Artwork by Joel Nakamura. http://www.joelnakamura.com/
Sometimes creating something new is just downright scary. Many people avoid doing things that haven’t been done before. The only problem is that if you are a “creative,” like me, then this is ultimately not really an option. Creatives, plain and simple, make stuff.
I often feel a tinge of nervousness before I start upon something new. I actually feel this ALWAYS right before I start painting. The fear always comes in the form of 3 questions. I don’t know why or who is asking these – I presume they are the art gremlins aimed at eroding my self-confidence. To keep them in their place and shut them up I answer them.
Art Gremlin Question #1
What if everybody doesn’t like this new work?
Answer: OK Fine! First of all I have never, never had total rejection with something I have made. There will be some who dislike what you make and others that do not.
This is just a normal, garden variety fact of life. You are not somehow special and exempt from this fact. No one is. Not you or me or Oprah or even Picasso. Fortunately there are millions of people in the world. Embrace and savor those who enjoy what you make and disregard those who don’t.
Art Gremlin Question #2
What if what I am making is not as good as what I made before?
Answer: Do it anyway. There is only one thing worse than trying something and having it flop. Staying comfortable for too long and not creating anything at all is far worse. At first it feels comfortable, but in time it becomes monotonous, and then unbearingly stifling. In time, if the urge to create is ignored, from my experience, the soul retreats. And this is a form of dying to be avoided at all costs. Creation, even with risk, is the safer choice compared to boredom.
Art Gremlin Question #3
Am I qualified to do make my art?
Yes! Duh. Creativity is not something ordained on a select few. Creativity is a part of the operating system of being a human being. We all have it. It is important to remember that our art is derived from our experiences of being alive. Regardless of how old you are, who you are, the life experience from which your art is derived is every bit as interesting and meaningful as any one’s experiences. You are already pre-approved to make art because you are alive.
Does this happen to you too? What questions and more importantly, what answers do you tell your gremlins?
With confidence, Nicholas
11 Comments
Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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Thanks for sharing. I battle with this everyday, sometimes I win and other times I lose, but I continue to fight the good fight anyway. My faith in Christ is my only defense, through it alone, I can approach my work undaunted by rejection, hardship, hostility, and even my own self imposed inadequacy. It helps me keep moving slowly but steadily.
I find that often the best answer is to just make my work….it almost always makes me feel better. Slow and steady is good….
I ADORE your writings & sooo looking forward to some mentoring with you one day!
Thx for saying what I needed to hear today, being a gallery artist can add an element of fear that is not my favorite thing …. B/c this wild creative force running through me sooooo simply needs to be liberared & PLAY!
Thx for reminding me it’s okay ~
Liberated I meant to say~
Thank you.
Play is a GREAT word! Thanks for reminding ME…I think I will go play now! Cheers
Hey! Get out of my head!! These are all too true. It is especially frightening if you have a strong desire to be a full-time painter. Also, the materials are not cheap..so there is that idea of “wasting” perfectly good paint and canvas (and time). I recently went past fear and began painting what is actually authentic to me. It is very different from what people have seen from me and I’ve not shown anyone but my partner as of yet (and he likes my older stuff better, he says—-YIKES!). But at least now I don’t dread going into the studio anymore, so I must be doing something right. I’m painting for me nowadays. Everyone else can decide if they like it or not from now on. You always have such great advice, Nicholas. Your words have helped me along the way. Thanks. I hope to meet you someday.
Super great that you are on a roll–I love it when I am hitting the studio regularly and it feels easy!Bravo!
I am blessed with a gift of immunity from the fear of rejection from others. I have an acceptance that my work (and my being) is not for everyone, but it absolutely is right and aligned for some! And those are the people I give my energy to.
However, I am also cursed with being my own worst critic. Is it good enough? Is it my best expression? Has it reached its perfection? I fear stopping too soon and feeling my work is incomplete.
I try to concentrate on that it was perfect in the moment and releasing it and letting it go.
That is great that you don’t have that fear of rejection–that is a huge one not to contend with..I almost always go past the point in my work where I have done too much–then I have to come back around, fix it simplify it–but then I know I have not stopped to soon!
I really respond to the last question: “Am I qualified to do / make my art?” OF COURSE!
I love the image by Nakamura. Wonderful and so Gremlin. What if van Gogh, Picasso, Klee and more
had listened to the Gremlin ?