Broken Crayons Still Color

Creative Block → 047

Apr 23, 2025

Creative Block is a newsletter that gives you a glimpse into my life, creativity, design, and music. It's like a little pick-me-up that you get delivered straight to your inbox.

The other day, I was thinking about this phrase I heard years ago:
“Broken crayons still color.”

It stuck with me.

It reminded me that we don't have to be whole to be useful.
We don’t have to be perfect to be powerful.
We don’t have to be untouched to make an impact.

In life—and especially in art—we all carry cracks.
Maybe it’s self-doubt.
Maybe it’s burnout.
Maybe it’s a season that broke something open in you.

But just like a broken crayon, you still have the ability to create something beautiful.

I’ve learned this over and over again in my creative journey.
Some of my favorite posters, the ones that resonated most deeply, were made in seasons when I didn’t feel fully myself.
When I was tired. Or unsure. Or doubting my voice.

And yet—color still came out.
Still shaped something meaningful.
Still spoke louder than the fear.

Brokenness doesn’t cancel your brilliance.
In fact, sometimes it reveals it.

I’ve come to see that art, like life, isn’t about hiding our imperfections—it’s about using them.
Letting the cracks become contrast. Letting the raw parts become real.
That’s what gives our work depth. That’s what gives our stories weight.

So if you’re feeling a little worn out, a little cracked, a little less than whole—I hope you hear this:

You still color.
You still carry something the world needs.
You’re not disqualified.
You’re human.
And that’s what makes your voice powerful.

Keep creating.
Keep showing up.
Keep coloring, even with the broken pieces.

You’re making something extraordinary.

CALL TO ACTION:
What’s something beautiful you’ve made in a messy season?
Leave a comment. I’d love to celebrate it with you.