From Monsters to Authenticity: How Visual Artist Rick Kitagawa Transforms Fear into Creative Courage
What if the very things that scare us most could become our greatest creative allies? In this powerful conversation, visual artist, author and creative coach Rick Kitagawa reveals how embracing our inner ‘monsters’ can unlock authentic creative expression and build communities of belonging.
Rick's journey from corporate coaching to becoming the ‘weird monster dude’, he always was at heart offers a masterclass in creative authenticity. Through his unique approach of crafting ‘monstrous visual metaphors’, Rick helps creators transform their fears, perfectionism and imposter syndrome into fuel for brave, honest work. His story reminds us that sometimes our greatest creative breakthroughs come not from overcoming our fears, but from learning to dance with them.
What struck me most about Rick's approach is how he's built an entire creative practice around one simple truth: every artist is brave simply by creating. This perspective shifts everything about how we view our creative struggles and transforms our relationship with fear from it being an enemy to becoming a compass.
Show Notes
[00:00] - Welcome & Creative Expression as Life Force
Rick shares how creativity shows up across all aspects of his work—from visual art to community building
The power of curiosity as the driving force behind creative expression
How creative problem-solving becomes the heart of authentic work
Why teaching and creative expression are fundamentally connected
[06:24] - The Colour That Changed Everything
Rick's revelation about how his lifelong fascination with blue-green tones shaped his entire artistic identity
Why he became ‘honestly bored’ with painting humans but fascinated by monsters, reptiles, and aliens
The journey from hiding his ‘weird monster’ identity to embracing it professionally
How authenticity in creativity means showing up as your whole self
[10:17] - Monsters as Modern Mythology
The connection between traditional mythology and contemporary sense-making
How vampirism and werewolves originated from unexplained natural phenomena
Rick's approach to creating monsters as ‘modernisations’ of human evolution
Why decentralising the human perspective opens up creative possibilities
[12:27] - Building Spaces of Belonging Through Vulnerability
The ‘You-est You’ philosophy and modelling belonging for others
Why leaders must be vulnerable first to create safe spaces
How showing your ‘imperfect, human’ traits invites others to do the same
The belief that most people are fundamentally kind, generous and empathetic
[16:40] - What Gets in the Way: Fear, Perfectionism, and the Skill-Taste Gap
Why ‘everything gets in the way’ of creative expression
The impact of being labelled a ‘gifted child’ on perfectionist tendencies
Ira Glass's skill-taste gap and why it stops so many creators
How time constraints as adults affect creative practice
[23:13] - The Overnight Success Myth and Iteration
Why breakthrough success is usually years of iteration reaching a tipping point
How sharing work doesn't mean it's the final product—everything can evolve
The freedom of treating creative work as ongoing experiments
Why there's ‘no end point’ to creative exploration
[25:59] - A Story of Creative Bravery: The Spectrum Fantastic Arts Expo
Rick's vulnerable story of showing up at a professional fantasy art expo with IKEA hat racks
The comparison trap and feeling ‘completely broken’ next to established artists
How showing up authentically led to unexpected success and learning
The lesson: ‘you just got to go and do it’—and the worst that happens isn't that bad
[32:54] - Finding Essence Through Presence
How essence emerges through being fully present in the creative moment
The connection between presence, flow states and authentic expression
Why ‘time travelling’ (worrying about future/past) blocks honest work
Creating from that timeless space of pure possibility
Key Quotes
"I really believe that the greatest rewards are always on the other side of fear. And you've said it before in a previous in the series is that, yeah, fear can be a compass." - Rick Kitagawa
"I think that every artist is brave because we're all dealing with so much fear, doubt, uncertainty, comparison, perfectionism, constraints and all of that is part of the creative process." - Rick Kitagawa
"By being my weird monster, goofy, multifaceted self, I try to show people that it's okay to be that way. It's okay to be imperfect. It's okay to be human." - Rick Kitagawa
"I think when you're truly there and not time travelling, thinking about the day, thinking about what's coming next, and you're in that moment, I really think that's where your truest self or your essence... that's where it lies." - Rick Kitagawa
"Just by doing it, just by creating, you are showing courage and you are being brave. And it doesn't have to be good. You don't have to share it." - Rick Kitagawa
Resources Mentioned
Ira Glass's famous speech about the skill-taste gap in creative development (read about it on Maria Popova’s The Marginalian website here)
Magic the Gathering (collectible trading card game) as Rick's original artistic inspiration
Seth Godin and the Alt-MBA/Akimbo community where Rick and Rachel originally connected
Where to Find Rick Kitagawa
Main hub: Rick’s website is rickkitagawa.com. To see all his projects and platforms in one place, visit rickkitagawa.com/links
Substack publications:
The Brave Artists (creative practice focused)
Monster Town (personal stories and metaphors)
Coaching: Kaiju Coaching (creative coaching practice)
Community: The Brave Artists Community (opens twice yearly in January and July)
Podcast: Origins: A Creative Journey for Designer Con (bi-monthly, focuses on artists' origin stories)
Current offering: Free coaching sessions for people from marginalised backgrounds. Please contact Rick for further details.
Your Creative Courage Awaits
Rick's story beautifully illustrates something I see again and again in my work: our authentic creative expression emerges not when we eliminate our fears, but when we learn to create alongside them. The ‘monsters’ that seem to block our creativity can become our greatest allies when we approach them with curiosity rather than resistance.
If Rick's approach to transforming fear into creative fuel resonates with you, I'd love to support your own journey toward authentic expression. Whether you're longing to start that writing project, develop your artistic voice, or find the courage to share your work with the world, there are several ways we can work together:
Book a free 30-minute connection call to explore what's holding you back and discover your next steps toward creative courage. Perfect for brainstorming ideas, working through creative blocks, or learning more about my approach to supporting authentic expression.
For those ready for deeper transformation, Creative Essence 1:1 coaching offers personal guidance to help you recognise the survival mechanisms and fears that keep you from full creative expression. Through twice-monthly deep dives plus individualised support, we'll work together to make real changes in your creative practice and life.
You can also read my manifesto for creative courage to learn about the core principles that guide my creativity work and follow the story of how Wordplay Coaching came to be.
Thank You!
Heartfelt gratitude to Rick for his generosity in sharing his journey and wisdom—and to all of you who joined us live or are reading this recap. Your presence and engagement make these conversations richer and more meaningful.
P.s.
If you're new here, welcome! Stories of Creative Courage is my ongoing series exploring what it takes to express ourselves fully and authentically. Each conversation dives deep into the fears, doubts and breakthroughs that shape our creative lives.
What's Next
You can access all previous Stories of Creative Courage episodes and other creativity resources on my Substack. If you found value in Rick's insights about transforming fear into creative fuel, consider subscribing to join our community of creators committed to authentic expression.
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