Ever feel that tiny spark inside you that little nudge to create something but then life just gets in the way? We all have that creative ember within us. Sometimes it roars like a fire. Other times it feels like a forgotten pilot light. But it’s there.
Art and creativity are not just for the Picassos or Mozarts of the world. They are for you. They are for me. They are fundamental parts of being human. They help us make sense of things express ourselves and even heal. Here at GoodExistence.com we talk a lot about building a better life. Part of that is finding healthy ways to connect with ourselves and the world. For our founder Stephen Montagne this journey involved overcoming significant challenges like gaming binges and finding a healthier path. Creativity became a quiet friend along that path. It can be for you too.
These quotes are more than just words. They are little windows into the minds of thinkers and creators. Let them encourage you. Let them challenge you. Let them remind you that your creative voice matters.
The Wellspring of Inspiration
Why even bother with creativity and art especially when life feels so busy? Well think about it. When Stephen was struggling with unhealthy habits he needed new outlets new ways to find joy and purpose. He replaced old patterns with new ones like focused work celebrating small wins and daily gratitude. Creativity can be one of those positive new habits. It’s a way to build something new instead of dwelling on the old. It can be a quiet space a form of prayer or a shout of joy. It connects to that deeper sense of purpose that Stephen found through strengthening his Christian Orthodox faith. Art can be a reflection of that journey a testament to growth and change.
30 Quotes to Spark Your Inner Artist
Let’s dive into some words of wisdom. I’ve gathered 30 quotes that I hope will speak to you. After each one or a small group I’ll share a few thoughts.
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“Creativity is intelligence having fun.” – Albert Einstein
This just makes me smile. It takes the pressure off. Creativity isn’t a grim duty. It’s your smarts taking a joyful leap. -
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” – Pablo Picasso
We all start with it. Life sometimes teaches us to fear making mistakes or looking silly. Let’s try to find that childlike freedom again. -
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
Isn't that amazing? It’s not a finite resource. It’s a muscle. The more you flex it the stronger it gets. -
“The chief enemy of creativity is good sense.” – Pablo Picasso
Sometimes our sensible side tells us an idea is too wild too impractical. Let that wild idea breathe a little. -
“To live a creative life we must lose our fear of being wrong.” – Joseph Chilton Pearce
Fear can be paralyzing. Stephen often talks about how fear held him back. Overcoming it in one area like health can give you courage in others like creativity. Small wins build that courage. -
“Art is not what you see but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas
It’s about communication. It’s about sharing a perspective a feeling an idea. -
“Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse
It truly does. Putting yourself out there showing your work it takes bravery. -
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf
This resonates deeply with finding purpose. That yearning is a spiritual nudge. -
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” – Pablo Picasso
Like a refreshing shower for your spirit. We all need that. -
“Have no fear of perfection you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dalí
What a relief. Aim for progress not some impossible standard. This was key for Stephen in losing over 110 pounds. It wasn’t about perfect days but consistent effort. -
“An artist is not paid for his labor but for his vision.” – James McNeill Whistler
It’s about the unique way you see the world. -
“The works must be conceived with fire in the soul but executed with clinical coolness.” – Joan Miró
Passion fuels the idea. Discipline brings it to life. Stephen found that short bursts of deep work 2-4 hours were more effective than long unfocused stretches. This applies to creative projects too. -
“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” – Scott Adams
Mistakes are part of the process. Learn from them. Some "mistakes" even become happy accidents. -
“If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint’ then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.” – Vincent Van Gogh
Take action. That’s the best way to fight self-doubt. It’s how Stephen overcame issues like laziness. Action creates momentum. -
“The world always seems brighter when you’ve just made something that wasn’t there before.” – Neil Gaiman
That sense of accomplishment is powerful. It can be a small drawing a poem a new recipe. -
“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” – Thomas Merton
It’s a journey inward and an escape outward. -
“The main thing is to be moved to love to hope to tremble to live.” – Auguste Rodin
Art should stir something within us. -
“To practice any art no matter how well or badly is a way to make your soul grow.” – Kurt Vonnegut
The act itself is what matters. Not just the outcome. -
“Inspiration exists but it has to find you working.” – Pablo Picasso
Don’t wait for the muse. Start working and she’ll often show up. This aligns with building a productive routine. -
“Art is the lie that enables us to realize the truth.” – Pablo Picasso
Fiction storytelling visuals can reveal deeper realities about life. -
“The job of the artist is always to deepen the mystery.” – Francis Bacon
To make us think wonder and question. -
“Creativity is a wild mind and a disciplined eye.” – Dorothy Parker
A beautiful balance. Let your ideas roam free. Then refine them with focus. -
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” – Georgia O’Keeffe
Art gives us other languages to express the inexpressible. -
“The creative adult is the child who survived.” – Ursula K. Le Guin
Nurture that inner child. Let them play. -
“What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.” – John Updike
In our busy lives that breathing room is essential. -
“Don’t think about making art just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding make even more art.” – Andy Warhol
Focus on the creation. Don't get bogged down by external validation too early. Keep producing. -
“Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” – Cesar A. Cruz
Art has power. It can heal and it can provoke necessary change. -
“The essence of all beautiful art all great art is gratitude.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
Practicing daily gratitude like Stephen does can open your eyes to the beauty around you. That beauty fuels art. -
“A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament.” – Walter Pater
Your art will be unique because you are unique. Embrace that. -
“The painter has the Universe in his mind and hands.” – Leonardo da Vinci
What a thought. The potential for creation is limitless.
Turning Inspiration into Action
Reading quotes is lovely. But how do we bring this inspiration into our everyday lives?
It’s about small steps. Just like Stephen didn’t lose 110 pounds overnight or build GoodExistence.com in a week creative habits are built little by little.
- Start Small: You don’t need hours. Can you find 15 minutes today? Maybe sketch something write a few lines or hum a new tune.
- Embrace Imperfection: Your first draft your first attempt it doesn’t have to be a masterpiece. Just get it out.
- Create a Space: It could be a corner of a room a specific notebook or a time of day. Signal to your brain it’s creative time.
- Celebrate Small Wins: Did you write one paragraph? Finish a small sketch? Acknowledge it. That small win builds momentum. This is a huge part of Stephen’s philosophy.
- Find Your "Why": Connect your creative urges to something deeper. Is it for joy? For healing? To express your faith? Knowing your why keeps you going.
Remember Stephen's journey. He replaced old destructive habits with new positive ones. Creativity can be one of those deeply fulfilling positive habits. It’s not about becoming a famous artist. It’s about enriching your life expressing who you are and finding another avenue for joy and purpose.
What’s one tiny creative act you could try this week? Just one. Don’t overthink it. Let that little spark catch. You might be surprised where it leads.
