Did I just blow up my credibility?

Make art. Tell stories.

…Ask for help? 😱

My last email stirred up a lot.

Friends reached out to encourage.

Other artists reached out to commiserate.
My aunt sent me a business plan.

My buddy Lucas sent me crypto.

Kayla just thought it was funny.

But me?

I felt totally exposed.

Guidance, the inner voice I’ve been following, had been nudging me for weeks to “ask for help.”

With Kayla leaving her job, our family income may be changing fast. Not a crisis — but enough to bring that tightrope walk between passion and stability into sharp focus.

So what better time to practice asking for help –– something that has never been easy for me?

But was asking my entire email list really the path that guidance had in mind?

It felt like power-lifting vulnerability with hundreds of relationships – using a muscle I’ve barely ever flexed one-on-one.

Plus, my art coach Lloyd has said over and over that confidence is the key to a successful art business.

Did I blow up my credibility with the single click of a send button?

(Oof – self-talk spirals are rough!)

Well, I’ve had a whole week to reflect on this burning question:

Was it worth it?
No. It shook my image — from confident artist to vulnerable human.
It made me feel exposed, unsure if I’d undermined the path I’ve built.

Was it worth it?
Yes. For the exact same reason.
Because it told the truth under the polish — and invited people closer.

Both are true.

Some people might’ve been put off.

But others felt more connected.

And what I’m actually realizing is that I don’t have to wear this armor of shiny appearances quite so tight anymore.

I think I’d rather show up honest and messy and lose a few,

than show up guarded and polished and never really be seen at all.

So what I’m taking away is this:

Asking for help — especially publicly — can seem like helplessness.

Like being stranded roadside, waving at cars and semis as they speed past.

Most don’t stop. Don’t even look twice.

But when someone stops to see if you’re alright, if you need a ride to the gas station or jumper cables… that can change everything.

And the reality is:

What I received most was love and encouragement.

And the confidence to say, “this is who I am, this is where I’m at, this is where I’m going –– and this is what I need to get there.”

Sharing the real experience of walking the tightrope of passion over comfort, sincerity over safety.

Yes, I’m still learning the business side of art — amidst a new financial reality for our family.

And yes, it’s messy, even scary sometimes.

But what hasn’t changed is my commitment.

And my deep gratitude for the creative life I get to share with you.

And if that means looking a little lost now and then —

or asking for help along the way —

then yeah…

A: It’s worth it.

––––––

The painting below is titled Under the Armor (2023, 16×12 Watercolor)

It’s wild, layered, and unapologetically honest — just like the moment that inspired it.

It holds the tension of chaos and clarity — and the power of being seen without the performance.

If it speaks to you, I’ve put together several options to bring its beautiful energy into your life.

👉 Click here to view Under the Armor

Cheers,

Ryan