Just wondering if anyone else ever gets times where they dont feel so confident about their abilities.
I have so much to learn. And often wonder if I actually have a talent or the ability at all.
Does everyone else go through this ?
I have some pieces in an exhibition at the moment. But have never actually sold anything. So it can get frustrating.
Many Thanks

Its a standard feeling

Welcome to artistic insecurity.

Best thing is to try not to worry (worry achieves nothing) and just get on with drawing.


Dave

I think this is one of the biggest issues we all struggle with. We are usually our own harshest critic, and it is a big job squashing that feeling. This reminds me of a previous discussion here on Drawspace. I believe that drawing and making art is a skill we can learn just like we learned how to write. I think the more we practice, the better we will get, and being exposed to learning opportunities such as the lessons here on Drawspace, the critique forums and the challenges all add to our bank of knowledge and give us new areas to improve and hone our skills.
To answer your question, yes, we all go through this. If you persevere, you will be rewarded with recognition from others, and you may just be able to silence that inner critic.

People have been telling me that I can draw "good" for over fifthy years and I still feel I have hardly any real talent. I envy many popular artists. I started drawing for fun before I can remember. I've always believed I had very little talent. I have always been very critical of my drawings and paintings and I am amazed when people like my paintings and drawings. I do believe that this "feeling or insecurity", means we have the perception to improve and this perception actually enables us to continue to improve.

I wonder that every day..every drawing, not everyone draws everything well..lots of us have 'strong' points and 'weak' points, some may excel at portraiture and not do so well at something else, say still life or florals etc. You will eventually find your areas of strength and weakness. when i try perspective, i get frustrated, and no i dont do so well, (though i do better than i used to) that is a very 'weak' point for me, yet i do pretty good at other things, plants and what not. but we cant ignore those 'weak areas' i just plod thru and try to do my best and know that i have come a long way, and keep reminding myself that..every time that little voice says you do not draw well at all, i squish it by saying, I draw better than i used to alot better. and keep reminding myself that it gets better every year. It is good to challenge both strong and weak areas and not worry as dave says about the rest, just do it every day.

Welcome to "The Club".........................I don't think that any real artist is ever satisfied .............if we were why would we continue to strive and do more??? What we see in our mind's eye is never what comes out on the page, so we continue to learn, improve and study each other's techniques.

I agree with the comments here. We all have times when we doubt our abiliity to produce anything that even vaguely resembles art. And there are times when we can't produce anything at all!

Being self critical is good in that it pushes us to learn more, practice more, see more and improve.

Firstly thank you for all the comments, I'm pleased to know its not just me. Self doubt is a horrible thing. I have had quite a few bad drawing days lately as I posted in a recent topic. So all adds to the insecurities. I also have Tonsilitis at the moment. So not feeling my best.
This is such a great and positive environment to be able to learn and try new things!!!
Thanks

I agree with everyone here.

But I also would like to remind you that the viewpoint really makes a difference. You might take a look at your drawing, say that it's worth nothing but a place in a recycle bin and that's it. But I would recommend to pause before throwing it out. You don't like it? Ask yourself what exactly do you dislike in it. And when you see what makes you unsatisfied, you won't do the same mistake the next time. And, of course, never miss a chance to analyze others work. Ask why you hate ones and why you love others. If you got used to this way of thinking it would greatly improve your work. And living. Because you would start to use this way of thinking in other situations. For example, you feel like you did something wrong and feel guilty about it. What exactly did you make? What exactly makes you feel bad about it? What made you to act like that? And when you see what's wrong you always can change it.

So, stop trying to ignore your inner critic. Yes, he's harsh but he only wants you to improve. He might be your best friend. You just have to tame him.

There is a phrase "When an artist is completely satisfied with his painting, the art will die." Personally, I am never satisfied with my work, no matter how good it was. I always know that could be done better. And it is right. People can only learn at their own mistakes. They may take note of these other people's mistakes, but no more. Therefore, just draw. Because the art is primarily entertainment. And it should bring pleasure.

P.S. - I hope you understand that I wanted to say. My English is very bad...

For a long time, when someone would compliment me on a drawing I'd say, "yeah, I want to be an artist when I grow up". (I was in my thirties then). It took me years to finally feel confident enough to call myself an artist, and I still feel funny saying it, like I'm an imposter or something. You have to stop comparing yourself to other artists, believe in what YOU have to offer and keep drawing and painting as much as possible!!!

I have a colleague at work who says that it takes him at least 1 year to really know someone. Maybe he is exceptionally forgiving. Maybe not .

It's all about us, what we want to do... Do we want to be exceptional painters to show others and be loved, to prove something, to blow some steam etc. It's something within ourselves which tells us to express ourselves, something indefinite.

That's why we make mistakes... those thick lines, those unreal shading, etc... It's an inappropriate choice of medium or manner for expression... or it's lack of experience. Once a young artist told me, when he saw me holding the pencil :"you draw, you don't write". And then my teacher: "this is painting we're making, not literature".

I spoke about "us" so much that I figured I was in fact talking about myself .

So: have faith, be true to yourselves and you'll find your way. The rest is technique. But trust me, once you start wrong and keep going on the wrong way, is very hard to make things right. In drawing that is )).

Yep, been there felt that - and will again. But, it seems just when I'm about to set my pencil down someone goes and does something to get me to super glue the pencil to my hand. I'll give you an example;

A few years back I finished my third gallery show of paintings. 3 shows, no sales, I was beating myself up pretty bad. And believe me I heard it all. Nice color, your so talented, but the painting won't fit on my walls. It is about enough to drive one nuts. Then one night at an open studio, one of the people there was a doctor in the military, and at the finish for the night he came up to me and told me he like my work. He asked me what I did for a living and I told him I was an artist. He responded by telling me I was one of the bravest people he ever met. I didn't know what to say. I thanked him and started pointing out the fact that he wasn't only in the military but a doctor too. We happily argued who was braver for a few moments.

It was just one of those moments, when someone is obviously sincere, how be it misguided, that just makes your day. It no longer mattered that I hadn't sold anything in a year and a half. The next day I felt refreshed and ready to start the next series of paintings.

I felt quite at home in this thread wondering and doubting is what i can do all the time between the times when I actually hold a pencil. When I do, somehow the worries take a backseat, but the moment the work is done, the same questions come back to haunt me. I understand that it's something most people go through, esp in arts, where there is such a thin line between the objective and subjective... and when each piece of work puts to test your self-esteem and faith in your gift... But maybe the best thing to do is to believe in one's own capacity to learn and grow.
I am glad I am not alone... artist with any degree of skill and talent go through the same phases.

Sometimes, because of all these thoughts, the drawing process is almost a painful experience. I often hear people say that drawing/painting should be fun, u should enjoy it, etc etc. For me, it's not always enjoyable. But as much as I want to run away from it, I can't be away for long.

Hi Katya,
I couldn't have said it better, you have captured the essence of the dilemma.

Katya,

I'll start again with an example . A priest once told me that going in the church is not supposed to be an felt as a compulsion. Sunday morning you wash your face, you put on your "good" clothes (it's an expression in my country) and take your family and go to church. OK it's a ritual. But in the same time, when you are dissapointed after a hard day's work, or some trouble you had then you go to the chuch just because it's quiet.. or you just feel the need...

I took this example and tried to extend its meaning further... didn't work well in all situations, naturally , but when it comes to activities in which you put your soul into, no "to-do list", no "job description", no bla-bla-bla-bla, I guess inspiration doesn't appear when commanded... especially for a couple of hours after work and chores. There can be some scientific explanation probably...

In Renaissance, apprentices, oh, did they took some beatings from masters... when procrastinating... you can hear them complaining just looking at their paintings . Full of saints and devils, good-cop-bad-cop... So you artists, you brave souls !!!

DRAW!!!

There is a great video on this theme on Jeanette's blog. Take a look if you want http://illustratedlife.blogspot.com/2009/0...creativity.html
I, myself, enjoyed it very much. But I still think that the creativity is inside you, not somewhere else.

thanks so much for this link, it is almost 20 minutes but very worthwhile.
Trish

never confident, never happy with the finished result, but it does seem to make the ones happy I finish pieces for..so I will take that

Thanks for the link! She spoke with intelligence and humor and it was very interesting to watch!

Dido everything said here ...I presonaly think if a artist feels they are great and perfect just the way they are ..there is no room to grow ..a ego can get in the way of learning .

I am always trying to do better ..getting tips and working hard .

Thanks for the link - I just loved her speech... what she said was very true... and at the same time, she presented it at such a witty and light-hearted angle!
It was an interesting remark.. that people of creative professions are almost afraid of their work... unlike 'chemical engineers' and others... maybe cos creative work addressed your integrity... directly... your relationship with yourself, with the world, with God.. it's too personal and straight-forward... it's a point beyond which u can not lie... maybe that's what's so scary.
Anything else u do in life, u can say 'it's not me', 'its not what i am all about'... we are always bigger and deeper than any particular occupation or event or circumstance...but when it comes to extracting something from within... in music, art, writing... you have to make sure it's YOU that's coming out...

I started drawing in my mid-20s. So when friends saw my drawings they gushed over them and always said "I never knew you could draw". At first I tried to explain that drawing can be learned, etc, etc and that I don't have an abundance of natural talent etc. Eventually I realized that it brought them pleasure to see a nice drawing even if I could tell that it had flaws etc. So I learned to say "thank you" and then shut up.

I play guitar as well. I can tell that there are many flaws in my playing and that I don't have a very clean technique and I'm not technical in my playing. But alot of people get a kick out of hearing a half decent guitarist play a song. So I play and tell them thanks.

I guess my point is that I've always been able to see much room for improvement in my drawing, music, whatever. But I recognize that I can entertain or surprise somone with the skills that I have and THAT is very rewarding. So I always strive to do better AND I enjoy other people finding a little "wow" in what I've done.