I had an email this week.
The sender says: I really love to draw, but lately, I've been super self-critical of myself,
and when I look at my work, I think it looks awful.
Because of this, I'm starting to get really uninspired.
I'll be really happy about a certain drawing I did, and will be thinking how good it looks
and how I'm enjoying it, and when I'm done, I somehow manage to butcher that feeling and
look at my drawing, thinking it looks really bad.
I like to watch videos of people drawing, and whenever I do, all I can think about is
how they are so much more better than me, and how my work looks really awful.
As an artist, I was hoping you might have some sort of advice for me to stop being so
self-critical and see the good in my art?
Phew!
I think most artists feel like this to some extent.Most people watching this probably
thought, “Yes, I’m like that too!”
Self-criticism is okay, in fact it’s a really positive attribute.
It’s the little voice that tells you when you are off-course That helps you to get back
on track.
But it sounds like you’ve got it bad and it not helping at all.
You are succumbing to something much deeper and psychological.
Harsh self-criticism is a bad habit, and like smoking or crack cocaine, it is hard to stop.
If you are like me, it will be like a voice inside your head.
Remember those Tom and Jerry Cartoons where they have an angel on one shoulder and a devil
on the other whispering good and evil thoughts?
It might help to think of your bad voice like a little devil or imp or something.
Give it a name and tell it to go away if it has nothing constructive to say.
Poof!
Then, give your good voice - the angel or fairy or whatever - a name and give them permission
to talk to you and help you.
Hi!
When you look at your work ask your bad voice if it has anything constructive to say.
When it tells you that the tree you are drawing looks wonky, accept that,if it is true.
Thank the voice for being frank and make a note to work out where the drawing went wrong
and determine to practice that part again (in a relaxed fashion - it’s not a competition!)
So that you can get it right next time.
And then ask your good voice what they think.
Look for the good things in your work and congratulate yourself on a job well done.
You are allowed to do this.
Then you’ll know what to build on so you get it right next time.
If you have it really bad, you may want to think a bit deeper.
Maybe you are punishing yourself...
maybe it’s something you do whatever you are trying to achieve...
maybe you have to come to terms with something in your character or in your past.
Sometimes people are told they are useless by uncaring friends or family and they start
to believe it and let that critical voice come to rule their life, shouting down the
quiet voice trying to tell them what’s good.
Sometimes that means getting away from negative influences.
It’s not easy.
It’s a war.
You have to be on guard 24 hours a day and keep telling that voice that you are the boss
and if it has nothing constructive to say, would it please be quiet and stop bothering
you.
Finally, stop comparing yourself to those who have put in thousands of hours or whole
lifetime’s worth of practice and learning.
Compare yourself to yourself.
Go back over your work and sketchbooks regularly and see how you have improved.
Be positive and congratulate yourself on the improvement you see.
If you put the work in and intelligently strive to get better, you will.
You are not going to become a brilliant artist overnight.
When you watch people make drawing or painting look so easy, you’ll find they have rehearsed
that piece many times - it’s a performance.
I certainly practice and rehearse my videos then edit out the mistakes!
Most artists keep making the same work over and over again, changing and moving forward
in small steps when they have mastered one level.
I hope this helps a bit.
Most of all be kind to yourself.
You haven’t done anything wrong with your work, so don’t punish yourself.
Good luck ☺