Warning: long(er) post.
Artists!!
Yes. We all need to own being an artist way more confidently. But…
As much as it, or we like to think, is that ‘I am art. Art is me’ or ‘I didn’t choose art, art chose me’ … make sure to keep it in check to not put the weight of the world on yourself. It can actually get in the way of you producing your best work bc you could develop a ‘masterpiece syndrome’ for everything you do, down to every stroke. It can also block your ability to always open to new ideas and getting out of the studio to experience life (and life is what brings new inspiration).
Don’t put the pressure on a piece or series that it ‘HAS TO MAKE YOU or DEFINE YOU’ and if it doesn’t, then you’re a failure. You have very little, if any, control over what happens after a piece is finished and you release it to the world. So, STOP doing it and simply move on to the next piece.
Losing confidence in a piece or series you’re working on can be beneficial to help you make it better. But never ever lose confidence in yourself. These are worlds apart. One makes you better and one can be devastating. So never ever lose confidence in yourself. Just keep working…it’s not that you can’t do — it’s that you haven’t don’t it yet (thanks Rick Rubin)
Finally, remember that every piece, and everything you do helps bring into focus your vision and gives you direction on which way to go. The good pieces and the bad pieces do more to help define your direction than any outside source can possibly give you. No piece is a complete failure or waste of time. Those pieces help define what you should and what you shouldn’t do next as much as your successful pieces.
Thanks for reading.
Thoughts?
SF
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