On (Re)Starting + (Re)Finishing

Creativity + Rubik's Cubes

A couple of dear friends are doodling and noodling on new creative projects and ventures. I’m so excited for them that I worry my cheerleading might distract from their focus. It’s a balancing act.

Our recent chats have inspired me to doodle and noodle more about my own creative habits and processes. Good doodles. Good noodles.

Long story short: I see creativity like a Rubik’s Cube. While it may look simple, not everyone’s gonna solve the puzzle. And even if they do, chances are good they won’t solve it the same way.

Also, some aren’t interested in solving the puzzle…they just like to fidget and play.

From my point-of-view, whether you’re twisting and turning the colors or just admiring the cube as it is, there’s value in all approaches.

As long it’s moving, it’s grooving in my book.

In the beginning, when you first pick up that Rubik’s Cube, there’s this rush of excitement—a thrill that comes from the possibilities. You start twisting and turning, and maybe the colors align effortlessly. But more often than not, they don’t.

That’s where the challenge—and the fun for me—truly begins.

You’re faced with choices: Do you continue twisting until you reach perfection, or do you put it down, satisfied with what you’ve explored? (Or do you Google how to solve it fast? No judgment…looking for solutions is creative too.)

The middle part, the 'in-between,' is where I often find myself. It’s the space where ideas get tangled, where progress can feel both exhilarating and exasperating. It’s where the work happens—where you grind away, sometimes joyfully, sometimes begrudgingly. And sometimes, you get stuck, staring at a side of the cube that just won’t come together no matter how many times you turn it.

But here’s a secret I’ve learned (the hard way):
There’s no “right” way to solve the puzzle.

Despite what all the experts and gurus want you to believe, there are ways you COULD solve it, but there are no ways you SHOULD solve it.

Sometimes, restarting is the best move. Sometimes, you need to walk away, let the cube sit for a while, and return with fresh eyes. And other times, finishing means embracing the imperfections, knowing that the process itself has been valuable.

As I reflect on my own creative journey and output, I’ve realized that it’s okay to (re)start and (re)finish as many times as needed. Each attempt, each twist, and turn, is a step forward, even if it feels like you’re spinning in circles.

Creativity isn’t always about perfecting the puzzle; it’s about the willingness to engage with it, to explore its possibilities, and to find meaning in the act of creation itself.

So here’s to the beginnings, the endings, and all the messy, beautiful things in between. Whether you’re solving the Rubik’s Cube or simply admiring its colors, I believe your creative journey is uniquely ours—and that’s what makes it so damn fun and inspiring.

Thanks for reading!
Clint

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WORDS OF WISDOM ON CREATIVITY

“Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.”
Steve Jobs

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working."
Henri Matisse

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”
Maya Angelou

“Art is never finished, only abandoned.”
Leonardo da Vinci

“You can be cautious or you can be creative, but there's no such thing as a cautious creative.”
George Lois

"You use a glass mirror to see your face. You use works of art to see your soul."
George Bernard Shaw

“A creative life is an amplified life. It's a bigger life, a happier life, an expanded life, and a hell of a lot more interesting life”
Elizabeth Gilbert

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MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

Last week, I got inspired to make my longest montage to date.

At almost an hour, making Masters Of Photography taught me so much. About photography (and video editing). It’s a celebration of a few of the countless photographers who’ve elevated the technical craft into an art form in the last almost 200 years. I’m so proud of how it turned out.

Hope you have a chance to watch:

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A NOTE ON REVISING + REWORKING

If you’ve ever visited my Shops, Substack, or YouTube channel, you may have noticed subtle (and sometimes drastic) changes to the look and feel of them. I regularly update art, videos, and posts…it’s part of my process. And part of my (undiagnosed) OCD.

YouTube doesn’t always love my tendency to tweak things…especially thumbnails. I’m currently on a time-out from adding custom thumbnails. God, I love being treated like a child. Not. It’s always something stupid with them.

So if you ever hit a dead link, chances are I missed removing or updating it. Feel free to let me know. Or not. Whatever works for YOU, boo.

Just thought I’d bring it up. Have gotten a few notes recently from folks thinking posts or videos got deleted. Nope. Just unpublished or updated…by me. 🌈✌️😎

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