Why Making Art Is My Favorite Act of Rebellion

There are days when making art feels like a luxury.
Or a waste of time.
Or something I should get to—right after the groceries, the laundry, the doctor appointments, the to-do list that never shuts up.

But I’ve come to understand something—deep in my bones, soul, and stubborn streak:

Every time I sit down to create, I’m doing something radical.

Not because I’m painting protest signs or staging sit-ins (though, never say never), but because in a world that profits off of our burnout, distraction, and self-doubt, choosing to make something anyway is a rebellious act.

Rebellion Isn’t Always Loud

Sometimes rebellion looks like refusing to answer the phone because I’ve finally carved out 20 minutes for myself.
Sometimes it’s choosing a color that doesn’t match, a line that goes the wrong way, a shape that makes no sense—and letting it stay.
Sometimes it’s just… starting. Even when I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

Especially then.

Art Doesn’t Owe Anyone an Explanation

We live in a culture that wants everything to be productive.
Pretty.
Perfect.
Share-worthy.
Monetized.

But creativity doesn’t work like that. It’s messy and personal and sometimes deeply weird. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but you.

And that, right there, is rebellion.
Making art that matters to you—not your algorithm, not your aunt, not your high school art teacher—is the kind of rebellion that heals.

Create Like It’s Your Birthright (Because It Is)

We’ve all been taught to be good.
To be helpful.
To put our needs last.
To tidy up.
To make it smaller, quieter, more palatable.

But your art doesn’t have to behave.

You get to make the rules. You get to make noise.
You get to make something that’s messy, glorious, unfinished, and still worthy.

If that’s not rebellion, I don’t know what is.

Art is self-rescue. Art is resistance. Art is a middle finger to everything that said “you’re too late” or “you’re not enough.”

So go on, Rebel. Make something today—anything.
Even if it’s a doodle on the back of a receipt.
Even if it’s one weird sentence in your Notes app.
Even if you don’t show anyone.

It counts.
It all counts.

💥 Want more rebel encouragement?

Subscribe to the newsletter or drop a comment below:
What’s one small act of creative rebellion you’ve made recently?
(I’ll go first: I made art instead of cleaning the kitchen. Zero regrets.)