, we can all move past the limitations we’ve placed on ourselves.
And when that happens, it feels a little bit like magic.
So if you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or weighed down by self-doubt, I'd love you to try your own mini reset this week. Pick one “rule” you usually cling to, and break it on purpose. Use the wrong brush. Switch hands. Paint with your eyes closed. Make something you think will be terrible.
You might just be surprised by the energy and freedom that comes rushing in.