Finding your own creative voice isn't about being the best — it's about learning to grow at your own pace.
Fractured Bloom Illustration, Revised, 2025.
Finding a niche is hard, but we live in an age where the possibilities feel limitless. A few years ago, I kept asking myself what kind of content I wanted to create. Art has always been one of my passions. The challenge is that so many people share it — so how do you stand out? Honestly, I don’t think you really can. Any idea you come up with, someone else might already have. But that’s the beauty of it. Even with the same idea, we each bring a different perspective. Despite distance, or whether we even know each other, we’re still connected. And what makes us unique is how our art resonates with others.
It took me a long time to understand myself and the kind of content I wanted to make. I used to compare myself to others constantly — and even now, I still have doubts about my art and designs. But there’s truth in the saying, everyone moves at their own pace. Just because your life doesn’t look like the person next to you doesn’t mean you should lose hope. I remind myself of this often: it’s better to step back, do some soul searching, interact with others, and really reflect on your surroundings. That process teaches you more than you realize.
Back in high school, I wanted my art to be deep and meaningful. I’d research obsessively, chasing complex themes I could pour into my work. But eventually, I broke myself down mentally. It was exhausting to explain or even interpret my own art. Then one day, a thought hit me: just go with the flow. Once I allowed myself that freedom, I noticed a change in both my style and outlook on life. I still struggled, but I gave myself permission to take my time. Some works sat untouched for years until I was ready to revisit them. My recent illustration, Fractured Bloom, is an example — it took me over six years of edits and revisions before it finally felt complete.
First version of Fractured Bloom originally was named, Outro: Myself, 2019.
Even my design direction has shifted drastically. I had to “rewire” myself and learn design all over again. It sounds crazy, but it isn’t — growth often requires unlearning and relearning. Whatever you want to pursue, whether artistic or not, you should see learning as a way to expand your knowledge and accept criticism along the way. If you know you’re lacking in certain areas, do what you need to improve. But don’t beat yourself up just because you’re not like the next person who seems to have it all figured out.
There will always be someone more talented, smarter, or more accomplished than you. But that doesn’t erase your worth. You are you for a reason — and that’s what makes you unique. I’m not trying to be sappy, just real.
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