Inspiration Fridays! Does art’s value need validation?
Does art’s value need validation?
There are days when we can catch ourselves questioning the value of our art. We wonder if it’s worth the time, the energy, or the passion we’ve poured into it.
“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi
Still, what if the very act of questioning what it’s all about, is a huge part of the process? When we own the uncertainty, we crack ourselves open. Instead of aligning our insecurities with part of our world that doesn’t think art is worth the supplies it’s made from, try going deeper.
Art, in its purest form, is an extension of the soul. It’s not about perfection or market value; it’s about expression, connection, and passion. When you create, you’re not just making something to be admired—you’re communicating in a language that transcends words. A lot of times for me, that meant that I didn’t have the words to describe what I was feeling anyway. And that’s saying a lot.
Our refusal to quit shifts the focus from resistance to wonder. Peeling back our doubt reveals new sparkling possibilities. Our art’s value isn’t established when we finally hang it on the wall (in fact, more than half the time my art doesn’t make it to the wall); it’s in the journey we take. How far are we willing to go?
The artist trusting the process in the studio.
We’re probably not going to find our voice or the value of our creativity, if we continue to compare our time and our output to the loudspeaker that is Amazon Prime, TikTok, or a well-meaning spouse. When we let go of the need for external validation, and begin to pay attention to the soft whispers of the process, we’re reminded that the laundry can wait and that a second day in the same jeans is better for the earth.
If you ever find yourself doubting the worth of your art, take a step back and reconnect with why you started in the first place. Remember that the “strange pull” Rumi speaks of isn’t leading you astray; it’s guiding you toward a deeper understanding of yourself and your place in the world. Embrace it. Trust it. Your art doesn’t need to meet any prescribed standards to be valuable. Create. Its worth is inherent because your art is a vital part of your being. And that, in itself, is enough.