Finding the Personal Value in Our Creative Process
As artists, we all know that making art is about more than just producing something beautiful or sellable. There’s a reason we choose to create, and it’s often rooted in something personal—something we deeply value. Finding and understanding what those values are is a game changer when it comes to your creative process. It’s what keeps you going, even when the work gets hard or when external pressures start weighing you down. But figuring out what you truly value in your art can take time. So, let’s dig into how you can discover your creative values and weave them into your process.
What Are Your Creative Values?
Your creative values are what drive you to make art in the first place. They’re the things that matter to you most about the act of creating. And here’s the thing—everyone’s values are different. What I find meaningful in my art might not resonate the same way for you, and that’s completely fine. The trick is to figure out what’s most important to you.
Maybe you're thinking, “I’m not really sure what my creative values are,” and that’s okay. If you’re stuck, try asking yourself a few questions: Why do I make art? What aspects of my practice bring me the most joy? What do I want to say or do through my work?
Here are a few examples of creative values that might help you find some ideas (as early in my practice I found finding the words for this a bit tricky):
Exploration: Do you love experimenting with new techniques and materials? Is the process of trying something new what excites you most?
Storytelling: Is your art about telling stories, whether they’re personal, cultural, or completely fictional?
Connection: Do you create with the hope of connecting with others, whether that’s through a shared experience or emotion?
Self-Expression: Is art your way of processing the world and expressing your innermost thoughts or feelings?
Community: Do you find the most meaning in creating art that brings people together or speaks to a collective experience?
Aesthetic Beauty: Do you value creating something that’s visually pleasing, where form and color are at the heart of what you do?
You might have one or two key values that guide you, or you might have several. It’s about identifying what feels authentic to you. And don’t stress if it takes time to figure this out—it’s something that can evolve as you grow in your work.
Bringing Your Values Into Your Creative Practice
Once you have a clearer idea of what your creative values are, the next step is bringing them into your practice. This is where the real magic happens because when your work aligns with your values, everything feels more connected. It’s like you’re creating from a place of authenticity rather than just going through the motions.
Let’s say you discover that exploration is one of your core values. Maybe you start giving yourself more freedom to experiment in your practice. That could mean taking time to play around with materials you’ve never worked with before, even if you’re not sure how it’ll turn out. Or maybe you dedicate a portion of each week to creating something without a specific goal, just to see where the process takes you.
On the other hand, if you value connection, you might seek out opportunities to collaborate with other artists or find ways to involve your community in your projects. It’s about figuring out how to make space for your values within your practice, even when things like deadlines, trends, or the need to make money can pull you in different directions.
Staying True to Your Values (Even When It's Hard)
We all know it’s not always easy to stick to your creative values, especially in a world that’s constantly bombarding us with outside influences. Social media can be a big one—it’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to other artists or feeling like you need to follow certain trends to stay relevant. But the truth is, the more you chase what others are doing, the further you get from what’s true to you.
So, how do you stay focused on what really matters? A big part of it is creating boundaries. You might need to limit how much time you spend scrolling through other people’s work or set aside time where the only thing that matters is your own process. It’s also helpful to remind yourself why you started creating in the first place. When you feel pulled in different directions, come back to that—what you value.
The thing is, there will always be distractions and pressures, but if you know what’s important to you, it becomes a lot easier to say no to the things that don’t align with that.
Allowing Your Values to Evolve
Your creative values aren’t set in stone. They’re allowed to shift and change as you grow, both as an artist and a person. What you valued when you first started creating might not hold the same importance 10 or 20 years down the line—and that’s a good thing.
For example, early in my career, I was really focused on pushing the boundaries of technique. I valued precision and getting things “right.” But as time went on, I started to care more about the process itself—the experimentation, the mistakes, the learning. Now, I find a lot more value in the journey of creating than I ever did in trying to perfect the final product.
You might find that your creative values shift as your life changes. Maybe what you value now is the sense of community that comes from working with others, or maybe it’s the freedom to express yourself without worrying about how it will be received. Whatever it is, let those values guide your work, and don’t be afraid to let them evolve.
Checking in With Yourself and Your Practice
It’s important to take a step back every once in a while and check in with yourself: Is my practice still feeding me? Am I creating in a way that feels aligned with my values? If the answer is no, it might be time to make some adjustments.
That doesn’t mean you need to overhaul your entire process. Sometimes it’s as simple as carving out a little time each week to work on something that speaks to your core values. Or maybe you let go of a project that no longer feels aligned with what you want to do. The point is to make sure that your practice still feels meaningful and fulfilling to you, not just something you’re doing out of obligation or routine.
Balancing External Demands With Internal Values
Here’s the reality: a lot of us are juggling the creative work we love with the practical need to make a living. And sometimes, that means taking on projects that don’t exactly align with your creative values. That’s okay. It’s part of being an artist who also has to pay the bills.
But just because you have to compromise in some areas doesn’t mean your values get thrown out the window. Maybe you can find small ways to incorporate your values into those commercial projects. Or maybe you set aside time for passion projects that align more closely with what matters to you. The key is to find a balance, so that even when you have to make compromises, your creative values remain a central part of your work.
Discovering Your Values
Finding the personal value in your creative process is an ongoing journey. It’s not something you figure out once and then never think about again. As you grow as an artist, your values will likely shift and change, and that’s a good thing. The important part is staying connected to what feels true to you and letting that guide your process.
When your work is aligned with your values, it not only feels more authentic, but it becomes a source of fulfillment that can carry you through the ups and downs of your creative life. So, take the time to figure out what really matters to you, and don’t be afraid to let those values lead the way.
