If you are a creative, inviting curiosity into your art is how you stop over-explaining it.

Let me explain.

Creativity is born from curiosity. And all art — good or bad — makes people ask questions.

Curiosity is the best conversation starter, and an even better one when it’s about your work.

But you can’t inspire that curiosity in others if you haven’t been deeply curious about your craft, first.

To even inspire others and to be inspired, means to understand your work so deeply that it speaks for itself.

Over-explaining your art doesn’t necessarily mean it’s good or bad, either. However, over-explaining your art is often a symptom of self-doubt, not depth. It happens when we haven’t explored our idea enough to trust it — or ourselves, to explain it.

That’s why so many creatives obsess over how their art is received instead of asking: “How am I communicating this?”

And there’s a huge difference.

That being said, when you or your art over-explain, it kills the imagination that comes with curiosity. In fact, it dilutes your message entirely. Curiosity not only brings clarity to your mission as an artist, but it’s also where true mastery begins.

So don’t rush to explain.

Start asking yourself better questions to create art that answers back.