Why you need to experiment and embrace the mess to find your voice.
Your masterpiece is actually your biggest enemy right now. Polish is the fastest way to kill your creative pulse.
We live in this hyper-curated 2026 loop where every local artist’s feed looks like a polished gallery opening, and it is exhausting. You feel like if you are not producing high-tier content that screams Northwestern Ontario Aesthetic, you are failing the algorithm and your community. But holding back because you are scared of being cringe is a slow death for your soul. You have to give yourself permission to make some truly hideous things just to remember what it feels like to be alive.
In the arts sector, especially in our smaller northern hubs, we get stuck trying to prove we are as legit as the Toronto crowds. We tighten up. We stop taking risks because resources are scarce and every grant application feels like it requires a finished, perfect product. But real growth—the kind that builds resilience and a healthy mindset—happens in the mess. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tells us that perfectionism is often just a shield against the fear of judgment. When you intentionally choose to experiment and fail, you are practicing exposure therapy against that fear. You are telling your brain that your worth is not tied to the quality of your output.
Go ahead and get weird with it this week. Mix those colors that should not go together. Write that poem that sounds like a frantic text message at 3:00 AM. If you are part of a small collective in Kenora or Fort Frances, host an Ugly Art Night where the only rule is that the final product cannot be shared on social media. There is a profound dignity in creating something that exists solely for your own discovery. To experiment is not about the result; it is about the raw act of play, which is the most radical form of self-compassion we have left in a world obsessed with optimization.
We often forget that the most iconic northern landscapes were not captured by people who were worried about their aesthetic. They were captured by people who were out in the mud, trying things, and failing until something clicked. Your ugly shit is the compost for your future genius. It is the data you need to find your actual voice, not the voice you think you are supposed to have. So, please, stop trying to be impressive. Start trying to be curious.
If you find yourself paralyzed by the blank page or the empty stage, try a trash run. Set a timer for five minutes and try to make the worst version of your art possible. Lean into the cliches. Make it garish, make it loud, and make it absolutely objectively bad. Usually, somewhere in that pile of hot garbage, you will find a single spark—a texture, a word, or a rhythm—that feels honest. That honesty is where the real work begins, and you never would have found it if you were too busy trying to be perfect.
Exploring the arts in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario
With activities rooted in our Winnipeg, Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario hubs, we’re exploring arts, culture, and recreation programming that brings our communities together. From creative workshops and local exhibitions to youth activities and cultural events, we support rural artists, strengthen community connection, and celebrate the creative spirit.
Explore more mindset posts and random thoughts with Melgund Recreation, Arts and Culture.
About the Author
