If you're going to get up, you might as well do something.

It wasn’t too long ago that I was a college student waiting to graduate. During my four years in college, I would sometimes wait for my professors to give me assignments so I could make art. Now that I’ve graduated and am working, I often find myself waiting on clients instead. But the more work I do for others, I’ve noticed, the less I do for myself.

In school, if I got an assignment that bored me, I would create multiple pieces in my own style to make up for it. Now, finding the time and balance between running a business, working on community projects, holding two part-time jobs, and creating art is much harder.

I love what I do, and I wouldn’t change it—well, maybe just a little. I recognize that I need a tighter grip on time management and prioritization. At the same time, I’ve realized that I’ve grown into an artist who enjoys working in series. Depending on the topic and materials, working in series can take a while.

There was a point where I felt like I was gasping for a breath of fresh creative air. I felt unfulfilled in my personal work, and it became harder to find the motivation to start. Out of frustration one day, I planned a creative photoshoot for my older sister, April. She has always supported me and gladly agreed. I used a simple photography studio setup I bought from Amazon, and it worked beautifully. I handled the hair, makeup, and wardrobe, and poured all the ideas I had been holding onto for weeks into the shoot. The photos turned out amazing, and we were both pleased.

Actually, I was more than pleased—I was full of joy. It felt like stretching my limbs after a long, intense workout. It was exhilarating. That experience reminded me not to let frustration hold me back to the point where I can’t function. I told myself, “If you’re going to get up, you might as well do something.” And so I did.

Whether it’s making art or even writing a blog post, it’s more than nothing—it’s something.