No Undo: What Art Teaches Me About Building Things That Matter
- anniebarch
- May 16
- 2 min read
Throughout my whole life, I've been a maker. I've dabbled in more artistic hobbies than I can count and a few, like dance, painting, digital illustration and pottery, have stuck around over the years. But what keeps me curious about the arts is that every medium teaches something unique—not just about making, but about meaning.
Which I have seen directly influence my strength as a creative leader.
Each Medium Has a Message
Digital illustration gives me the freedom to move fast and delay commitment. It’s ideal for exploring composition, refining details, and iterating without consequence. But when I want to slow down and fully engage, I turn to a medium without an undo button.
That’s where acrylics come in.
There’s no quick fix in physical paint. Every brushstroke is a decision. Once it’s on the canvas, it becomes part of the story—whether you want it there or not. Working this way forces me to commit, adapt, and solve problems in the moment.
It’s a valuable contrast to the digital world, where “undo” is always within reach.
Pottery, on the other hand, is pure surrender. It teaches patience and presence. Centering clay is a delicate balance—too much pressure and it collapses, too little and it slips away. Letting go of perfection becomes the only path forward.
Even AI tools, as unpredictable as they are, continue to expand how I approach ideation. I don’t view them as a replacement for creativity, but as collaborators. They challenge me to define my story more clearly and explore how phrasing can change the interpretation of something.
Creativity Isn’t a Skillset. It’s a System.
Each of these mediums may seem different on the surface, but they all point back to the same foundation of understanding the creative process and how starting with a blank canvas and shaping it into something is a journey.
The lessons I learn through making directly inform how I lead—they shape how I build brand stories, influence how I give feedback, and continually remind me that iteration, ambiguity, and even failure are essential parts of the process.
Creative leadership isn’t just about delivering the final product. It’s about guiding teams through the friction, the doubt and the discovery.
Having empathy for what it takes to create something from nothing makes me a more effective leader. It also reveals where I have room to grow—because no one knows it all.
A great creative team isn’t built around a single style or process. It’s a collaboration between individuals who each bring a unique strength and come together to make something better than any one of us could on our own.
The Medium Shapes the Maker, Too
This isn’t just a hobby. It’s a practice in adaptability and a reminder that inspiration doesn’t always come from brainstorms or brand decks—it often starts with curiosity and a willingness to get your hands messy.
Whether I’m leading a brand launch or sketching a new piece, the mindset is the same:
Stay open. Stay curious. And trust that every part of the process is shaping the final story.
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