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Self-Doubt as an Artist: How to Stay Confident and Keep Going

10/16/2017

16 Comments

 
Self-Doubt as an Artist How to Stay Confident
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Does fear of failure and criticism constantly stop you from producing or sharing your art? Have you ever tried to create a specific art piece only to become increasingly frustrated with yourself after failing multiple times? Have you ever just wanted to give up creating art at all?


I am going to start out by saying that I am by no means the most confident person in the world. I struggle with bouts of insecurity as much as the next person. 

However, I vehemently believe that consistent hard work and dedication produce results. Thus, anybody can be or achieve anything they set their hearts and minds to, whether it's becoming an artist, building a house or losing thirty pounds.

While I agree that it is necessary to be realistic in life and that a particular person's life situation might lead him or her to faster recognition or results, I 100% believe that consistent steps in the right direction, no matter how small, will eventually get you to where you want to be. 

Nothing truly rewarding in life comes easy, but keep in mind that the more difficult the climb, the more one grows along the way, and the greater the victory. 

Even if you aren't beaming with confidence 24/7 (which is completely normal), if you know what you want, are willing to prioritize your goals over everything else you have going on in life, and put in the consistent hard work, you'll get there.

Period. You have to believe this in your bones. 


This post is mostly for those who have found that art is their one true calling, wish it to ultimately be their way of making a living, and have been working at improving their skill for a considerable amount of time.

​If this is you, and you are seeking to pursue art professionally, you do have to acknowledge that it's not only going to be hard work to get there, but to keep creating consistently once you do.





​Artists need to have a natural curiosity and desire to challenge themselves, to be willing to make mistakes, and to constantly analyze their work in order to set new goals.

We are also, many times, completely in charge of getting our names out there effectively in order to get clients and/or sell our work. All of this means believing in ourselves and what we have to offer.

On top of everything else, we need to be able to take criticism constructively and not let it demotivate us. 

For me, being an artist means to be inherently courageous. 
We need to be courageous to choose the artistic path in life while everyone around us tells us this isn't the 
“safe" route.

We need to have the courage to believe in ourselves and our work in a sea of amazing and talented artists. We need to be brave enough to share our work and thought processes with the world which, in most cases, was created by us and us alone. We need to be brave enough to price on our work and take criticism.

​The list goes on and on. If you have already decided that you are going to be an artist and have been working at improving your skills for a while, it already means you are brave enough to have taken a challenging path.

Keep in mind that we are all human and it's normal to struggle with phases of insecurity and frustration every now and then.
 

​If you have come to know yourself well through whatever experiences life has put you through, and you have 100% concluded that nothing in the world brings you as much happiness as creating art (high five!), you need to find a way to manage the negative thoughts and feelings that may arise and find a way to keep going. 

Next, I will share a few strategies that help me stay happy and productive. 
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​
Picture
Failed attempts at painting watercolor portraits. 2016.

 


Key Ideas to Stay Happy & Productive as an Artist

1. Don't rush your process

Creating an amazing artwork takes time! The creative process can (and should) involve a phase of study and preparation before even starting a final piece. Do whatever practice you feel you need before starting with the final artwork! Resist going straight to the canvas, paper or whatever it may be.

Enjoy the process of studying subjects and exploring supplies (sketchbooks are amazing for this!). Remember it's about the road and not the destination.
 

For example, when I am preparing to paint a portrait, I first practice drawing (or even painting) individual facial elements that I know are difficult for me. I also make sure to sketch faces in the angle I am going for several times before actually starting my final painting.

Something else that you can do is plan and prepare your color palette. Many things can be done to ensure an overall better outcome. 

I have found, at times, I tend to get a bit anxious to finish my work after already having spent a considerable amount of time on it. This anxiety makes me do things too fast without actually thinking of what I am doing and many times I end up ruining a piece or simply not doing as best as I could because I tried to rush it. I need to remind myself that great work requires concentration and patience.

​


2. Work on Art Fundamentals and take classes

Being a professional artist requires becoming an expert on the Fundamentals of Art (Form, Color, Perspective, Composition, Value/Lighting, and even Anatomy). The more knowledgable and experienced you become in these basic topics, the more confident you will become overall.

No matter what your subject or technique of choice is, keep making time to study and practice Art Fundamentals throughout your artistic journey. By doing this, you will feel more capable of taking on different subjects and compositions. 

Look up resources online, buy books, invest in classes or workshops in your city! Being able to talk with professors and getting feedback from others is very useful. I also highly recommend continuing to develop your observational skills by using references and drawing from life.

This will really improve your work! I personally believe that, no matter how skilled an artist has become, he/she should always make time to study the basics. 



3. Know when and who to share your work with

To be perfectly honest, I think beginner artists should wait a bit to start sharing work online. I think if someone is just starting out, he/she should first try getting feedback from people he/she knows at a personal level, perhaps family and friends. Afterwards, seek feedback from art or design professors or people more knowledgable in art that can actually critique your work.

​Start getting a feel for people's reactions to your art and how to deal with other peoples' criticism in positive ways so that you can actually grow from it. Following this natural process will ensure that your abilities are already at a specific level by the time you start putting yourself out there for the world to see, and you'll have developed a bit of confidence in yourself. 


I feel like the online world can be quite harsh and can be potentially discouraging to someone just starting out. 

Once you feel more confident and have gained some knowledge about Art basics, by all means, start sharing! All kinds of art, whether its visual arts, music, literature, acting, etc., is meant to be appreciated by others. We create so that ultimately, our work can be seen.

We create for an audience. Due to this, if we ever want to pursue an artistic career, the sooner we are able to put ourselves out there and open ourselves up to constructive criticism, the faster we will grow. 




4. Learn how to take criticism constructively

As artists, we simply have learn to take criticism. This can be very hard because art is so personal and it takes a lot of energy to create. Harsh criticism can be hurtful and/or discouraging, no matter what point an artist is at. It is, therefore, imperative to develop a somewhat thick skin and/or positive coping mechanisms in order to move forward. 

Accept that anyone who is willing to put him/herself out there is going to get criticized at one point or another. Not everyone will like you or what you do, nor is it your job to make everyone like you. The sooner you realize that it isn't your job to please everyone, the better.

It's  important to keep in mind who the comments are coming from. If you are being harshly criticized by someone who has absolutely no experience in what you are doing, take those comments with a grain of salt. Sometimes people are mean just to be mean and their actions/words say more about them than they do about your work. All this said,

learn to accept peoples' praise. Be proud of how far you've come and thank them for admiring your work!

​

5. Use other artists' work as inspiration but never compare yourself to them

As I mentioned before, every one of us is different. We all have different levels of expertise depending on the amount of time we've been at it, different likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, and have lived/are living totally different life situations. No matter how much you try, your artwork will never look 100% like somebody else's.

And you shouldn't want it to look like somebody else's! The only thing you should be focusing on is on developing your own skill and style.

Don't get me wrong, admiring and getting inspiration from viewing other artists' work is perfectly fine as long as we are in a good headspace, but thinking you'll never be able to get to that level is damaging and unnecessary.

Study other artists' work to start realizing what kind of styles you are drawn to and get specific ideas from them to apply in your own work. Don't try to copy unless it's for specific studies you will be keeping to yourself. 

Never compare apples to oranges!




6. Kill the perfectionist inside you and turn into a curious explorer

In my video 
Artistic Perfectionism & How to Overcome It, I talk about why perfectionism is one of the worst habits an 

n my blog post titled How I Killed My Perfectionist Demon and Why Perfectionism is the Worst I

talk about the dangers of perfectionism. As with any other aspect of life, we should be striving for progress and not perfection in our work.

​Perfectionism and fear of failure are two of the greatest enemies of any creative being and can attack at any moment in the creative process, even when one is a skilled artist.
 

Sometimes fear of failure attacks before even starting a piece, as we stand in front of an empty canvas or paper, totally intimidated by the blankness. Or maybe we begin an artwork happy and confident only to grow more and more frustrated with ourselves after making a few mistakes.

Or it can even happen after we're done! Sometimes we finish our work and are perfectly happy with its outcome, only to come back to it a few days later to find that you don't like it very much anymore. All of these experiences are very normal. The point is not to let any of this stop you from keeping at it!

Realize nothing is ever going to be perfect and there is always going to be more progress to do. And even if you succeed at creating what you think is perfect now, I assure you, in a year from now you'll look back at it and notice all the ways that you could have done better.

Your standards are going to keep moving higher and higher, which is great and means that you are holding yourself accountable and are moving forward.

Keep exploring and producing large amounts of work. Never, ever let fear paralyze you.




7. Prioritize your mental and physical health

As artists, we are generally passionate people and we love what we do, so it's common to be a bit obsessive when it comes to our work. At times, it's easy to forget about taking care of our minds and bodies.

Some of us may even suffer from anxiety disorders or high levels of sensitivity, which make it even more important to check in with ourselves and be mindful of our well-being. Our creativity and work will suffer if we don't.

It is imperative for us to assess whether our work rhythm is allowing us the time we need to rest and recalibrate. If it isn't, put serious consideration into how long you'll be able to keep this up.

Going through super busy phases that have you working long hours is normal at times, but if you find this is always the case for you, you need to make necessary adjustments. 

It is a priority of mine to make time for my own mental and physical health every-single-day. The daily actions I take make me a happier and more productive person which, in turn, leads me to create better work.

I want to continue making art until I am very, very old, and I hope this is a goal for you as well! Let's take care of ourselves!




8. Set feasible goals for yourself

It is important to constantly set goals for yourself. Small, Specific, and Feasible goals. I personally have a tendency to want to to it all and get overwhelmed because my focus is completely scattered and end up doing only a portion of everything I wanted to do.

I am working on being more realistic when setting my goals and on choosing specific subjects or techniques to practice in a particular amount of time. Be honest about your life situation and be kind to yourself when you are setting your goals. 

Make your plans and focus on achieving one thing at a time once they are set. With every success you'll become more experienced and confident in your skills and you'll be able to progress much faster.

Don't forget to praise yourself for your achievements! Read about my methods for setting goals and planning my days in this post. 


Remember that there will always be to more learn, no matter how skilled you become as an artist. In a year from now you'll look back at your work and be able to tell how much you have improved. There is no "finish line". 

Then you'll set new standards for yourself and these will continue shifting throughout time. 



​
9. Remember to always, always stay positive

This is very important in all aspects of life. It's essential to face any type of challenge with an
“I can do this"  attitude. When you start something believing you will fail, you're probably going to fail. 

Check out my blog post titled 10 Positive Affirmations for Artists to Maximize Productivity and Happiness to learn about positive affirmations and a mindset practice that I started doing a while ago to remain happy and productive as an artist. 

If you try to do something and don't succeed, try again tomorrow! If you ever feel a sense of frustration bubbling up inside of you, take a break and remember that every action causes a reaction, which means that if you are trying you are getting a little bit better each time, even if it doesn't seem like it.  

You have to know, deep within yourself, that you can do anything if you keep trying. Embrace failure and shift your mindset so that you start viewing mistakes as discoveries and milestones that you are moving past in order to become a talented artist. 



I want to end this post by reminding you that everyone around you is scared and nervous to a certain degree. We're human and life is unpredictable and challenging. What matters is that we don't allow these feelings to paralyze us. Remember that how you deal with life situations is what defines you, so never stop working towards what you know in your heart you want to achieve. 

The fact that you have already put in the work of self-discovery to realize that art is this important to you sets you apart in a very positive way as is. Most people keep moving forward without ever giving thought to what it is they truly want in life and settle for what is easier and more practical. You didn't! This, to me, means you are already very courageous!

Whatever fear or anxiety comes your way, channel it into positive actions that will help move you forward and don't ever give up.


​
​
“Creativity takes courage." 
-Henri Matisse

“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.” 
-Salvador Dalí


“The greater the artist, the greater the doubt.
Perfect confidence is granted to the less talented
​as a consolation prize." 

-Robert Hughes


“Criticism is something we can avoid easily by saying nothing, 
doing nothing, and being nothing.”

– Aristotle




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Which of these ten things cause you most trouble? Do you have any personal strategies that help you deal with negative feelings that pop up when your trying to produce art? Have you ever given up on creating art for a long period of time? I'd love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment below and let's help each keep going!
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​

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16 Comments
Kathy Britz
10/19/2017 02:09:19 pm

Thank you so much for this blog. Wow, you really hit it between the eyes. I've been in a slump for a while now and couldn't figure it all out. I agree, we all need to support each other and encourage all genres of art.

Reply
Erika Lancaster
10/20/2017 07:16:36 am

Kathy, thanks so much for taking the time to comment! And I totally agree with you! We absolutely need to reach out to each other and lift each other up. I'm so glad you found this helpful. Hope you see you around!

Reply
Deana link
3/29/2019 05:38:44 am

Two Words: Thank you!

Diane Lilly link
10/27/2017 06:09:09 am

This was a much needed read this morning! I am not exactly an artist--more of a designer--but I have the same struggles. Trying to start a business and keeping confident about your work really do challenge a person in every way, and self doubt has been quite the demon recently! Great inspirational article!

Reply
Erika Lancaster
10/27/2017 09:10:59 am

Hello Diane! I'm so glad you found this helpful. Staying confident can be super hard. Especially when you have to stay strong to build a business! It's always good to remember that you are not alone and this is a common feeling for all creatives from time to time. I wish the best to you and your business and please do stay in touch!

Reply
Kim
6/4/2018 03:17:04 am

Thank you so much for this post! I got accepted in the College of Fine Arts of a certain university in our country, but I have been doubting my art and my capabilities recently, thinking that I am not as good as the others out there and then end up always be criticized. But your post really hit the spot and enlightened me. Thank you so much!

Reply
Erika Lancaster
6/4/2018 09:41:29 am

Hi Kim,
Firstly, CONGRATULATIONS for getting accepted! That's amazing!
You shouldn't doubt your abilities. You're capable of getting to ANY skill level you wish to get to. PLUS, if you got accepted into a Fine Arts College, it means people saw something in you and your work.
Starting college can be nerve-wracking as is. Remember that pretty much everyone feels stressed and insecure when doing anything for the first time, and that you're going to be surrounded by many people that feel the same way you do.
It will be AMAZING and you're going to see yourself growing fast, and I'm sure you'll get used to people viewing and discussing your work soon enough. Getting your work critiqued is always hard, but as you gain experience, you gain confidence, and it'll get easier and easier.
Work hard and do your best to enjoy it! Those years are GOLD!

Thanks so much for taking time to comment and I hope to hear more about how it's going for you, in the future!

Erika

Reply
Griselda Herrera Vàzquez link
5/3/2019 11:03:46 pm

Me parese que todo lo que lei es muy positivo y muy bueno para todos, si se necesita ottro apoyo, ademas de ir a clase en tu comunidad, me gustaria seguir recibiendo nuevos comentarios sobre pintura con acuarela de parte de ustedes,y conservar el tutorial de la pintura de una manzana.

Reply
Erika Lancaster
5/9/2019 09:25:46 am

Hola Griselda,

Espero estés teniendo buen día. :)
Me da gusto que hayas encontrado útil el video, así como el tutorial de la manzana.
Si te suscribes a mi lista de email, recibirás uno o dos correos al mes con información sobre mis nuevos videos y tutoriales.
Te dejo el link a mi biblioteca de artículos: https://www.erikalancaster.com/art-blog-library.html
También puedes seguir mi canal de YouTube, ya que publico un video nuevo a la semana: youtube.com/erika_lancaster_art

Muchísimas gracias por visitar mi blog y por tomarte el tiempo de escribir un comentario. :)

Erika

Reply
Justin Greene link
11/28/2019 07:35:41 am

Self-doubt is a completely typical part of being human. It is a lie that a person creates in his mind which tells him that he is not competent enough. If you acknowledge that the doubts are lies, then you can overcome self-doubt. Nipping the negative thoughts in the bud will help you to overcome self-doubt. Stop comparing yourself to others. As comparison is the thief of joy, so staying away from doing comparisons will allow you to stay confident.

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
11/28/2019 01:58:38 pm

Hi, Justin!

You're SO right. We create all of these lies and limitations for ourselves throughout our lives which impede us from doing things that we really want to do and eventually become the person we've always wanted to become.

We shouldn't compare ourselves to others because we are all different, have different strengths and weaknesses, and been through entirely different life experiences.

We all have something unique to bring into the world, and it is only through listening to ourselves and not the noise around us (and loving ourselves), that we're able to bring our own light into the world.

Comparing ourselves to others is unnecessary and harmful to our spirit.

Thanks so much for checking out this post and taking time to leave your valuable comment.

Have a lovely day!

Erika

Reply
Kezza
4/3/2020 05:44:20 pm

One question for you? How does an artist know if it's constructive criticism they're getting from other people? In my experience most people don't know what they are talking about. The art I love they hate and vice versa. People only seem to admire endeavour, not art. They like something ambitious that looks like it took time, and that rarely means it's also good.

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
4/4/2020 12:12:17 pm

Hi, Kezza!
Thanks so much for checking this one out and for your question.
I wrote this blog post a while back talking about taking criticism as an artist, which you might find insightful: https://www.erikalancaster.com/art-blog/why-criticism-is-an-essential-part-of-an-artists-life-and-how-to-handle-criticism-like-a-pro
You're totally right! Lots of people don't know how to provide constructive criticism. I even talk about how to provide constructive feedback in that post, so that non-artists can get an understanding on this.
I do understand what you're saying, with most people admiring high-levels of realism or work that takes months to produce over simpler works.
I'm not of this mentality, and am really drawn to quicker, raw-er, pieces that have a lot of the artist in them, but I get that different people have different tastes and opinions.
Even very simplistic, minimalist works can be incredibly powerful. I find beauty in being able to transmit a lot with very little. Or in simplicity overall.
It's an interesting topic that I could probably discuss for hours. :)
Anyway, I hope you find that blog post on criticism helpful. Don't take feedback (or at least don't take it to heart), from people who don't know about art or aren't at a place that you'd like to be. Or that simply are insulting. Constructive feedback will come from a place of respect, whether they're pointing out areas of strength or areas of improvement.
Hope this helps!
Take good care of yourself and have a great weekend,
Erika

Reply
Fejiro
8/1/2020 12:26:34 pm

i have always find art courses beautiful and entertaining. while developments mean to make us aligned with new knowledge, the art courses seem to be a relic to our culture. we get to know what was and why it should remain and we get to see the benefit of some changes.the beauty of it all is that we get to appreciate our history together with the world.If you are looking for an amazing site to get more information, then I have what you need. <a href="https://naijschools.com/art-courses-without-literature-in-english/">This link</a> would grant you access to interesting articles that would be very useful and informative to you, and I would appreciate it if you visit my site. Many thanks.

Reply
Attilio link
3/4/2021 08:14:08 pm

Well explain and true. I discovered that Courage was not the shortfall of fear, but rather the victory over it. The valiant man isn't he who doesn't feel apprehensive, however, he who vanquishes that fear. Thanks!

Reply
Erika Lancaster link
3/6/2021 10:28:29 am

Hey, there!
Thanks so much for checking out this post and taking time to comment.
What you say is so true!
Wish you a great weekend and take good care.

Reply



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