Feeling Deeply, Sharing Boldly

Seeing Sensitivity As A Superpower

I’ve always been drawn to images, stories, and words of wisdom that don’t just engage my mind—they capture my imagination.

As a creator, I do my best to channel emotions into what I make. As a curator, I select, arrange, and present work that resonates with me—and, hopefully, with others too.

But creating and curating in a world overflowing with opinions, comments, and noise? That’s where things get complicated. At least, for me.

FEELING EVERYTHING, ALL AT ONCE

The internet has a way of flattening experiences. A work of art that took days and weeks to make is often judged—praised, dismissed, and/or ignored—in seconds.

A thoughtful montage of vintage photographs might receive a fraction of the attention a meme gets. And yet, despite the fleeting engagement and open-to-interpretation nature of the former, I’m drawn to making montages, not memes.

I’ve seen how some creators and curators manage to distance themselves from their audiences and their work. They’ve adopted a “just put it out there and move on” mentality. I admire that approach, but I’m not wired that way.

Every montage I make, every post I write—it’s all a piece of me. Which means I tend to take things personally. And that’s both a strength and a weakness.

CREATION + CURATION + INTENTION

Creation is about reflection—making something from nothing or transforming what already exists into something new. Curation is about selection—deciding what deserves to be seen. Both tell a story, whether through a collection of vintage photos, a montage of artistic male portraits, or a deep dive into a forgotten artist’s work.

But I don’t create and curate based solely on aesthetics. For better or worse, I create and curate based on emotions and instincts.

A photograph might be visually stunning, but if it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t make the cut. And I’ve left more work on the cutting room floor than I’d like to admit. Not everything I make is fit for public consumption—or public comment.

For me, my work is deeply personal. Maybe too personal.

THE RISK OF CARING TOO MUCH

Being sensitive in a creative space means opening yourself up—to feedback, interpretation, and criticism. And not all of it is constructive. Or kind.

There are days when I wonder if my sensitivity is a liability. If caring so much about images and stories is worth the emotional toll. Maybe creating distance would make things easier?

But then I remember the creatives whose work truly moves me are the ones who care deeply. They don’t just make content; they craft experiences. They don’t just present; they connect.

And connection is the reason I do this.

EMBRACING SENSITIVITY AS A STRENGTH

I used to think I needed to grow a thicker skin.

But I’m finally realizing that sensitivity isn’t necessarily a weakness—it’s part of my process and who I am. It’s what makes my work meaningful…to me at least. And it allows me to collect and connect with heart, create with purpose, and curate work that doesn’t just look good—it feels right to me too.

Fellow sensitive creatives, please consider this: feeling deeply doesn’t have to be a flaw. It can be a superpower. I think the world needs more people who give a fuck about what they’re doing and what they’re making. And, in my experience, works that carry authentic emotion will find a receptive, supportive audience.

Thank you for being a friend!
Clint 🌈✌️

P.S. This Studio Saturday, I’ll be finishing a new montage, just for Substack paid subscribers. I plan to send it out later today. Until then…cheers!

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

• The Weekend Edit No. 18 (PJ & Thomas)

• Is Our Society Making You Sick? (Ecstatic Self) 📺

• AI Just Wrote This Song For Me (Benson Boone) 📺

• Colin Jost's First TV Appearance On The Weakest Link… (Michael & Colin) 📺

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ON THIS DAY = MARCH 8

BIRTHDAYS

• 1841 = Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. = American lawyer and jurist

• 1856 = Colin Campbell Cooper = American painter and academic

• 1865 = Frederic Goudy = American type designer

• 1887 = Una Vincenzo, Lady Troubridge = English artist 🌈

• 1921 = Alan Hale Jr. = American actor and restaurateur

• 1922 = Ralph H. Baer = German-American video game designer

• 1944 = Carole Bayer Sager = American singer-songwriter

• 1945 = Micky Dolenz = American singer-songwriter and actor

• 1947 = Michael S. Hart = American author and Project Gutenberg founder

• 1948 = Peggy March = American singer-songwriter

• 1951 = Monica F. Helms = American activist and trans flag designer 🌈

• 1959 = Lester Holt = American journalist

• 1961 = Camryn Manheim = American actor

• 1968 = Shawn Mullins = American singer-songwriter

• 1976 = Freddie Prinze Jr. = American actor, producer, and screenwriter

• 1977 = James Van Der Beek = American actor

• 1982 = Kat Von D = American tattoo artist and model

• 2004 = Kit Connor = English actor

EVENTS

• 1775 = An anonymous writer, thought by some to be Thomas Paine, publishes African Slavery in America, the first article in the American colonies calling for the emancipation of slaves and the abolition of slavery.

• 1817 = The New York Stock Exchange is founded.

• 1936 = Daytona Beach and Road Course holds its first oval stock car race.

• 1948 = SCOTUS rules in McCollum v. Board of Education that religious instruction in public schools is unconstitutional

• 1950 = The iconic Volkswagen Type 2 "Bus" begins production.

• 1979 = Philips demonstrates the compact disc publicly for the first time.

• 1993 = Beavis and Butt-Head premieres on MTV.

HOLIDAYS + OBSERVANCES

• International Women's Day

  • International Women's Collaboration Brew Day

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PORTRAIT + QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It’s the experience of maybe you’re too straight to be gay and you’re too gay to be straight. So it’s like, ‘Where do I sit?’ But I feel much more secure in myself now.”
Kit Connor