Set the Stage: Stop Asking For Permission
You Are the Expert, the Boss, and the Decider of Your Life. So Don't Wait for Someone Else to Start.
As young newlyweds, we were painting our new house. It was about 2 PM, there was a big football game on that day, and we had it playing in the background while we worked away together, just chatting. For like 15 minutes we kept saying things like, "What should we eat later? I'm pretty hungry. Yeah, me too. Maybe we could order subs. Maybe pizza. What time do you think?"
Finally, one of us had a lightbulb moment: "We are grown-ups! We can actually order pizza RIGHT NOW. We do not need to wait until dinnertime!"
And that pizza tasted AMAZING.
The little decisions matter, because they train your brain what to do when the big decisions need to be made.
I think about that moment a lot, and I know there are other assumptions and outdated rules and beliefs that continue to limit me in my life.
Here's the thing that took me way too long to figure out: You don't need anyone's permission to be an artist. Not your partner's, not your kids', not your art teacher's from high school who made you feel like you couldn't draw a straight line (newsflash: most good art doesn't require straight lines anyway). And you certainly don't need permission from that critical voice in your own head that seems to have appointed itself the gatekeeper of your creativity.
After 20 years working in vision rehabilitation and watching people literally relearn how to see the world around them, I can tell you something with absolute clarity: creativity isn't a privilege you earn with impressive natural talent or art awards. It's a part of life, available to everyone, and YOU get to decide how YOU incorporate it into YOUR days.
Why We Keep Asking for Permission (And Why We Need to Stop)
Let's get real about what's happening here. Most of us have been conditioned from childhood to seek approval before we take up space, make noise, or – heaven forbid – make something that might be considered "not good enough." We've internalized this weird idea that art is only for "real artists," whatever that means.
But here's what I learned during my years helping people with brain injuries rediscover their visual world: the human brain is literally wired to create. When someone loses their central vision and has to relearn how to navigate space, they don't ask permission to adapt – they just DO it. They create new neural pathways, new ways of seeing, new strategies for living. It's not pretty at first, and it's definitely not perfect, but it's absolutely essential.
Your creative impulses are just as essential. They're your brain's way of processing the world, making sense of chaos, and expressing what can't be put into words. When you suppress that urge to create because you're waiting for some imaginary green light, you're literally working against your own neurobiology.
Think about it: did you ask permission to doodle during boring meetings? Did you seek approval before humming along to your favorite song? Of course not! Those impulses felt natural because they ARE natural. Making art is just the grown-up version of those same instincts.
Try slowing down and listening to YOUR instincts, rather than falling into the pattern of what you are expected to do.
It takes practice to hear it, or feel it. We are so conditioned to go along with the expectations of others.
You Are the Expert of Your Own Experience
Here's something that might blow your mind: you already know more about your own path than any expert, teacher, or critic ever will. You've been living in your body, seeing through your eyes, and feeling with your heart your entire life. That makes you the world's leading authority on what YOU want to express, and where you will go next. And when you ignore that and try to do what you think is the "correct" version, you lose touch with your power, and it falls flat.
I remember when I first started combining my knowledge of visual science with my ceramic work. People would ask me, "But are you allowed to do that? Is that even a real thing?" As if there was some Art Police somewhere ready to issue me a citation for mixing disciplines. The same is true of when I resigned from my job as a licensed optometrist in the field to pursue a more creative, flexible, and right-for-me life. I got SO much veiled criticism…but something else started happening once I settled into my new role. I would hear things like, “Wow! That’s so amazing, that must’ve been hard,” and “That’s so cool that you just went for your dream.” With this decision, my emotions began to shift from the guilt and uncertainty of leaving, to pride, confidence and hope for the future.
The truth? Some of my most meaningful work has come from exactly these kinds of "unauthorized" combinations. Gluing clay to canvas for 3D orchid paintings. Line drawings on the surface of thrown pottery. Painting from the perspective of someone suffering a brain injury. Things that make my work “me.”
I started the design for my planters on a whim, an instinct -
Drawing with a glaze pencil felt so natural, and although the detail took time, it felt like me.
My understanding of how the brain processes visual information has transformed how I approach both throwing on the wheel and working with acrylics. Nobody gave me permission to make these connections – I just started paying attention to what I already know, and what fascinated me, and then followed that curiosity. Still, it’s easy to fall back into second-guessing myself. I'm slowly learning, but shedding the need for permission is a process, and I have a lot more work to do there.
We each have our own unique combination of experiences, interests, and perspectives that nobody else on the planet possesses. This isn't just our creative voice when making a painting or a pot – it's our creative voice needed for moving through the world in a way that feels real and alive, from jobs, to volunteering, to socializing, to caring for our home and our family.
You Are the Boss of Your Creative Life
This one's hard for a lot of us, especially if you're used to being the responsible one, the people-pleaser, or the person who always puts everyone else's needs first. But your creative life belongs to YOU, and you get to be the CEO of that operation. Obviously the kids need to get to practice, and they need to be fed. Like every day. Bills must be paid. Dogs must be walked. But your creative life, that’s where no one else gets to tell you what to do next.
That means you get to decide:
What materials to use (yes, even the "expensive" ones)
When to create (even if it's not convenient for others)
What subjects to explore (even if they seem weird or personal)
How much time to spend on your art (even if someone thinks it's "too much")
Whether to share your work (and with whom)
Being the boss doesn't mean being selfish or inconsiderate. It means recognizing that your creative expression is valuable enough to protect and prioritize. Just like you wouldn't let someone else make your medical decisions or choose your career path, you don't have to let other people dictate the terms of your artistic journey.
I see this all the time in my classes at GoggleWorks. Students will ask me, "Is it okay if I make my bowl a little wonky?" or "Am I doing this right?" And I always tell them the same thing: you're the artist here. If it feels right to you, then it IS right. We can balance learning more about color theory, composition, and the properties of clay with letting go of doing things "right." I’d rather they understand and make their own choices, than just ask me what the “right” choice is. I tell them there's no grade here, no prize for perfection. And you won't get better unless you just start taking action and make a lot of work – and a lot of flops.
Don't Wait for Someone Else to Start
This might be the biggest creativity killer of all: waiting for the perfect moment, the right teacher, the ideal setup, or someone else to give you the push you need.
I spent years thinking I needed to wait until I had the "perfect" studio space and hours upon hours of “free” time before I could really commit to my art. Then I realized I was basically putting my entire creative life on hold for some imaginary future version of myself who had more time, money, and square footage.
The breakthrough came when I started working in whatever space I had, with whatever materials I could afford, for whatever amount of time I could carve out. On 4-inch canvases, in my basement, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Was it ideal? Absolutely not. Was it a step on the path to where I am now? Totally.
Make space for yourself.
However that feels right to you.
Constraints breed creativity. That cramped corner of your kitchen table might just be the birthplace of your next artistic breakthrough. Those cheap brushes from the dollar store might teach you techniques that expensive ones never could. That 15 minutes you steal before everyone else wakes up might become the most precious part of your day.
Try this right now – yes, right now, while you're reading this: Think of one small thing you've been wanting to do. Maybe it's sketching in a notebook, playing with some clay, or experimenting with watercolors. Or just taking a nature walk on your own. Now think about what you've been waiting for in order to start. Permission from someone? A better workspace? More time? More skill?
Now imagine giving yourself permission to start anyway. Not tomorrow, not next week, not when the stars align perfectly. Today. Right now. With what you have, where you are, as imperfect as it might be.
That's not just permission to create – that's permission to be fully, authentically yourself. And trust me, the world needs more of that, not less.
Let's stop asking and start doing. What are you going to create first? And what other places in your daily life are you following old, outdated rules and assumptions?
Ready to claim your creative authority? Download my free workbook guide for setting up your own home art studio – even if you only have a corner of a room to work with. Because sometimes the best way to stop asking for permission is to create the space where permission isn't needed.
Quick Win: Set a timer for 5 minutes and create something – anything – with materials you already have at home. (Bonus: Post it and tag me @heidisenseart on Instagram!)
Solid Solution: Claim one small space in your home as your creative zone, even if it's just a shoebox with supplies.
Treat Yourself: Buy that art supply you've been eyeing but felt guilty about. You have permission. You've always had permission.
Thank you for taking time for yourself today, in the midst of daily demands and life buzzing around you. I’m right there with you in the struggle. As the say, the struggle (back to yourself) is real…but it is SO worth it.
With Enthusiasm for Art & Life,