Who Gets to Be an Artist? Challenging the Labels That Hold Us Back
At my recent Mandala Workshop, two participants shared a belief that I’ve heard countless times:
“I’m not an artist.”
But what fascinated me was that they had completely opposite reasons for thinking this.
One believed she was too precise and mechanical—not expressive or free enough to be an artist. The other thought she was not neat or careful enough—and even had a parent reinforce this belief by saying, “You’re not good at art because you’re not neat.”
Two completely different perspectives. One conclusion.
This made me wonder: Who decides who gets to be an artist?
Why do so many of us hesitate to claim creativity?
And more importantly, how do we change the narrative?
The Power of Labels: Why We Hesitate to Call Ourselves Artists
Titles like “artist” or “writer” carry weight. For some, they feel exclusive—like something you have to earn or be granted by someone else. But if you write regularly, aren’t you a writer? If you draw or paint or create, doesn’t that make you an artist?
I think about Maya Angelou’s quote:
“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
It’s like the saying, you are what you eat. What you consistently do shapes who you are. So, if we create regularly, doesn’t that mean we already are creators?
Don't Believe Everything You Think
What struck me most in the workshop was how these two participants—despite their opposing beliefs—ended up with the same limiting conclusion.
It reminded me that our thoughts aren’t always facts. Just because you think you’re not an artist doesn’t make it true.
Our beliefs are shaped by experiences, upbringing, and self-imposed limits. And the good news?
✨ We can change our beliefs by changing our habits. ✨
Transformation Through Action
By the end of the workshop, I saw something shift. Both participants, who started out doubting their creativity, were fully immersed in their mandalas. They concentrated. Experimented. Played with color. Tried different ways to create texture.
And in that moment, they weren’t worrying about whether or not they were artists. They were simply creating.
This is why I teach. This is what fulfills me the most: witnessing someone move closer to believing in their own creative power.
<—A participant’s first Mandala…at the age of 80!
How to Rewrite the Narrative
If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m not an artist,” I want to challenge you with a different question: “How am I a creator?”
Because the truth is, we are all creators, of our work, our choices, our lives. And we don’t need permission to claim it.
So here’s my invitation to you: Pick up a pen, a brush, a journal—anything—and just start. Don’t wait for the belief to come first. The action leads the way.
“Our job in this life is not to shape ourselves into some ideal we imagine we ought to be, but to find out who we already are and become it.”
What Do You Think?
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear from you: Have you ever questioned whether you’re “artistic enough”? How do you see creativity showing up in your life?
Send me a message—I’d love to continue this conversation.
P.S. Not sure what your inner artist is telling you? Take my free quiz, “What Does Your Inner Artist Tell You?” and receive my Creativity Starter Guide to help you unlock your creative flow.