Breaking the "I'm Not Artsy" Myth: Reclaiming Creativity for All Ages

"Oh, I'm not the creative one in the family."
"I can't even draw a straight line!"
"I don’t have an artsy bone in my body."

As we welcome families to Artsy Studio in Trussville, just outside of Birmingham, we hear these phrases from parents almost daily. They stand back, encouraging their children while firmly placing themselves outside the circle of "artistic people."

But here's what we know to be true: everyone has an artsy side. It's not a special talent bestowed on a lucky few—it's a natural human capacity that, in many adults, simply hasn't been properly nurtured.

When Did We Stop Being Artists?

Watch any toddler with a crayon. They don't worry about whether their scribbles "look like" anything. They don't compare their work to others. They simply delight in the magical way the crayon responds to their movement, leaving a visible trace of their existence on the paper.

We were all that toddler once.

So what happens? When do we start saying "I'm not artsy"?

For many of us, it happens around age 8-10. Suddenly, we become intensely aware of realism in art. We want our drawings to "look like" the subject. When they inevitably fall short of our new, perfectionistic standards, many of us conclude: "I'm just not good at art." And for most, that's where the artistic journey ends.

The Binary Trap of "Good" vs. "Bad" Art

As adults, we've been conditioned to view almost everything through a binary lens:

Good or bad. Beautiful or ugly. Talented or untalented. Success or failure.

This black-and-white thinking makes it nearly impossible to enjoy creating for the sheer joy of creating. When we believe art must be "good" to be worthwhile, we rob ourselves of the profound human pleasure of making something—anything—with our own hands.

Breaking the Cycle for Our Children

At Artsy Studio, our deepest hope is that the children of Birmingham never develop these limiting beliefs about creativity. We don't want them to inherit our artistic insecurities or our binary thinking about creative expression.

But how do we prevent this when so many of us parents are uncomfortable embracing our own creativity?

It starts with recognizing that our children are watching. When we say "I can't draw" or "I'm not creative," we're not just expressing a personal limitation—we're teaching our children that creativity is a fixed trait rather than a skill anyone can develop.

Reclaiming Your Creative Birthright

Is it too late for us adults who've already decided we're "not artsy"? Absolutely not.

One of the biggest joys I get at Artsy is seeing parents participate in “a kids class” and visibly enjoying the process.

And it’s really as simple as that. Here's how you can begin reclaiming your own creativity:

1. Focus on sensation, not outcome. When you pick up a paintbrush or pencil, shift your attention to how it feels in your hand, the sound it makes against the paper, the way colors blend. These sensory experiences are available to everyone, regardless of "talent."

2. Embrace "ugly" art. Give yourself permission to create something unattractive. Ugly art is still art. The freedom to make something purely for the experience of making it—with zero attachment to the outcome—is incredibly liberating. One of our favorite thought leaders here is Art Gurl!

3. Find your medium. Not everyone connects with drawing. You might discover your creative voice through collage, photography, textile arts, or even arranging objects in your home. Creativity has countless expressions beyond what we think of us “art”.

4. Create alongside your child. Nothing dismantles creative blocks faster than creating with a child who hasn't yet learned to judge their artistic expression. When your child sees you engaging with art materials—tentatively at first, then with growing confidence—you're teaching the most powerful lesson: creativity is for everyone.

Modeling What Matters

When we adults can rediscover the joy of creating without judgment, we give our children permission to maintain their natural creative confidence into adulthood. We show them that creativity isn't about being "good"—it's about being human.

Here in the greater Birmingham area, we're watching families transform their relationship with creativity every day. Parents who came in declaring themselves "not artsy" are now enthusiastically planning their next creative exploration.

Because the truth is, everyone is artsy. Some of us just need a little help remembering.