The Canvas of Mentorship: How Belief Shapes Our Creative Journeys 

by Alejandro Castañón  

I was fortunate to have amazing mentors during the first half of my career, though I started a little later than most. I was 29 years old when I first picked up a paintbrush. At the time, I felt lost and completely clueless about what to do with this new creative outlet. Yet, it gripped me from the very first moment my wet brush touched a canvas. 

Early on, I really had nowhere to go. I was painting with no clear goal and no idea of what I should or ought to be doing. It was only when I met my first mentor, one of several who somehow found me along my journey, that things began to change.

As I tried to figure out what it truly meant to be an artist, those mentors helped me understand what to do with this newly discovered ability I had stumbled upon.

Finding yourself, not a mirror 

As the legendary painter George O'Keeffe once said: “I've been absolutely terrified every moment of my life and I've never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do. and quote.”

My mentors gave me the courage to face that same creative terror.

This experience gave me profound insight into the lives of all types of creatives, not just painters, sculptors, or photographers. I began to realize that the world is filled with a multitude of creators, many of whom are non-traditional. We might not have labeled them as creative in the past, but as the world evolves, it is becoming clear that creatives are everywhere.

However, while creativity is universal, the knowledge required to navigate it is not. 

Navigating creativity is a sacred skill often reserved for those who have survived in their fields for a decade, two decades, or more. It isn't mandatory for veteran artists to become mentors, and no one is frowned upon if they choose not to. But I remember what it felt like to have someone there for me whenever I had questions or needed encouragement and honesty. It felt good. It made me feel like someone truly cared about what I was doing.

If you're looking for a mentor and this resonates with you, I am starting a mentorship program with Mastrius. Spots are limited to 10 people. We will meet once a month virtually and help address your biggest concerns. Mastrius is an artist mentorship platform built for and led by creatives. 

At the core of mentorship is belief 

More than anything else, that is the true purpose of mentorship. While you gain a wealth of knowledge that prepares you for impending problems, a mentor ultimately validates that your work is worthwhile. Having a mentor in your corner is all about belief. 

It is the understanding of the path you are about to walk has already been traveled by many others. Your Mentor is there not just to guide you, but to help you cultivate the deep sense of belief that sits at the very center of your creative journey.

This remains true whether you turn your art into a business or keep it as a fundamental mental and emotional health habit. In fact, engaging in creative activities has been scientifically proven to improve cognitive health, reduce stress, and help prevent the onset of dementia as we age.

Regardless of what you choose to do with your creativity, you must believe that it is there to help you. It does not exist to make you feel bad about yourself or to force comparisons between you and others. It exists so you can understand who you are, why you are here, and how to connect with other people.

Passing the torch 

A great mentor Fosters that exact belief, and that is what I am truly here to do. Because of the mentors I had, I am incredibly fortunate to have a strong belief in my own creative abilities today even though I know I still have so much left to learn. It has nothing to do with raw skill; it has everything to do with mindset.

My ultimate hope is that the people I am unfortunate enough to mentor will walk away with a fierce, unwavering belief in their own creativity and in themselves, regardless of where their path leads them next.

If you're looking for a mentor and this resonates with you, I am starting a mentorship program with Mastrius. Spots are limited to 10 people. We will meet once a month virtually and help address your biggest concerns. Mastrius is an artist mentorship platform built for and led by creatives.