When Being Liked Matters More Than Making Art
Let’s be real for a second. A lot of people don’t actually want to be creative, they just want to be seen as creative. In a world of grifters, sellouts, and AI, it’s easier than ever to slap on the “creative” label without actually practicing your craft.
But here’s the problem: this clout-chasing version of creativity is keeping you stuck and creatively blocked (without you even realizing it).
In this post, we’re diving into why genuine creativity isn’t about getting likes and attention, it’s about following your own curiosity, showing up consistently, and making something of substance.
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The State of the Online World & Creativity
In this day and age it seems like being liked matters more than making art. This attitude is rampant in the online world and has taken over many creative spaces, and yet it often goes unnoticed.
This becomes blatantly obvious the more you scroll on TikTok or find yourself consuming short-form video content on any one platform. The thing many of us forget in the midst of oceans of content is that these videos are designed for quick dopamine hits and fast entertainment to keep you stuck on the app.
This is why it’s so easy to be tricked into believing that all you need to do to call yourself “creative” is:
buy and hoard excessive amounts of art materials
talk about ideas without execution
think AI can do the thinking for you
Basically, calling yourself a creative person, without actually making anything real for yourself. This is about wanting to wear the label without living the lifestyle.
But here is the truth: if you’re not practicing and making things often, can you really call yourself creative? Think about it… I think we can all agree the answer to this question is an absolute and utter no.
This is why I genuinely believe many people struggle to call themselves “creative” with certainty and confidence, because they don’t actually practice their craft. They love the idea of being seen as creative or artsy but they’re not putting in the work.
So, if you're struggling to be creative, you need to be honest with yourself about whether or not you actually enjoy doing creative things. And, if you’re here reading this post, I’m gonna assume you genuinely wanna be creative.
If this is the case, then perhaps your challenge isn’t about having the right tools or finding more discipline, it’s about fundamentally misunderstanding what creativity is really all about.
So, let’s talk about it.
The Problem with Clout-Chasing for Aspiring Creatives
Here is the problem with chasing clout, virality, and attention without doing anything of substance.
We live in the age of the grifter, the poser, the sellout. A time when you don’t have to be passionate or care about anything seriously. You can just do whatever is trending for the sake of money, fame, and influence.
People seem super concerned with aesthetics, looking for an identity (especially if they are coming of age in the online world), a place to belong to, and this need pushes them into constant shapeshifting to meet the moment and fit-in. But things change fast, people get bored easily, and trends come and go.
These people end up taking up all the space, while simultaneously contributing nothing of value to the world or the creative community for that matter. There’s a genuine lack of interest, passion, and thoughtfulness and this is becoming our new normal.
It’s like a switch got turned on, where people genuinely believe they can just call themselves [insert whatever category here] and not have to do the work.
For example, we see this with people who:
Buy books but don’t read
Have large collections of art materials but don’t use them
Collect gear but never produce content
We mistake creating for—amassing endless amounts of tools, talking about great ideas but never bringing them to life, or thinking we can simply offload our thinking and imagination to AI. None of this is creative, period point blank!
You’re not making anything. You’re not going inward to explore what you actually need to express. You’re using the label “creative” as an excuse to buy more stuff. And worst of all, you care more about looking interesting and mysterious than about actually enjoying yourself or growing as a person.
As a creativity coach, I absolutely believe everyone is creative. But if there was ever one thing that definitely makes someone a “wannabe creative” it’s this: not spending time on your craft and not making anything. Because honestly, this is the bare minimum.
The Consequences of Performative Creativity
Here’s what happens when we treat creativity like a trend or aesthetic instead of a practice: it becomes shallow, passive, and performative.
You stop being a maker and turn into a passive consumer (someone who hops from one trend to the next, chasing a temporary dopamine hit).
And that dopamine? It’s not coming from the joy of creating something real. It’s from performing creativity online, talking about what you want to make instead of actually making it, seeking validation instead of personal fulfillment.
So what happens when the views slow down?
When the algorithm stops favoring you?
When it’s just you, your materials, and the quiet?
That’s where true creative work lives. In the slow, private, and often unglamorous process. It asks for grit, commitment, and genuine passion.
This is what separates real creatives from culture vultures (people who take what looks cool without honoring the culture, meaning, or effort behind it).
And, the worst part with this performative cycle is that it often turns into creative resistance, because we become:
Afraid to use our materials or make mistakes
Unmotivated without constant praise or attention
Insecure of calling ourselves “creative” because we’ve never built a consistent practice and we’re afraid we’ll be found out
This is what we don’t always recognize when we’re in the midst of chasing the next like.
Learning to Fall in Love with the Process
So what’s the alternative?
It’s simple: fall in love with the process.
Develop a creative practice.
Learn to enjoy the act of showing up, not just the idea of being creative.
For example, I fell in love with visual art as a result of my passion for Punk Rock music, particularly, the Do It Yourself (DIY) ethos. This attitude taught me not to wait for permission to try something and just do it. I love the raw, scrappy, imperfect approach, it’s empowering.
Album art also inspired me. I grew up listening to albums while reading the lyric book and analyzing the art. I studied logos and tried to understand what made them timeless. I learned that creativity isn’t about appearances or perfection, it’s about heart.
This is the way most of us fell in love with our craft. Not because it was trendy, not because someone said it was “cool”, but because something about it moved us.
Pure curiosity. Genuine passion. That’s the real thing!
The Key Takeaway
Remember, creativity isn’t just a label, it’s a way of life.
If you’re creating to impress others, you’re missing the point.
Creativity is about connecting with yourself, using what you already have, sharing what excites you, and most importantly, learning to enjoy the process.
It’s not about performance. It’s about practice.
So, turn off your phone, grab your tools, and make something, anything, today!
Renata is a creativity coach empowering neurodivergent and multi-passionate women of color, to use creativity as a tool for self-discovery and healing, so they can let go of feeling inadequate and insecure and start experiencing more confidence and self-acceptance. She’s currently offering a free copy of her therapeutic art making workbook when you sign up for her email list. Sign up here to get your free copy.
