Why Is It So Hard To Create Good Art?

Why is it so hard to create art? It’s a question I’ve found myself mulling over countless times, usually when staring at a blank page or marvelling at someone else’s masterpiece. Why is it inherently hard to create anything good in art?

Here’s what I think:

Humans love organisation. We’re wired to seek structure and coherence in everything around us, from our surroundings to the stories we tell. But this preference makes creating art uniquely challenging. Often, the most easily accessible ideas or content feel unpolished or chaotic, and refining them into something meaningful takes extraordinary effort.

Think about it: natural, unstructured patterns might be fascinating in their own way, but we instinctively crave order. Content that feels too raw or unorganised is often dismissed as less valuable. This creates a distinct tension in the creative process. How do you shape something chaotic into something organised, without losing its essence?

The more organised the art, the harder it is to create. And yet, paradoxically, the more effort you pour into it, the more it’s appreciated. It’s as if audiences can sense the labour, the meticulous crafting, and they reward it with their admiration.

Take Arcane, for example. Watching that show was a revelation for me. Every frame is a work of art—a perfect balance between realism and stylised interpretation. The characters and environments aren’t just visually stunning; they’re also a testament to how much thought and care goes into creating something that feels both organised and alive.

Art isn’t like photography or recording, where reality is captured exactly as it is. Art demands a process of reduction and categorisation, a deliberate decision to emphasise some details while letting others fade into the background. Sometimes these choices happen instinctively, in the flow of creation. Other times, they’re painstakingly deliberate, aimed at achieving a specific style or emotion. Either way, it’s this process of organising chaos that makes art so compelling.

In Arcane, the animators didn’t just replicate the world; they elevated it. Hyper-detailed textures merge with exaggerated forms, creating something that feels more real than reality. It’s a version of the world that’s been carefully filtered and reimagined, designed to make your brain light up with wonder and comfort. That’s the magic of great art—it resonates because it’s organised just enough to feel intentional, but not so much that it loses its soul.

So why is it so hard to create art?

Creating good art is hard because it’s more than just making something look nice. It’s about taking messy ideas and inspiration and shaping them into something that truly connects. When it all comes together, it feels magical—a reminder that even in life’s noise, we can create beauty and meaning.