What stops you from doing art?

As a Community Connector who loves making art in her spare time, I’ve seen how making art can be deeply therapeutic, at any stage of life. There's now plenty of science to back this up: making art reduces stress, helps regulate your nervous system, and can be a gateway to self-knowledge. Or sometimes it’s just plain fun. 

So, when it’s relevant, I bring it up with people I work with. And you know what I usually hear? 

“I’m not good at art.” 
“I can’t draw.” 
“I’m useless with a brush.” 
“I can only manage stick figures.” 

Sound familiar? 

I’ve been on my own art journey for a few years now, consuming endless art content and learning about media, techniques, creativity and inspiration. And one thing has become crystal clear: many of us have been conditioned to believe that unless we’re 1) naturally gifted and 2) producing something that someone will judge as good, we have no business making art. 

We think art has to be impressive, worthy of a gallery. We act like creativity is a privilege we have to earn. We feel we need go to have gone to art school and study the Great Masters—you know, the ones with Ninja Turtle names. 

Or maybe we believe that art must be mysterious, complex, and layered with meaning only understood by deep thinkers with anachronistic beards and ironic glasses. 

And so, when I bring up art, some people genuinely aren’t interested, which is totally fine. But others? I often see a flicker of longing. They want to try. But they’re scared. 

I was one of them. 

Until I realized a few things. 

1. Art is for everyone. 

Just like Elizabeth Gilbert wrote in Big Magic, creativity is part of being human. People were drawing on cave walls long before elite art academies existed. You don’t need permission. You don’t need a certificate. You don’t need to be good. You just need to want to create. 

2. Skill can be learned. Really. 

Sure, some people are born with more natural ability—but art, like anything else, can be learned. Often, what’s missing isn’t talent, but process. Think about building a house: you wouldn’t start with a bathroom, throw in a roof, and hope it comes together. There’s a structure to it. Art is the same way. You can learn the steps if you find yourself wanting to learn more. 

3. You don’t have to care about the final product. 

What if you made art just because you wanted to? What if the process was the point? Can you allow yourself to make something that isn't good, and still enjoy doing it? 

So, if you’ve ever felt pulled toward painting, doodling, scribbling, or just making a mess—here’s your permission slip. 

Pick up a pencil and make lines. Smear paint with your fingers. Splatter watercolour and see where it lands. Make silly art. Make sad art. Make loud, bright, weird, messy, joyful art. 

Just don’t worry about how it looks. 

Wait—what? 

Yes. I officially encourage you to not care how it turns out. Instead, focus on how it feels to create it. Notice your breath. Notice your body. Did time disappear for a while? Did you learn new things about yourself? That’s a pretty good sign you’re onto something. 

Art doesn’t have to be about producing, impressing, or being seen. It can be about playing, healing, discovering. 

Make art from a place of childlike curiosity instead of adult-sized lack mentality. Have you ever met a 3-year-old who looked at their scribbles and said, “Ugh, I’m terrible at this.”? 

You don’t have to show it to anyone. It can be your secret. But who knows? If you keep going, you might fall in love with the process. You might even want to go to art school one day. But you don’t need to, to simply enjoy creating. 

Let me be clear: you don’t need my permission. I’m not the art police. But just in case you need to hear it—you, yes YOU, are worthy of making art. 

I hope this little ramble has encouraged you to ask yourself: What if I tried? 
What will you create today? 

P.S. No elite art school students were harmed in the making of this essay. 

Silvia Salerno, Wellbeing Exeter Community Connector