A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Kolbie Blume is a self-taught artist. For years, Kolbie struggled with self-doubt,

letting their inner critic take the lead by comparing their art to that of the masters.

This constant self-comparison had once convinced Kolbie that art was not something that was for them.

However, as time passed, Kolbie came to a profound realization. It wasn't a lack of skill or passion that held them back, but rather their own fear and perfectionism. Overcoming these obstacles, they not only embraced their artistic nature but flourished in it, eventually becoming a full-time artist and the author of three beautiful watercolor books.

Today, Kolbie is more than just an artist; she is a guiding force. With a mantra centered around embracing imperfections, she fervently encourages budding artists to dive into creativity fearlessly. Through Kolbie’s work and words, she continuously demonstrates that true creativity isn't about flawless execution but the journey of expression and discovery itself.

I have always been a creative person, from changing my outfit six times a day as a child and making up stories, to devouring books, to loving music and acting. Consuming creativity – enveloping myself in other people’s stories and art – is my safe space and an act of self-care I’ve long relied on to bring me out of depression and anxiety.

Even though I am a full time artist, actually creating myself is something I typically have to work up to – partly because I value consuming it so much. Because I have such a deep connection to creative things, the idea of making something mediocre or even bad put me off exercising my own creativity for a long time.That’s why I didn’t gravitate toward

visual art until I was an adult.

I had to confront a lot of my own perfectionism before I could see that the act of creating is not about performance, but rather about giving yourself a unique experience and learning more about what really lights you up.

Picking up a paintbrush was the catalyst for me finally doing the work of understanding myself and allowing myself the freedom to be an imperfect human, and love it. For so long, I thought art was this… larger-than-life thing that only a select few would ever qualify to be part of. I’ve since realized that art is a larger-than-life thing that belongs to everyone, and finally cherishing the mess is what makes it so special.

I’m actually terrified of my own creative practice. I have a really strong inner critic, so while I’m truly blessed to be a rather fearless teacher, walking my own talk is a lot harder. I also have ADHD, so hyperfocus – which is something I can’t always control – plays a role. Sometimes, I’m painting for hours every day, weeks on end. Sometimes I don’t pick up my brush for months. Learning that consistency means flexibility, and that creativity doesn’t always have to look the same every time, has been key to not feeling a lot of shame about that.

I’m in the process of learning how to find more balance – instead of relying only on hyperfocus or creative flow to get me going, I’m focusing on slow, small steps. I’m using a sketchbook a lot more, instead of jumping into hour-long projects, so I can teach my body that every time I put brush to paper is a little more joy in my life, regardless of the outcome. Early on in my career, I painted a lot more finished paintings. These days, I do a lot more doodles and studies, while larger paintings or polished projects only happen a few times a year.

That’s the season I’m in right now, and I’m learning to love it.

One of my favorite recommendations for artists is to use a timer when you’re painting, especially if you’re trying to build a more consistent practice. So, here’s a little prompt:

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Then open your sketchbook or find a new sheet of blank artist paper. Choose your most cherished supplies – paint, markers, pencils, whatever – it just needs to be your favorite, the kind you don’t want to waste. Slowly create some vertical lines in a meditative pattern. Then, slash across those lines in scribbles and wild strokes! As you’re slashing through those beautiful vertical lines and making a general mess of things, repeat to yourself “I am free to be messy. Messy things are valuable. There is beauty in this process. It’s ok for me to be uncomfortable.”

The point of this exercise is to make yourself deliberately uncomfortable. Learning to tolerate and even embrace discomfort is one of the most important muscles to build as you grow a creative practice, because it’s in the mess that the most magical ideas will come to you, I promise. But in order to expand your perspective to see those gems, you have to train your body not to panic whenever you make a “mistake” or when your technique doesn’t match the vision in your head. It’s ok to be afraid of a little paint, but panic is what will make you freeze and give up altogether. This exercise is just a small, contained way you can release that panic and move through it, teaching your body that you are still safe even when you are making a huge mess.

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