Showing Up Before Certainty Arrives
Imposter Syndrome, Visibility, and the Courage to Be Seen
Courage is something every artist must carry. This industry is full of talent, comparison, and noise, and one of the hardest things to remember in the middle of all of it is that you are the only competition you truly need to worry about.
Having worked in the creative industry for most of my career, I still sometimes hear that quiet question: What if I’m not good enough? There are so many talented artists that when the recognition you hoped for does not come right away, it can feel like you are putting your work into a void. You share, you hope it resonates, and you wonder if the right people will ever find it. That kind of visibility is vulnerable. It asks you to stand in the open before you know what response will come back.
Opening Note
The strange bravery of letting people witness your work
Navigating visibility in a world where attention spans are the new currency can feel difficult, especially when social media constantly puts extraordinary work in front of us. But I try to remind myself that you never really know what someone else’s beginning looked like. What feels polished now may have once been uncertain, rough, or quietly built behind the scenes.
That is why showing up as you are matters. Visibility is not really about having it all figured out. It is about making the courageous choice to share where you are in your story, even before you feel fully ready. Confidence may come later. Courage has to come first.
Studio Note
Visibility asks for courage before confidence
I believe most artists carry some form of confidence, even if it does not always look bold on the surface. To begin a work at all requires belief. That first mark on a blank canvas, that first sketch, that first idea followed through—those all come from some quiet knowing that there is something worth making.
But the next level is different. The next level is letting people into the world you are creating. That is where courage enters the room. It asks you to make your work visible despite fear, despite doubt, and despite the temptation to wait until everything feels perfect.
On the Easel
The evolution of “Where Is Peace”
With Black Boy Art Show less than a week away, I am refining the final pieces for the exhibition. For this show, I’m leaning into digital work, and one of the central pieces has taken on a story of its own.
This 12” x 12” digital illustration is called Where Is Peace. It depicts an angel reporting back what he has learned about peace on earth. The funny part is that he is a little hard to understand because he is always popping gum. From his perspective, there has not been much to report back lately, so he finds joy in the small things that still make life feel bright—gum and sunflowers.
This piece will be available at the show and online for those who cannot make it in person.
A Piece of Insight
What “Where Is Peace” reflects about being seen
This piece feels like a reflection of what it means to be visible even when you do not feel fully ready. I often remind myself that done is better than perfect, even when that truth is difficult to live by.
I am still making final adjustments to this piece, but I also know it is important for me to share the work as it evolves. Visibility is part of the process. It is part of the becoming. The story behind this angel reminds me that standing in your truth does not require perfection. It only asks that you be willing to be seen.
Corporate to Creator
Black Boy Art Show flyer
What feels riskier now, and why I’m doing it anyway
Right now, almost everything feels like a risk. I am actively pursuing a dream that I deeply want, and that comes with a lot of weight. The question that can creep in most easily is: What happens if I can’t make it work?
But constantly living inside that question does not help me build the life I want. More often than not, I acknowledge the fear and keep moving. In some ways, that was easier in corporate spaces, where the structure often helped define the path for you unless you chose to step away from it.
Now I am choosing a different kind of path—one that feels uncertain, but deeply my own. I may be aiming for the moon, but I trust I will hit some stars along the way.
SNEAK PEEK
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SNEAK PEEK 〰️
Collector’s Sneak Peek
Two more pieces are already beginning to take shape in this series. One features an angel running from the noise so she can gather her thoughts and report her message clearly. Another centers an angel who crafts assignments for the others, helping guide what they should be watching for.
I’m excited to keep sharing more of this world with you as it develops.
Closing Reflection
Showing up before certainty arrives
Sometimes you have to walk in scared and do it anyway. Believing in your dreams is a beautiful thing, but making them visible takes courage.
This week, I want to leave you with this question: What is something you believe in deeply, and would you be willing to let the world see it?
I’d love to hear from you.
I also want to share that The Collector’s Room will be moving to a monthly newsletter format after this issue.
Thank you for reading, for supporting the work, and for following along with my journey. I’m excited for what this next chapter will make possible.
More soon from the studio. Until then, keep trusting your voice.
Keep creating. Keep innovating. Keep believing.
Thank you for being in the room.
— Edmond B. Murden
Founder, EBC Loft
