"Art is Life"

Seeing Through Van Gogh’s Eyes: Why His Work Still Speaks to Me as an Artist

As an artist trying to find my voice, there are days I wrestle with doubt — wondering if what I’m creating really matters, or if anyone will ever feel what I’m trying to express. And on those days, I think of Vincent van Gogh.

What inspires me most about Van Gogh isn’t just the beauty of his work — though the energy in his brushstrokes and the emotion in his colors are undeniable — it’s the way he kept going. He painted not for fame (he barely sold anything in his lifetime), but because he had to. Because art was how he processed the world, how he coped, how he connected to something bigger than himself.

When I look at Starry Night, I don’t just see a sky full of swirling stars. I see someone wrestling with chaos and beauty at the same time — someone trying to make sense of the noise inside and around him. I feel that. Every artist does.

Van Gogh’s work reminds me that perfection isn’t the point. His paintings are rough, textured, imperfect — but they’re alive. They breathe. He didn’t shy away from bold color or raw emotion. He leaned into it. That courage is something I strive for every time I pick up a brush or start a new piece.

He also teaches me that it’s okay to be misunderstood. Not everyone “got” Van Gogh while he was alive. But he stayed true to his vision. He painted sunflowers when others might have painted portraits, he found beauty in everyday fields and starry skies, and he poured himself into his work without needing applause.

As an up-and-coming artist, I remind myself daily: paint what moves you. Tell your truth in color and texture, and trust that someday, someone will feel it.

Vincent van Gogh never got to see the impact of his work. But today, artists like me are still learning from him — not just how to paint, but how to live as an artist. Boldly. Honestly. Fearlessly.