Two weeks ago, I shared my own reasons for making art and writing essays. Being specific about this turned out to be a complicated business with a range of answers, but it has been helpful to puzzle it out.

Knowing more about why I need to make stuff whenever I can has helped me make the best use of my time and energy and to feel better about making art. I now have clarity on the difference between inspiration and distraction. I know when to feel free to play and when I need to be focused and productive. I can judge my output by its true purpose rather than the natterings of the monkey in my head.

At the end of that essay, I asked you to share your own reasons for being creative — your own “whys”— and hundreds of you responded. Your responses have opened my eyes even further. I’ve distilled the main themes from across your emails, and I want to share how they all seem to apply to me as well.

PERSONAL FULFILLMENT & JOY

In all the replies you sent me, the most prevalent reason for creating is the deep personal satisfaction it brings. It just feels good. Many of you said art is fundamental to your well-being, making you feel more alive and engaged with life.

You described art as a vital need rather than just a hobby—as one reader notes, a part of her "begins to starve" without it. For some, it's simply about the pure pleasure of finding and creating beauty in the world. The joy of creation seems to deepen with age, and many readers find greater pleasure in the creative practice as they age.

I totally relate to this. Being creative is just who I am and always have been. The form, the content, and the quality don’t matter nearly as much. It’s like breathing — I have to do it to feel alive. And the older I get, the more I value every breath,

MENTAL HEALTH & PROCESSING LIFE

Art is a powerful tool for maintaining our mental health and processing life experiences. Many of us use it to manage stress, anxiety, and depression. It provides a meditative space and helps ground people during difficult times. Some of us use art therapeutically, whether through professional art therapy or self-administered, to work through personal challenges. As one reader put it, “Art grounds my mental health, keeps me focused and calm."

Whether it was creating a grief journal or typing notes to myself during bouts of 3 am insomnia, art has always been my medicine. My sketchbook and my notebook are always here to absorb my worries, to turn my chatter and woeful imaginings into clarity and peace.

LEARNING & PERSONAL GROWTH

Many of us love to keep learning and improving our skills. This is especially true for those of us entering retirement or new life phases, who see art as a way to keep growing and challenging ourselves. For some, it's about exploring previously undeveloped parts of ourselves. The learning process itself, rather than the end result, provides the motivation.

I can’t imagine I’ll ever outgrow my love of learning. I love watching YouTube tutorials, listening to technical podcasts, reading history and science books, and having conversations with experts on myriad subjects. Although much of what I learn has no practical application, it just makes me feel alive.

CONNECTION & GIVING

Many of us are motivated by the desire to connect with and help others — from teaching and mentoring to creating art specifically to donate or share. Some of us see our art as a way to bring beauty and joy to others' lives, while others are fulfilled by helping people discover their own creativity. The communal aspect of creation — sharing, teaching, and connecting — provides deep satisfaction.

I’ve been building creative communities for a quarter of a century ago and it’s become my life’s work. By working with other artists, I’ve shared ideas and knowledge, inspiration and encouragement, and what I’ve given, I’ve received back a hundred-fold.

PROFESSIONAL & TEACHING

While most of us create primarily for personal reasons, some make a living as art teachers. Motivated by the desire to teach and share their knowledge, these teachers focus on making art education accessible and helping others discover their creative potential. However, even in these cases, the motivation typically extends beyond financial gain to a deeper desire to share the transformative power of creativity.

Because I wasn’t formally educated in art, I never thought of myself as a teacher. However, sharing what I have learned through my own experimentation and from the examples and wisdom of others has become my job. It’s the best one I’ve ever had.

LEGACY & MEMORY

Some of us create to leave a legacy or to capture memories. This includes all of the people in our course, Your Illustrated Life, filling their sketchbooks with memories. They’re documenting their lives for future generations, preserving memories that might otherwise fade, and creating lasting connections with family members. Sketchbooks and journals become personal time capsules, storing not just images but moments and memories.

I’ve kept an illustrated journal for thirty years, and it is the archive of all of my life events, big and small. Filling so many pages with words and pictures has given me insight and brought me joy. It’s an ongoing creative project I won’t complete until I die.

EXISTENTIAL & SPIRITUAL REASONS

Perhaps the most profound motivation was captured by one reader: "We come from nothing, and our time here is like a brief flash of light. In this short moment, we have so little time to explore and understand the world around us. And there's no better way to do this than with a pencil in hand." For many of us, creating is a way to make sense of existence and explore our place in the universe.

I first came to drawing when I was desperately confused and lost. My sketchbook helped me to be present, here in the Now, and revealed to me the beauty in the world that I had neglected to see. Making art literally sacrificed my sanity and gave my life purpose.

No matter what the main reason we have for making art, it;s clear that our creativity is driven by internal rather than external motivations. Whether for personal fulfillment, mental health, learning, or connection, most of us are motivated by how the creative process enriches our lives and the lives of others.

Many of us describe it not as a choice but as a necessity - something we must do to feel fully alive and engaged with the world. The process of creating itself, rather than the results or the reception, those are our primary motivation.

This is the key why for all of us. We make because we must. And we are artists because we do.

I’m so glad you shared this with me. Thank you for your candor and generosity.

Your pal,

Danny