Sketches and a new direction
I've never been much of a "business" person, but I've been wanting to open up an online art shop.
I thought "getting my spark back" meant that drawing would feel like how it used when I was a teenager. I thought it would be easy to get back to drawing everyday or that the ideas would flow the same, like "getting my spark back" meant resuming right where I left off when I gave up on these dreams 10+ years ago. Like I was breaking a dam, and all that creative blockage would rush in and overflow. And you know what? For a second, it did.
But eventually, just like water from a dam, that overflow steadies into something more calm, stable. It may not be as strong, but it's definitely still flowing. And when I hit that moment artistically, I thought maybe art wasn't cut it for me after all.
I have to remind myself that I'm 28 now. The drive is there, it just shows up differently. The artist I wanted to be when I was 16-18 y/o is different from the artist I'm trying to become now. And I think that's where I've been stuck. By trying to go back to a dream even I outgrew and didn't even realize it.
In this case, it's okay to let the past stay where it is. It doesn't mean I failed if I can't go back to how things used to be. If anything, it's good that something new was born from the ashes of an old dream. Now I have all the space in the world to be bad at this part again.
And what a blessing that is, huh? To experience falling in love again in real time, as a new person, with a more evolved version of the same dream.
#myartjourney #Lemon8Diary #fanart #blacklemon8creator #inspiration
Embarking on the path of rekindling a creative spark often brings mixed emotions—excitement, frustration, and self-doubt all intertwine. From my experience, the challenge isn’t in returning to the art of my youth, but in accepting that my artistic identity has transformed over the years. I realized that expecting the same ideas and effortless flow I had as a teenager was setting myself up for disappointment. Instead, I’ve learned to embrace the steadier, quieter flow of creativity that comes with maturity. This is not a loss but a gain—a foundation to explore new techniques, themes, and business opportunities like opening an online art shop. For anyone feeling stuck trying to recreate past glory, I recommend shifting your focus to the evolution of your art and your personal growth. One practice that helped me was setting small daily or weekly goals tailored to my current capabilities rather than idealized past productivity. This approach removed pressure and made room for joyful experimentation, even if it meant being 'bad' occasionally. Sharing this journey openly on platforms with hashtags like #myartjourney and #inspiration has connected me with a supportive creative community. Remember, letting go of outdated dreams is not failure. It makes space for new dreams to be born and for your passion to blossom in fresh directions. Whether you find new inspiration through fanart, sketching, or developing a business, the key is to value the present version of your creativity. This mindset shift transformed my art from a pasture of anxiety into a garden of continuous growth.