More than just content
Bringing intention back into your creative process
Let’s talk about something simple but important: why you’re creating.
With everything going on - deadlines, trends, algorithms, trying to sell or grow - it’s easy to get caught in a loop of creating just to keep up. You’re posting, publishing, designing, recording… but somewhere along the way, you may lose sight of what originally made it meaningful.
That’s where purpose comes in.
What does “creating with purpose” actually mean?
It means being clear about why you're making something - beyond just getting it done or putting it out there. Purpose doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be:
Wanting to teach something you’ve learned
Sharing your unique voice or perspective
Creating something that helps or comforts others
Making space for your own expression or healing
Building a business in a way that aligns with your values
The point is: when your creative work has a reason behind it, it feels more focused, more satisfying - and ironically, it tends to resonate more with others too.
Sometimes, my purpose is personal
There are times when I create something with a specific person in mind - like my daughter. I might draw a cozy winter cottage because I know she loves stories about forests and animals. Or I might imagine how she’ll experience the world I’m illustrating and build that little touch of magic into the work.
Currently I am designing coloring books for her :) I picture her flipping through the pages. That mental picture shapes how I draw, what I include, and even how I structure the book.
Creating with her in mind brings so much more clarity and energy than following a trend or trying to guess what will “sell.” And the truth is - other parents feel this too. When I share bits of the project, I hear things like “My child would love this!” or “We need more books like this.”
PS: To all the parents, my coloring pages are also available on Etsy!
So yeah, when I know who I’m creating for and why they matter to me, it changes how I approach the work. It makes decisions easier. It adds care and clarity to every step.
Try this today:
If you’re feeling a bit off or unmotivated, step back and ask:
What do I really want to say or share?
What feels meaningful to me right now?
Then start there. It doesn’t have to be perfect or polished. But it might be exactly what you need to create next.
Hope this helps :)
Weronika
When you are stagnating: stepping out of your comfort zone as a creative
I’m warmly inviting you to read through this article if you’ve been missing some creative motivation lately, or if you’ve been feeling that you’re “stagnating” and not moving forward with your creative career. This post is also dedicated to all the artists out there, who create art on a regular basis that just “sits” on their iPad or some other storage 👀
Hi! I’m Weronika Salach, a freelance illustrator specializing in children’s books, toy design and surface pattern design. Over 40,000 happy students have taken my digital illustration courses and watched my YouTube videos. Let’s connect :)
👉 Website
👉 Courses
👉 YouTube
👉 FB group for illustrators and FB group for pattern designers
👉 Etsy
👉 Books on Amazon.com and Amazon.de