How to Start Creating When it Feels Intimidating

For years, I wanted to keep an art journal.

I'd see beautiful pages online filled with paint, collage, handwritten thoughts, and layers of color and think, “that looks like so much fun!” Then I'd immediately talk myself out of it.

I told myself I didn't have time for one more hobby. Between work, life, and everything else on my plate, art journaling felt like something I could always start later. Maybe next month. Maybe next year. Maybe when life slowed down a little.

Of course, life never really slows down, does it?

So I kept putting it off.

The funny thing is that now, years later, I absolutely love my art journals. They've become one of my favorite places to experiment, play, document ideas, and create without pressure. Some pages turn out beautifully. Some pages end up as gloriously messy experiments. Either way, they bring me so much joy.

Looking back, I realize it wasn't actually a lack of time that was stopping me. It was the intimidation of beginning and now I know I'm not the only one who's experienced that.

Misty from Creatively Misty creating in a repurposed magazine art journal, using a paint brush to add layers, texture, and creative possibilities to the page. This image reflects her belief that everyday materials can become powerful tools for brave self-expression and fearless mixed media exploration.

Maybe Your Thing Isn't an Art Journal

Maybe your thing isn't an art journal at all.

Maybe it's mixed media. Maybe it's a sketchbook that's been sitting on a shelf waiting for the "right" moment. Or a box of supplies you've been collecting for months or even years, telling yourself you'll get to them someday. Maybe it's a workshop you've been thinking about taking or a creative idea that keeps showing up in your mind no matter how many times you push it aside.

Whatever it is, I think most of us know what it's like to stand at the edge of something we genuinely want to explore and still feel hesitant to begin.

For a long time, I convinced myself my hesitation was practical. I didn't have enough time. I had other priorities. Life was busy. Art journaling could wait until things settled down a little.

Looking back, I can see that those reasons felt true because there was some truth in them. Life was busy. There never seemed to be enough hours in the day but underneath all those practical things was something I didn't recognize at the time: I was intimidated. Not by the supplies or the process itself, but by just starting.

What if I invested time and energy and discovered I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would? What if I couldn’t come up with ideas to fill the pages? What if my journals just sat on the shelves never to be used?

The funny thing is that none of those questions could be answered by thinking about them. The only way to find out was to begin and I think that's true for a lot of creative things. We spend so much time trying to decide whether we're ready that we never give ourselves the chance to discover what might happen if we simply started.

Misty from Creatively Misty adding expressive details to a vibrant mixed media portrait filled with floral collage elements, layered textures, and bold color. This image reflects her mission to help women create fearlessly, trust their instincts, and embrace brave self-expression through art.

The Day Everything Changed

When I finally started art journaling, nothing magical happened. I didn't suddenly create stunning pages or discover some hidden artistic superpower. In fact, most of my early pages were messy and awkward, full of play and exploration. Sometimes I had no idea what I was doing!

Then something surprising happened, the more pages I created, the less intimidating it became. I stopped worrying so much about whether a page was good and started becoming curious about what might happen if I added another layer. A little paint. A torn scrap of paper. A few pencil marks.

One small step led to another, and somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to create perfect pages and started enjoying the process itself.

That's when everything shifted.

I think a lot of us assume confidence comes first. We imagine that experienced artists sit down knowing exactly what they're doing, feeling completely certain about every choice they make. But when you look at the artists we admire most, that's rarely how it worked. Picasso created tens of thousands of pieces over his lifetime. Monet painted thousands more. What we remember are the masterpieces, but those masterpieces were built on a mountain of experiments, mistakes, studies, and ordinary work.

The difference wasn't that they never created anything awkward or unsuccessful.

The difference is that they kept creating!

Most confidence is built after we begin, not before. It grows through showing up. Through experimenting. Through making awkward pages and discovering they weren't disasters after all. Through realizing that a page doesn't have to be perfect to be meaningful.

Misty from Creatively Misty creating in her mixed media art journal, adding hand-drawn marks and layered botanical elements to a richly textured page. This image captures the freedom of intuitive art-making and the confidence that grows through consistent creative practice.

The Beauty of Starting Before You're Ready

One of the things I've come to appreciate most about mixed media is that it leaves room for uncertainty.

When I first started creating, I assumed artists had some sort of plan. I thought they sat down knowing exactly where a piece was headed and simply followed the map. But the longer I've been creating, the more I've realized that's rarely how it works.

Some of my favorite pages started with no clear direction at all. These days, I rarely sit down with a plan. In fact, most of my artwork begins with no thoughts at all. I might start with a little paint, a torn piece of paper, or a color combination that's caught my attention, but beyond that, I genuinely don't know where the piece is going.

One layer suggests the next. A color inspires a mark. A texture changes the direction completely. The piece slowly reveals itself through the process, and I get to be just as surprised by the outcome as anyone else.

That's one of the reasons I love mixed media so much. It doesn't ask you to have all the answers before you begin. A painting can sit unfinished for days while you think about it. A page that feels awkward and disappointing today can become a favorite tomorrow after a few more layers. There's room to change your mind, explore a different direction, or simply respond to what's already there.

Looking back, I think I spent far too much time waiting until I felt ready. Ready to start an art journal. Ready to try a new technique. Ready to share my work. The funny thing is that readiness never arrived in some grand, dramatic moment. Instead, confidence grew quietly through action. It showed up after I started, not before.

That's why I believe curiosity is often more valuable than confidence. Confidence asks us to know where we're going. Curiosity simply asks us to take the next step and see what happens.

Misty from Creatively Misty creating a four-piece mixed media art series, layering soft color, stamped botanical designs, and expressive details across multiple coordinating panels. This image captures the spirit of creative exploration and the confidence that comes from allowing an idea to unfold one layer at a time.

A Few Things to Help You Start Creating

Start Small

Work on a tiny surface instead of a large canvas.

A small page feels much less intimidating than a giant blank space staring back at you.

Limit Your Supplies

Too many choices can shut creativity down fast. Instead of pulling out everything you own, choose:

2 paint colors

1 collage material

1 mark-making tool

Make a “No Pressure” Background

Tell yourself upfront:

“This page does not need to become anything.”

Just make marks, add color and play with texture. Removing expectations changes everything.

Focus on Curiosity Instead of Results

Instead of asking:

“Will this look good?”

Try asking:

“What happens if I try this?”

That tiny shift opens the door to experimentation.

Let Yourself Be a Beginner

This one matters most. You are allowed to: learn slowly, make awkward pages, change your mind and try things that don’t work. That’s not failure, It’s how artists grow.

Getting Started Without the Pressure

This simple printable guide is filled with gentle prompts and encouragement to help you move past hesitation and take those first creative steps with confidence.

I'd Love to Hear From You

What's the creative thing you've been wanting to start?

Maybe it's mixed media. Maybe it's an art journal. Maybe it's something completely different.

Leave a comment and let me know. I'd genuinely love to hear what's been calling to you lately.

And if you'd like some support as you begin, I'd love to create with you inside one of my online workshops. They're designed to help you explore, experiment, and build confidence one brave layer at a time.

Explore my available workshops here.

Hi, I’m Misty

Mixed media artist, creative guide, and passionate believer in the power of fearless self-expression. After years of playing small and settling for a life that didn’t feel like mine, I chose to rewrite my story through art — and I’ve never looked back.

Now, I help women just like you break free from perfectionism and self-doubt so you can reconnect with your creative voice and boldly explore what lights you up. Whether you’re picking up a paintbrush for the first time or returning to art after years away, my mission is to help you step bravely into your own magic — one joyful, messy layer at a time.

Let’s create a life (and art) you absolutely adore. 💙

If you’d like to explore mixed media with me, explore ways we can work together here.