Art Blog #175: Vincent Van Gogh: The Power of Small Steps in a Digital Age

Vincent Van Gogh: The Original Creative Rebel Who Spoke in Fire

As a sculptor, I feel a weirdly personal connection to Van Gogh—maybe it’s the whole "pouring your entire soul into your work" thing, or maybe it’s because I grew up in Belgium, not far from where he wandered and worked. Either way, his story hits differently when you’re an artist yourself, standing in front of your own work, wondering if anyone will ever get it.

Van Gogh was an artist ahead of his time, but the world wasn’t ready. The guy sold ONE painting in his lifetime. ONE. And now his work is hanging in the most prestigious galleries in the world, raking in millions. The irony? Painfully poetic. But more than his work, it’s his words that have carved a permanent place in my creative DNA. Van Gogh wasn’t just an artist; he was a philosopher, a motivator, and, honestly, an influencer before influencers were a thing.

So let’s dive into the most powerful things Van Gogh ever said, because—let’s be real—his quotes are pretty powerfull. Shout out to all art quote for instagram seekers!

"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?"

This is the rallying cry for every creative who’s ever doubted themselves (which is all of us, let’s be honest). Fear is the ultimate creativity killer, and Van Gogh knew it. He painted like he had nothing to lose because, well, he kinda didn’t. That energy? That’s what we need to channel when we’re about to launch into something wild—be it a new sculpture, a bold painting, or even that artsy tee line you’ve been procrastinating on.

"Normality is a paved road: It's comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it."

Society loves its smooth, predictable paths. But art? Art thrives in the cracks. This quote reminds me why I lean into the weird, the experimental, the ‘what if I just did this insane thing and saw what happens?’ approach. If you ever feel like you don’t fit the mold, congrats—you’re exactly where you need to be.

"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."

Every masterpiece is built stroke by stroke, piece by piece. Whether it’s a sculpture made from hundreds of laser-cut steel parts or a painting built from thousands of tiny, impassioned brushstrokes, the process is what makes the final work sing. This quote is a reminder to trust the grind, even when it feels like you’re going nowhere.

"I put my heart and soul into my work, and I have lost my mind in the process."

This one? This one gets me. The idea of creating until it consumes you—until you’re exhausted, exhilarated, and everything in between. But isn’t that the cost of making something real? Maybe we don’t have to lose our minds in the process, but putting heart and soul into something? That’s the only way it’s worth doing.

"If you hear a voice within you say ‘you cannot paint,’ then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

Van Gogh called out imposter syndrome before we even had a name for it. That little voice telling you that you’re not good enough? That your art, your ideas, your vision don’t matter? He’s telling you to drown it out with action. Pick up the brush, weld the metal, scribble the sketch—prove it wrong.

"The way to know life is to love many things."

Creativity isn’t just about what you make—it’s about what you absorb, what you obsess over, what makes your soul spark. Van Gogh was a walking, breathing example of this. He loved color like it was oxygen, he loved the night sky like it was speaking to him. That’s the energy we should bring into everything—curiosity, love, intensity.

"I am seeking. I am striving. I am in it with all my heart."

This. This is the artist’s manifesto. It doesn’t say ‘I have arrived’ or ‘I have mastered it all.’ It says: I am in it. Fully. Relentlessly. And that’s enough.

“Great Things Are Not Done by Impulse, But a Series of Small Things Brought Together.”

As a sculptor, I live by this mantra, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that masterpieces aren’t born overnight—they are built, piece by piece, mistake by mistake, breakthrough by breakthrough.

The Myth of Instant Genius

In a world obsessed with overnight success and viral moments, Van Gogh’s wisdom feels almost radical. The myth of the genius artist who wakes up one day and paints a masterpiece in a single stroke? It’s just that—a myth. Every great painting, sculpture, or creative endeavor is the result of countless tiny decisions, iterations, and revisions.

Van Gogh himself was no stranger to the grind. He didn’t just wake up one morning and paint Starry Night. His style evolved through years of practice, failures, and obsessive dedication to his craft. He sketched tirelessly, experimented relentlessly, and worked with such passion that he sometimes painted over his own work when he ran out of canvases. His greatness wasn’t spontaneous—it was built.

The Power of Small Steps

This quote reminds us that creativity isn’t about waiting for a sudden bolt of inspiration. It’s about showing up. It’s about putting in the work even when you don’t feel like it. It’s about layering one brushstroke, one weld, one sketch at a time until something incredible emerges.

For artists, this means:

• Sketching daily, even if the drawings aren’t perfect.

• Experimenting with new materials, even when failure is likely.

• Trusting that even the smallest creative effort is part of a bigger picture.

And this isn’t just for painters and sculptors—this applies to musicians, writers, designers, and anyone trying to build something meaningful.

How This Applies to Modern Creativity

In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush. Social media makes it seem like every artist has it all figured out, effortlessly producing flawless work. But what we don’t see are the countless unseen sketches, discarded drafts, and hours of practice that go into those final, polished pieces.

The creative process is messy. It’s nonlinear. It’s frustrating. But it’s also deeply rewarding. Every major project I’ve ever worked on—whether it was a kinetic steel sculpture or a detailed design—wasn’t the result of some magical burst of creativity. It was the accumulation of small, consistent actions that eventually built something worth sharing.

A Reminder to Keep Going

If you ever feel stuck, overwhelmed, or like your work isn’t moving fast enough, remember Van Gogh’s words. You don’t need to have all the answers today. You don’t need to create a masterpiece in one sitting. You just need to take one step, make one mark, sculpt one curve, and trust that all those small things will come together.

Because greatness isn’t an impulse—it’s a process. And every little effort you make is proof that you’re on the right path.

Closing Thoughts: The Energy of Van Gogh in a Digital Age

So, what do we do with all this? With the knowledge that one of the greatest artists of all time was overlooked, doubted, and dismissed, only to be revered long after he was gone? Simple: We don’t wait. We don’t wait for validation, for permission, for the ‘right time.’ Van Gogh painted through madness, poverty, and rejection. He made art because he had to. Because it was in his bones. That’s the energy we need to bring into 2025 and beyond.

Whatever you’re working on, whatever insane creative idea is keeping you up at night—do it. Make it. Wear it on a shirt if you have to (seriously, artsy tees with Van Gogh quotes? Big mood). But most importantly, don’t silence yourself. Because one day, long after the algorithms and trends have shifted, your art might just be the thing that speaks across time, like Van Gogh’s does now.

And if nothing else—just remember: normality is a paved road, but no flowers grow on it. Let’s keep walking where the flowers are.

-Peter Von Hauerland