Read on Twitter
While I wait for my ground to dry on my painting, I'm gonna talk about artistic esteem
So! You're an artist, congrats! You're putting some creativity and beauty back into the world, and that's awesome. No matter your skill level.
But! You're still learning, and there are some things you're not very good at yet.
But! You're still learning, and there are some things you're not very good at yet.
When you look at art that's at a higher skill level than your own, or see an artist you admire, you might feel inspired.
Or - you might feel discouraged, intimidated or jealous.
Or - you might feel discouraged, intimidated or jealous.
I've seen people talk about the discouraging, daunting side of seeing great art plenty but not as many people discuss the jealousy or bitterness.
I've been both jealous of peoples art, and been on the other end of people being jealous of mine.
I've been both jealous of peoples art, and been on the other end of people being jealous of mine.
If you're insecure about your art, you might get genuinely upset by being jealous - that's totally normal. It's a response you will have to train yourself out of.
But you NEED to stop leaving self deprecating comments on the art that makes you feel this way.
But you NEED to stop leaving self deprecating comments on the art that makes you feel this way.
Yes, you might hurt, and that might make you turn around and make that obvious in a comment. "I wish I was that good." "Nobody likes my art." "But oh well, I'm shitty anyway." "I don't know why I try."
These comments REALLY hurt to receive. They're not only really awkward to respond to and immediately back us into a corner on egg shells, but it feels like you're dismissing all our hard work that WE put in.
We get it. You're trying, but so are WE.
We get it. You're trying, but so are WE.
When people say these things, we're gonna lose either way. Either we say "aww but your work is great!" and they'll immediately backhand the comment off with "I'm not good :/" or we don't respond, or try to encourage them, and they get upset, either with us or themselves. Great.
It might appear that it comes easy to that artist you commented on. That they're naturally gifted, or just bEtTeR tHaN yOu.
News flash. We all start at 0. Every artist has worked HARD to get to their level.
News flash. We all start at 0. Every artist has worked HARD to get to their level.
"But they're younger than me" "But I've been to art school and they haven't" no matter what comment you're telling yourself to make yourself feel bad, there's a valid explanation as to WHY they're better than you
They've just found an approach that works for them.
They've just found an approach that works for them.
You can't just keep trying the same thing if its not working. No matter how many years you try. Time spent isn't the be all and end all of improvement.
It's about the approach, willingness to learn and adapt and overcome problems.
It's about the approach, willingness to learn and adapt and overcome problems.
When I was a teen, I thought I didn't NEED to study because I knew what things meant - or more specifically, the textbook definitions of them. I knew what "tone" was, what "edges" were, but not until adulthood did I humble myself, sit down and take classes on how to utilize them
Instead of getting frustrated and throwing self loathing tantrums about how people were better than me, I began to take action, check myself and actually LEARN something. I took myself back to basics, and learnt how better artists overcame the same issues
Art is as much about thinking, as it is about putting pen to paper. It's problem solving, it's simplification, tuning, refining, communicating, studying. THAT. is what will make you a better artist.
Instead of thinking "I'm shit at this so I'll just give up" think about how to make it easier. Look at how the pros do it, because I guarantee they're working smarter, not harder.
Putting yourself down will solve NOTHING. Take it one step at a time.
Putting yourself down will solve NOTHING. Take it one step at a time.
I guess what I'm trying to say is don't take your frustration out on others, turn it into fuel. And when it comes to others' art - you have seen the end product, not the journey. So stop comparing yourself.
I'll end this on some quotes bc I'm bad at words and I'm just word vomiting rn
