The Art of Making Stuff Just Because

There’s a certain magic in doing something for no reason other than… well, you felt like it. Not because it’ll make you money. Not because it’s going on Instagram. Not because you’re secretly auditioning for a new career. Just because you want to.

I recently did just that while at The Art Center of the Capital Region. I have been working on getting back into watercolor painting, and I was so excited when I was placed to assist an instructor teaching a watercolor class. As she laid out they would be working on—mushrooms—I got excited and decided to join them and create a project. Let’s just say, I surprised myself. I still got my mojo, as you can see, even after over a decade.

That’s the beauty of creativity without an end goal: it’s freedom disguised as watercolor paint. And the best part? You might learn more about yourself with hands and clothes coated with paint than you ever would from another “Top 10 Habits of Highly Productive People” article.

Being authentically creative can take on a nurturing and healing element. I’m not talking about the kind that’s all hustle and portfolio, but the kind that’s about exploration, joy, and maybe accidentally knitting a scarf that looks suspiciously like a long sock.

Photos of all my just because activities from left to right: my younger daughter’s embroidery planet apron, wearable embroidery art for my older daughter, an acrylic painting for their bathroom, a hoop for my daughter’s teacher for the end of the school year, a rice bowl recipe without a plan, our family visit to an environmental center with the most beautiful glass bottles (for my love of photography), created my own orange cake recipe, decorated their wall with hearts, and taking a break for some well-deserved ice cream.

Why “Pointless” Creativity is Actually the Point. We have been so conditioned to believe that everything needs a purpose. If you pick up a hobby and you become great at it, the next question is, “So, are you going to sell them on Etsy?” Heaven forbid you just enjoy making lopsided mugs without trying to build a ceramic empire.

When we create without a destination, we free ourselves from the pressure of perfection. There’s no “wrong” way to watercolor your cat wearing a crown, though your cat might disagree. The absence of a clear “goal” means the process is the reward. It’s the mental equivalent of a hammock nap, and if you’ve had one, you know what I’m talking about.

All my embroidery projects had no plan. They all took a mind of their own, but what I did do was take it one step at a time and trust that the outcome will be what is supposed to be.

Creativity as Self and Community Care in Disguise. You know those self-care checklists that always include things like “drink more water” and “get eight hours of sleep”? Shoutout to whoever wrote those. You’re correct, but also, who needs a micro managing list. Let’s add “make something completely ridiculous” to the list.

Whether you’re creating alone, or with a group, engaging in creative activities gives your brain a vacation, so you stop doomscrolling for twenty blessed minutes. It helps you express what words can’t, so that you can take a break from journaling about that horrible date you had several nights ago. You also build resilience, because you know that much like painting, if you mess something up, great, that’s the spirit. You choose to go with the flow, or fix it. It also reminds you you’re allowed to play, even if you pay taxes now.

So that drumming class you joined is far more than developing skills, but also an exchange of culture, history and laying our burdens at the alter. We reserve the right to create individually and/or in community because they play a major role in care.

Learning About Yourself Along the Way. When you create for the sake of creating, little truths sneak up on you. Maybe you realize you have the patience of a saint when painting miniature birdhouses. Or maybe you realize… nope. Patience is not your brand. That’s useful to know, too.

Sometimes your art will surprise you. A casual collage turns into a visual love letter. A silly short story makes you notice how much you value independence. The act of making things works like a mirror: it reflects bits of you back that you didn’t even know were there.

And here’s the real kicker — there’s no pressure to “be good” at it. Your macaroni portrait of your favorite celebrity or family member doesn’t have to be museum-worthy to tell you something about yourself.

Some of my favorite quotes about art and life

Create for Fun (Without Overthinking It). If your inner critic is already shouting “But I’m not creative!” let’s pause. Creativity isn’t about having a magical talent gene; it’s about doing things in a way that’s uniquely yours. That could mean painting murals or arranging your snack plate like a still life. The trick is to choose something you want to do, not something you think you “should” do. If you hate scrapbooking, don’t start scrapbooking. This isn’t gym class.

Making Time for It (Even When Life’s Full). “But I don’t have time to be creative!” you cry, possibly while scrolling TikTok for the fourth time today. Friend, you do have time.

Ten minutes before bed.

While your pasta water boils.

On your lunch break in the car.

Saturday mornings before the house wakes up.

Tiny doses count. You don’t need a full studio or four uninterrupted hours. You just need a moment to let your brain wander off the path and pick wildflowers.

Give Yourself Permission to Make Ugly Stuff. Here’s your official hall pass: you are 100% allowed to make things that are ugly, weird, unfinished, or confusing to everyone except you. That’s actually the fun part.

When we create purely for our own enjoyment, we give ourselves space to breathe, to be, and to discover pieces of ourselves we didn’t know were waiting. The world doesn’t need to understand it. You don’t even have to understand it. Let your creativity be a private little rebellion against the idea that everything must be productive.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about the final product. It’s about what happens inside you while you’re making it, and the fact that, for a little while, you got to play.

Have you made something recently that you would like to share?

Photo of mushroom created by Renata Poleon/August 11, 2025