Episode 136: Artists are the OG Revolutionaries and Culture Makers - Why We Need to Keep Building in Uncertain Times

"The only thing that could stand against the test of time was the hand and its creation. The heart and its creation, because the heart comes through the hand and makes physical works of beauty."

I was once just like you, a creative caught up in the endless loop of “who am I really?” Am I an artist, a mentor, a traveler, a writer, or an introvert who would rather hide on her couch than step out into the world?

Turns out, I’m all of those things, and you are too. That, my friend, is your superpower.

But here’s what I know for sure: artists are and have always been the original revolutionaries. We create culture, foster community, document history, and inspire revolutions, one brushstroke, story, or handmade creation at a time.

As I shared on the Made Remarkable podcast, "We are the ones who create the culture. We are the ones who create community in a lot of ways. We're the ones who document the history… recreate it in great paintings or works of fiction… architectural beauties that stand the test of time."

Feeling the Uncertainty? You’re Not Alone

Raise your hand if lately you’ve felt like the future is a “little doom and gloom”? Me too, honest! From worries about income and business, to the state of our freedoms and the big unknowns of the world, it can all feel so overwhelming.

But here’s the shift: When you zoom out, way, way out, you see how small this moment is in the grand scheme of the universe. We are one “teeny little speck of a speck of sand on the great beaches of our world.” That’s humbling and liberating.

So, let’s ground ourselves in what we can do, right here, right now: Create, connect, and keep building.

Why Your Creative Work Matters

Let’s get clear: Without artists, culture crumbles.

Strong words, I know! But think about it: when history is erased, when art is destroyed, it’s as if those civilizations never existed. Let’s borrow a quote from The Monuments Men (a film I just watched that you need to see!):

"You can wipe out an entire generation. You can burn their homes to the ground, and somehow they will come back. But if you destroy their culture, it's as if they never existed."

Your art—whether it’s destined for a gallery, a family’s living room, or a virtual classroom—is how we document our time, our stories, and our very existence.

Revolutionaries Through Turbulent Times

Let’s bust a myth: Challenging times don’t kill creativity. They ignite it! History is bursting with examples:

• The Renaissance blossomed out of plagues, wars, and upheaval, sparking bursts of innovation.

• The Great Depression birthed film, documentary, and art movements that shaped the next generation.

• The 2008 recession gave rise to the Etsy boom, and reminded us that people crave human-made, not just mass-manufactured.

• 2020’s disruptions launched online creative communities, events, and mutual support like never before.

Unstable times breed a creative explosion!

How to Build Your Creative Business (Even When Times Feel Rocky)

If you want to keep your creative dream alive (and thriving!), here’s what you NEED to do—no matter what the world throws your way:

1. Build Your Email List

This is your business’s lifeline. Social media can vanish tomorrow; your list is yours forever.

"Rule number one, no matter what's happening in the world… the number one thing you must do is build your email list. That's a nonnegotiable no matter what."

2. Get Ruthlessly Specific About Who You Serve

Stop trying to be everything to everyone! Find your people, build your world, and make them feel at home.

• Who are you for?

• What’s the unique mood or aesthetic only you create?

• Get niche: “The more specific we get… the more that we bring the aspects of our beautiful multipassionate selves into one beautiful story, one world that we're building… it feels like they belong there.”

3. Show Up Consistently

Consistency trumps perfection, every time. Even if you fall off the wagon (hello, procrastinators!), just get right back on.

• Send that newsletter

• Collaborate with peers

• Try new channels (YouTube, Substack—pick your favorite)

4. Lean into Real Human Connection

In the end, people crave you. Not just your art, but your voice, your story, your presence.

"When it comes to my actual communication, speaking to you, writing to you, it comes from me. It's really real human connection is what we need."

Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, find your own way to connect, it’s what makes your art remarkable and your business sustainable.

Final Words of Encouragement

If you’re hearing the voice of fear (What if no one can afford art right now? What if my dream isn’t practical?), let me gently remind you: dreams only die if we stop showing up.

• Your art fills the world with beauty, and that alone is reason enough to keep creating.

• Your work is in service to others, there’s someone out there who needs exactly what you have to give.

So, turn off the noise, take that next step, build your list, and keep putting your heart into the world. We can't rely on the outside world to support us, we have to do this for ourselves, my friends.

Other links you might be interested in:

Follow Kellee on her Instagram account @kelleewynne

Follow the podcast and great business advice @maderemarkable

The easiest way to listen to the podcast is via Apple Podcasts  

Visit our YouTube Channel, Kellee Wynne Studios for other trainings and recordings.

Click here for the full written transcript