The Best Art Teachers Aren't Adults—They’re the Kids in My Art Club
It’s not always easy to pull back the curtain and share the things we wrestle with behind the studio doors. As artists and creatives, we're often expected to present a polished, perfectly curated version of our work to the world. But today, I want to share a vulnerable moment—one that took me a long time to fully understand.
For years, I struggled with finding my specific artistic “voice.”
You know exactly what I mean: that signature, easily recognizable style or niche. The kind of distinct aesthetic that makes someone instantly say, "Oh, I’d know that piece anywhere!" I used to deeply admire artists who possessed that singular, focused point of view. It seemed so tidy, so marketable, and so wonderfully predictable.
Meanwhile, my own creative journey has looked less like a straight line and more like a wild, joyful wander. I’ve dove headfirst into oil painting, acrylics, and watercolors. I’ve experimented with collage, 3D sculpture, digital art, and just about everything in between. But I never settled on a single signature style—at least, not in a way that makes sense to people who aren't immersed in the art world. For a long time, a small voice in the back of my mind whispered that I was still just "searching" for who I was supposed to be as an artist.
Then, I started guiding children through art. And everything changed.
Lessons from the art room
When I watch the kids at the Creative Collective work, all that heavy, self-imposed pressure completely evaporates.
When a child sits down with a brand-new medium, you get to witness a miracle: raw, uninhibited creative spark. They pick up a paintbrush or a piece of clay with pure curiosity. They play, they mess up, they mix colors that "shouldn't" go together, and they do it all without an ounce of worry about whether the end result will be perfect, or if anyone else will love it.
Rarely—if ever—do you see a child stop mid-stroke and stress over their "artistic voice." They don't care about a personal brand or a cohesive portfolio. They just want to make, because making is naturally what they are built to do.
Honestly? There are days when I am certain they are teaching me far more than I am teaching them. There is absolutely nothing on earth like the raw, untouched imagination of a child.
Redefining the "Voice"
Seeing art through their eyes completely reframed how I look at my own eclectic journey. I realized that being drawn to multiple mediums isn't a lack of focus. It's a sign of a deeply curious mind.
When we pressure ourselves to find a "box" and stay in it forever, we run the risk of turning play into a chore. We swap out wonder for expectation.
My deepest prayer for our art club is that it remains a total safe haven from that pressure. I want the Creative Collective to be a space where kids can learn rich, foundational artistic techniques without ever feeling the weight of having to establish a specific style. I want them creating for the pure sake of creating, simply because they love the way it feels to bring something new into the world.
As for me? I’m finally content being a creative wanderer. Maybe the true "artistic voice" isn't a specific brushstroke, a predictable color palette, or a single medium after all. Maybe your voice is simply the willingness to stay curious, stay playful, and keep making.
