Making the Art I Love Changed Everything

Before I get into the lessons themselves, I want to offer a little context.

I started my illustration business in 2020 - yes, that year. I’d studied illustration at college, been rejected from university more times than I care to admit, and eventually took the leap into freelance work. After a handful of internships and part-time jobs, the strange stillness of that year gave many of us something we hadn’t had before: time. I finally committed to building this weird, wonderful thing called an illustration career.

Since then, it’s been a constant oscillation between “Hey, I’m actually doing this!” and “What on earth am I doing?” There have been dramatic quitting moments, real lows, and a few turning points that changed everything. And somehow, this year - 2025 - has been the one where I’ve felt the most creatively aligned and earned more from my art than ever before.

This post is a written companion to my latest YouTube video, where I talk through my five biggest creative lessons from this year.

If you prefer reading, you’re in the right place.

This sounds obvious. Almost annoyingly so.

But in a world driven by algorithms, trends, and invisible rules we absorb without realising, it’s incredibly easy to drift off course. That’s exactly what happened to me around 2022–2023. I started mimicking artists I thought embodied the epitome of “success.” I let metrics dictate what I made. Slowly, I lost my creative voice.

I felt oddly judged - like if I wasn’t making “cool” or trendy art, people would think I didn’t belong. The things I genuinely loved - bright colours, loose textures, whimsical characters - disappeared into a sea of polished, picture-perfect content.

At the start of this year, I hit a mental wall and finally went to therapy. It didn’t magically change my work, but it did help me make decisions with clarity and urgency. With no client work, no plan, and no clear direction, I told myself to make art purely for joy.

And unexpectedly, that decision changed everything.

By simply making and sharing work I loved, I attracted my first client in months. I rebuilt a sense of community. I found my way back to myself.

If you want to attract the clients, jobs, or community you dream of, start by making the art you love.

Let me be clear: in today’s world, both roles often matter.

Some artists thrive without creating content. Others love it, and it becomes their main income. There’s no universal rule - only what feels sustainable for you.

What I’ve learned since starting YouTube is this: when I think content first, art second, my work doesn’t land. But when the content exists because of the art, it connects. That makes sense - people follow me for my artwork, not for trendy formats or gimmicks.

I used to think I hated content creation. What I actually hated was forcing myself into shapes that didn’t fit. Once I let myself show up as I am - messy desk, imperfect angles, stumbling over words - everything softened. Content became documentation, not performance.

For me, this lesson is simple:
I’m an artist first. A content creator second.

First - rest when you need it. Truly.

But there’s a difference between busy stress and busy intention. I like having structure, projects, and something to work toward. During quieter freelance periods this year, instead of spiralling, I leaned into self-initiated projects.

Which mostly meant: painting. A lot.

From that came:

• a stronger sense of community

• a more cohesive portfolio

• and a genuine sense of purpose in my day-to-day life

If I’m not creating intentionally, my mood dips - even if everything else is “fine.” Making work during quiet seasons has helped me align my portfolio with the commissions I want to receive, rather than the ones I panic-accept.

So if you’re in a slow period and questioning everything: breathe.
Create anyway. Trust that the work will come.

I love a scroll as much as the next person. But we all know how quickly two minutes turns into twenty - and how easily inspiration turns into comparison.

This year, I’ve tried to be more intentional with my downtime. More movement. More conversations. More learning. More curiosity - especially before my thumb finds that familiar app icon.

This mindset shift is one of the reasons I was excited to partner with Skillshare for the video version of this post. Learning something new - whether it’s a quick creative project or a mindset reset - has become a much healthier way for me to decompress.

If you’re curious, I talk more about the specific classes I’ve been enjoying in the video itself.

For years, I felt pressure to look like I knew exactly what I was doing. Like I had to love everything I made, explain everything I shared, and polish myself into something instantly “legible.”

It’s exhausting. And honestly? It flattens growth.

Trends will always come and go. But you are rare for a reason.

My partner once told me that making work - especially things like YouTube videos - was like planting small treasures. People might not find them right away, but when they do, they discover a whole chest waiting for them.

That’s exactly what’s happened. People tell me they binge old videos, scroll back through years of work, and find comfort in seeing evolution rather than perfection.

So if you’re cringing at that “ugly” painting or awkward video - post it anyway.
It’s the start of your treasure hunt.

And you? You’re a rare little gem that deserves to be discovered.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear which lesson hit home - or where you’re at creatively right now. And if you prefer listening, you can watch the full video version here http://www.youtube.com/@chiaracelini

Until next time lovely souls,