Sometimes I dream of my work speaking for itself. That it whispers, sings, calls out without me having to say anything. But the reality is different. In a world that cries out for visibility, as a creator you often have to take the stage yourself. And that's not always easy if you're an introvert.
Let me make something clear:
Being an introvert doesn't mean you're shy. Or shy about socializing. I'm sociable. I enjoy meaningful conversations. I enjoy people, as long as there's room for quiet time in between.
For me, being an introvert means drawing energy from silence, reflection, and one-on-one contact. Not from crowds, group dynamics, or being "on." After a full day of being around people, I need time to recharge. Alone, with music, or in my visual world.
But honestly? I used to find that terribly difficult.
There was little room for "being quiet" in a world that places so much emphasis on extroverted behavior. I often felt different, as if something was wrong with my need for peace. I resisted it. I tried to meet all the expectations that, in fact, didn't suit me at all.
It was only over the years that I began to understand that this is who I am, and I am good the way I am.
And that there's power in silence. That I'm not less, just different. Then I immediately ask the question: but what is different?
Growing older helps enormously in this regard. It teaches you to embrace what you might have pushed away in the past. To be gentle with yourself. And gentle with how you work, live, and grow.
As a creative designer, that sometimes works to my advantage: I'm a keen observer, have a strong intuition, and work from that deeper level. But it can also be challenging, especially when you have to sell your work. Not just literally, but also figuratively. You have to explain why it's valuable. Why you make something that matters. And that sometimes feels like shouting when you'd rather whisper.
But you know what I also discovered? You can learn to sell.
Visibility isn't a fixed talent, it's a skill you can develop on your own terms.
I immersed myself in how other visual artists approach things. I took a Social Media Marketing course, learned how to build my own website, and discovered how storytelling works in both image and text. Not to force myself into a straitjacket, but to tell my story more powerfully, in my own way.
I believe that as an introverted creator you can be visible without losing yourself.
That you can grow in what previously felt scary.
And that you can learn to think a little commercially, without it affecting your integrity.
What works for me:
♥ Honesty . I don't sell a story, I share my story.
♥ Trust . Not everyone has to understand or like my work, it just has to touch the right people.
♥ Structure . By learning about marketing and strategy, it becomes easier to let my creativity flourish in my business as well.
♥ Visual language . My work speaks. And when I support it with words, I let them land softly, like a whisper that enters.
I'm not a networking person at drinks parties. But give me a genuine conversation at a kitchen table, and I'll flourish.
I'm not a smooth salesman. But I can share what moves me.
I'm not a marketer. But I can tell stories, in color, texture, and silence.
And that also means being visible.
So to all the silent makers, dreamers, builders of worlds in your head.
Know that you don't have to shout louder to be heard.
May your soft voice also make an impact.
That your work deserves space, even if you take it up in your own, quiet way.
Stay true to your rhythm. Learn what you need.
Be inspired, but don't lose yourself in the speed of others.
We don't have to scream to exist.
We just have to keep creating.
Our way. At our pace.
The world needs our images, perhaps now more than ever 🩷
