Doug Swinton on Art
The Five Fears For An Artist
Staring down the throat of a big white canvas can be scary but there are bigger things stopping you from greatness. Fear is one of the biggest factors that prevent an artist from producing art. There are lots of fears to deal with. If you can deal with these five biggies you will be well on your way to success.
Let’s take a sneak a peek at the big five:
1. Criticism. Most artists are their own worst critic. To make matters worse, people outside the realm of art who don't understand what you are trying to do, jump on the criticism bandwagon and ride it hard. If your putting it out there then everyone becomes a self professed critic, and is going to say something. My 11 year old son was sitting in the kitchen in his underwear one morning before school, munching his corn pops and examining my painting from the prior evening’s efforts. I had strategically placed the still wet painting on the mantle for me to analyze. Wiping milk from his chin he chirped “What is THAT supposed to be?” With some semblance of authority I firmly replied, “YOU have GALL, to ask that!", to which he replied “You had gall to paint that!” Scratching my head, I thought to my self...I did, didn't I!! Well yea for me!!! Everyone will be a critic. Who cares. Be your own critic first and when you do make it constructive and find at least 2 positive things to say about what you have accomplished.
2. Failure. One of the biggest misconceptions in the world is that failure is bad. The reason a fear of failure can be devastating is because it creates a situation without hope. Essentially, failures occur, but nobody can be labeled a failure if they get up after they fall. Remember failure is an event not a person. Don’t fear failure, and embrace the lesson.
3. Rejection. Whereas failure has to do with circumstances, rejection is personal. Most artists fear rejection because it lowers their self-esteem. There is no reason to lose confidence when people say "no" because they aren't rejecting you personally. It has been said that human beings were created to be receptacles of love. Even though most may not care for what you paint, there is always someone whose opinion matters. I believe that for every painting painted there is a buyer. You can also use rejection as a tool for improvement. If nobody understands your art perhaps you can work out a better way of communicating your ideas. “Every great advance in natural knowledge has involved the absolute rejection of authority.”
4. Not Getting What You Want. “I’ll never be able to do this. I won’t be able to get where I need to be. There’s just too much to learn. I’ll never be that good anyway.” If you say these messages to yourself, perhaps you have set your goals too high. Just try learning a little more than you knew yesterday. Don't try to reach the end in one swoop. It will come. Baby steps people. Baby steps.
5. Losing What You Have. What people possess gives them a sense of security. Possessions can be tangible (tools, desks, cars) or intangible (position, authority, respect), and their presence helps people stay engaged and productive. The fear of losing what we have can be offset by the hope of a gain elsewhere. This can be difficult at times, but the effort is usually worth it. I find this fear most often in artists who have already achieved some success in their careers. They can have a fear of learning or trying new things. “If I take a workshop it will only screw me up and will forget all that I have learned”. It’s the “if it aint broke don’t fix it mantra” You cant UN learn something..
You may only have a few to deal with but just knowing them can make it easier to get out of that rut and really set the world on fire. No man in the world has more courage than the man who can stop after eating one peanut.
Your friend in art
Doug Swinton.
Art in Canada rocks!!
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