Do you call yourself an artist? Are you a little hesitant? Maybe even, reluctant?
Look around and you’ll find that many (dare I say, most?) people start out as hesitant artists. They’re uncertain or lack confidence. Cue the self-doubt:
“Maybe, I’m not actually meant to be an artist? Where’s my burning desire to create every day? Am I, possibly, not truly a creative person?”
Most people aren’t unwilling or uneager to be an artist. It’s more a mix of misplaced expectations, fears, and a lack of habit. That’s right, A LACK OF HABIT.
Simplify Expectations
Now, I’m not talking about expectations from the public. I’m not even talking about expectations from people close to you. If you’re at this stage of your artistic journey, you have bigger, more internal things to worry about. I’m talking about yourself, as an individual.
We all have these big goals and dreams of where we want our art to be. However, I know (and you know yours) when I can or can’t meet my own lofty expectations. No one requires a higher standard of my art than I do. I’m the one who knows what my current skill level is and whether or not I’m able to produce my vision. It’s frustrating when I can’t. Even when I do, 3 months later, when my ability to see skill has improved, I know what I made is no longer up to my new standards. I then conveniently forget that it’s pretty straightforward to get to where I want (always one step better), and instead start to spiral down “My art is so terrible!” when all I actually need to do is just learn and practice. I know I’m not the only one.
Don’t get lost in your own melodramatic head every time something doesn’t turn out “right.” It’s simple. Create, Learn, Practice. Everything else is just extra benefits or negative baggage.
Irrational Fears
Our fears come from a variety of places. Here are a couple:
The Comparison Trap: A.k.a. I’m not good enough.
This happens when we see anything amazing that someone else has or made and instead of inspiring us in a healthy way, it deflates us and brings us down. It’s a special kind of self-inflicted envy-torture, a bad reaction.
It captures us when we forget that it’s all about the process, the journey, more than the outcome. The process is what will get you to the good end result.
The External Validation Trap: A.k.a. I don’t make any money from my art, no followers, etc.
I know there’s a lot of pressure of having something to show, but you don’t have to. And besides, most people don’t really care and will probably forget about it in two days.
…Unless you make something that strikes their heart, which is difficult to do if you’re wallowing in “nobody’s gonna see/buy/like it anyway.”
With that said, if your goal is to make money from art, you’ll have to put yourself out there and when you do it enough times, you’ll discover that it’s not so bad. It’s stuff you’re doing regardless, might as well show some.
Just remember, if you make art, you’re an artist no matter what people say.
Kicking Habit Butt!
The best way to overcome the hesitant artist is to develop a habit of just creating. It’s like flossing. I wasn’t always a flosser, now I have to floss or else I won’t sleep well. That took so much effort (more than it feels like it should) to develop at the beginning and it’s now so ingrained that it’s natural. I never miss a day. Ever. Creating is the same way.
Hint: You don’t need a burning desire to create every day. You can be a binge artist as long as you’re a habitual binge artist! Plan it in advance. Don’t leave it to flighty whims!
There are many ways to develop habits, the two that have personally worked well for me are Jerry Seinfeld’s Don’t Break the Chain and just having a cue prior to or a reward after.
I.e. flossing’s reward = sleep, journaling’s cue = say good mornings and get water, etc.
Don’t forget, the only things you need to be an artist are:
- Yourself
- Your tool(s) of choice
- Doing it
Enjoy yourself as an artist. The journey is the adventure!
– Kimi