Hello! I’m Janet’s business partner here at UnchainedBrainz, and this is my very first blog post. While Janet brings so much of the artistry and creative experience behind our brand, I proudly represent the “I-still-draw-unrecognizable-blobs” side of our duo.

If you’ve ever wanted to be creative but worried you weren’t good enough at drawing, you’re absolutely in the right place. Today’s post is my own small leap into creative bravery, and I’m thrilled to share it with you!

When people think about drawing, they often think about talent. But the truth is, the benefits of drawing have nothing to do with skill level. You can draw messy circles and stick figures and still reap enormous emotional, cognitive, and social benefits.

I’m living proof.

I draw unrecognizable figures and scribbly lines. And just to show you I mean it, the images in this blog are my actual drawings--unedited, imperfect, and posted with love, and in hope that it encourages you to pick up a pen and just begin.

In fact, my artistic track record has always lived somewhere between "bless her heart" and "what is that?" 

Case in point:  As a journalism major in college, I once submitted a drawing of the state of Missouri and my professor didn’t just misidentify it, he couldn’t identify it at all. He held it up in front of the class, furrowed his brow, and asked not-so-gently, “What on earth is this supposed to be?” I was mortified. I wanted to disappear under the table. At the time, it felt like proof that I wasn’t meant to draw and made me question my chosen career path. But now? It’s one of my favorite stories.  Why?  Because not only does it make for a humorous story, it also didn’t stop me from drawing.

If I can still draw joyfully after that, you can too.

If there’s one thing my unidentifiable Missouri taught me, it’s that creativity is for everyone — especially those of us who don’t feel “artistic.” And that’s exactly why Janet and I started UnchainedBrainz.

In my next post, I’ll share the science behind why drawing is so good for your brain (yes, even if your drawings look like mine). Until then, grab a pen and make a wonderfully imperfect mark today.

Humbly yours in art,

Starla