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Why do we think we aren't any good
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Message
Posted
I'm sure artists suffer from 'imposter syndrome' as much as any profession, maybe more so (apart perhaps from comedians) and I was wondering why. I wonder whether it could be that we always think we 'know' what makes a good painting / drawing and sadly we will never really achieve it - because we are trying to force our own style to essentially produce the fruits (which we admire) of someone else style. Surely the only way to feel good about a picture is to accept that THIS picture is MY picture done MY way. One might still actually prefer Van Gogh's way, but his way isn't one's way...it doesn't mean one's way is worse / not as good as his. After all, he thought he was crap as well...
I'm sure this is how comedians feel, and so many of them are depressive.
On the other hand, one might just be a rubbish artist! Ha ha
ps...sorry for the overly formal use of 'one', it is both correct and the only way I can actually express myself to mean, well, 'one' and not 'me'.
Posted
I agree that it seems to be a common thing, to put down your own artistic abilities. I’m not sure if its the same with professional artist as well as amateurs or is it the typical Englishness in me. I find when someone praises my work I become a bit nervous and point out things I don’t like about them. I see my mistakes first then the ok bits, you may notice I did not say good bits. I like the name you put to it “imposter syndrome”. I look at some of my work and think I can’t have done that, that’s maybe why I have not had the courage to post any of my work as yet, though I am building up to lt.
Posted
I agree that it seems to be a common thing, to put down your own artistic abilities. I’m not sure if its the same with professional artist as well as amateurs or is it the typical Englishness in me. I find when someone praises my work I become a bit nervous and point out things I don’t like about them. I see my mistakes first then the ok bits, you may notice I did not say good bits. I like the name you put to it “imposter syndrome”. I look at some of my work and think I can’t have done that, that’s maybe why I have not had the courage to post any of my work as yet, though I am building up to lt.
Posted
Doubts about my pictures is the normal state for me...for as long as I can remember. Some people, a few artists I've seen in documentaries, seem to have a rock solid self-belief. Maybe that's what it takes to be a successful professional artist. This doubt business doesn't worry me too much, I'm always hoping the next one will be the one I meant to do.
Posted
I increased self confidence/still do, by sticking the bad stuff up as well as the good (as I see it) and then the better work has a comparison. Doubting ability is a perfectly normal feeling and what keeps us balanced. Chasing dreams is the occupation because, what will you do if/when you realise them? The pleasure in life, for me,is in imagination and expectation. I'd hate to think there isn't always room for improvement.
Posted
It's a quiet Saturday, so I'm going large...
I'm sure the answer to being a successful professional living artist IS the self belief, whatever the tat that's being proffered. Perhaps this I why so many very good artists are only successful post mortem. I do wonder whether people in several hundred years will be visiting galleries of ART to see Tracey Emin in the same way they Weill be visiting to see Monet, Van Gogh and da Vinci. They might be visiting to see her work in museums of psychology or advertising, but I doubt they'll be in art museums.
I'm intrigued by the act of hanging up the 'rubbish' too and wonder about the value of that. I didn't lift a brush for several months - just couldn't face it. it was only after I had spoken the words ' I hate acrylics' and thrown out the one large acrylic I had here (my black dog portrait excepted) that the block lifted and I started work again. That one piece of loathsome acrylic was blocking everything. Very odd that.
Stephen, you're spot on...English deprecation. I think the American 'you' would chuck some wine at a neighbour and say 'try this neighbour, best wine you'll find this side of the rockies!' But being English...
Lew, I think you're right to not let the self doubt bother you too much. but if you really can, you're a rarity. At work, as a pilot, we are the worst bunch of self critics and even the longest served pilot (rapidly becoming me) will hang his head in shame and be sore as anything if he gets the landing wrong. we can work well for thirteen or fifteen hours...that last two feet ruins everything. The only saving grace is that we get to do it all again the next day and boy do we crow when we pull off a *greaser!
Interestingly I have a colleague who can create the most stunning handiwork work I have ever seen. Whether it is paint, sculpture, engineering or furniture making. I've been round his house and its as if twenty master craftsmen live there, he is simply brilliant. I was talking to him one day and praised his undeniable skill - he lifted both his hands up and said "Dave, my hands are the same as your hands. The only difference is that I believe I can". How true. And how shattering ha ha
*A greaser - pilot slang for a landing which is so smooth it is truly hard to tell when the wheels hit the ground. Probably named after the smoothing effect of grease!
Posted
David, I think you're absolutely right about self-belief. I've known people who were decidedly average (or below) at their chosen artistic route, but god, they were so good at big-upping themselves. And it worked for them too - I think they got to the stage where they believed their own hype so much that it became 100% truth to them.
Me, i always thought of myself as modest, but what I was actually doing was talking my abilities down constantly. I've tried to remedy this over the last couple of years without becoming big-headed, and I think it's bearing some fruit now - I could just never become my own hype machine as I hate that kind of nonesense.
Anth.
Posted
David, my comment about the bad stuff as well as the good needn't be taken seriously because I'm just referring to the Gallery here and not publicly. I'm not an artist, just an enthusiastic amateur painter, so I suppose the rules are different. I've only ever exhibited two things ever in my life till the internet arrived, a childish school work in the local museum and a B.B.C postcard challenge from a couple of years ago and never tried to sell anything so I suppose your world and ways are different to mine. My desire to paint is undiminished even though I'll reach eighty years in September but I think the internet is about as far as I'll ever be known. A bit too late for fame and fortune..😆
Posted
I couldn't agree more with Georgina, those words have come from me many times, improvement comes with self criticism, there is always someone who's painting far superior to ourselves... I'v seen people selling very basic art and never changing or developing because they think they're the best thing since slice bread.... I also look back on my old paintings that look like a child in reception class found a paint brush and paints for the first time, and people actually bought it. I cringe now at the thought of it but i'm glad i'm not one of those pompous types who falsely think their art is amazing.
Posted
The best bit of advice I ever read was at the end of a watercolour landscape book by David Bellamy 'now you have learnt some of the basics, go out there and paint it your way' sound advice.
So many times we see work we admire and buy books and products to produce such glowing works, I've done it myself, but one thing I never do is doubt myself, we all do rubbish work, but we also produce fine examples of our 'own' work done honestly in our own style, if others don't like it, so be it, and if they cannot give constructive criticism then nothing should be said at all.
A fine example of signature work is our very own JIM, you can spot his work a mile off and doesn't it just shine out.
So, just do your paintings your way and enjoy what you do. NEVER be a poor imitation of another artist, be yourself or you'll be chasing your tail forever more.
Edited
by carol
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