Do Not Van Gogh

Humble Brag: I got to visit the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam on my honeymoon a few years ago. It absolutely blew me away.

One artifact stood out to me: Van Gogh's actual palette, enshrined in a glass case.

It wasn’t just about the colors — it was where he obviously pressed and punctured, a physical mark of his anger and stress.

What a tragic story. Most of us know it:

An artist spends his whole life creating incredible paintings, trying to keep up with his contemporaries, and ultimately develops a mental health crisis—long before it was trendy to talk about.

In case you forgot: he cut off his own ear.

And perhaps even more heartbreaking, he never really ‘made it’ during his lifetime. No fame, no recognition. He only sold one painting in exchange for beer money.

He would never have imagined that today, we’d celebrate him with a museum (and even 3D immersive experiences) dedicated to his incredible work and his story.

So, what can we learn from some of Van Gogh’s mistakes and masterpieces?

1. It’s vital to obsess over your work, but just as important to take care of your mind and body.

2. Share your work—and your vision—while you still can.

These days, it’s easier than ever to do both. We have no excuses.

"Creativity takes courage." — Henri Matisse

Today, we have more freedom and access to express ourselves artistically…

Maybe too much.

But let’s not get overwhelmed… or become over consumed, if you will.

Many of us hide behind stacks of unfinished work, scared to release it into the wild.

Out of what? Fear? Insecurity? Imperfection?

Emily Dickinson kept many of her poems stashed away in a chest of drawers—only discovered and published after she died. Her story haunts me too.

It reminds me that some of the greatest stories, art, and innovations remain locked away because of fear… or not seizing the opportunities right in front of us.

Don’t let that be you.

So…

Post that video on YouTube, share that song on SoundCloud—you never know what might happen. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs come when you take that first step into the unknown.

And speaking of steps, don’t forget to exercise… so that you have more time on this Earth to create.

"I want to paint nature’s beauty but I often feel I could paint it better if I had more time." - Van Gogh

Don't be like Van Gogh, be the new and improved version. Gogh 2.0.

-EKS