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Taking Yourself Too Seriously Can Destroy Your Creativity

- September 28, 2010 | by April -

Lighten up.

I repeat that phrase to myself on a regular basis. I tell myself to lighten up when I’m starting a new piece of mixed media, when I sit down to draw, or when I’m about to have a meltdown.

Sometimes you just need a reminder not to take life so seriously.

If you get anxious when you start a new piece of art, your creativity will be squashed. You don’t want to confine your artistic talents into a small box. Instead, you want to allow yourself room to grow and make mistakes.

When you feel that inner critic creeping into your thoughts, ask yourself, “What’s the worst that can happen if this piece of art stinks?” Seriously. You’ve wasted some money on materials, but depending on what kind of art you do, you might be able to start over without losing too much. You haven’t wasted your time, because you can always learn from your mistakes.

So, if the cost of the material is the worst part about making crappy art, you have nothing to fear. You don’t have to show anyone your crappy art. Paint over it, throw it away, or put in a drawer.

If you stop telling yourself that you have to make something amazing every time you start a new project, you’ll take the pressure off of yourself and give yourself more space to be creative.

Related Posts:

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3 Comments · Filed Under: Creative Business Development, Creativity

Comments

  1. Mayi Carles @ Heartmade says

    September 28, 2010 at 5:10 pm

    Great post! I am often affected by this in my own work. As a blogger + handmade shop owner I have so much fun + express my creativity with no limitations of prejudices. But when it comes to my artwork (my paintings), I feel I’m so hard with myself. Most be some emotional baggage I’m carrying on from too much art school! I have even stopped painting because I get anxious about it, like if the world was expecting me to be Dali or something hehehehe. I know this is all in my head, which is soo soo funny, but is something real many artist deal with. Thanks again for your words of advice, they come at a perfect moment in my career. xo.

    Reply
    • April says

      September 28, 2010 at 6:02 pm

      I can completely relate Mayi! When I first started painting and making mixed media pieces, I always thought that they had to be perfect. Then I saw a post on Juliette Crane’s blog {http://juliettecrane.blogspot.com/} that showed her progression from a piece of mixed media art that she didn’t like to a piece that she loved. It reminded me how easy it is to start from scratch and reuse art pieces that didn’t turn out how you want them to. I’ve also stopped putting so much pressure on myself by painting in an art journal–which I’ve found makes it easier to make mistakes, try new things, and experiment with new techniques. Whenever I’m working on a canvas, I take myself too seriously, and I have to repeat, “Lighten up.”

      Reply

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  1. 45 Tips to Rock Your Art or Craft Blog | Blacksburg Belle says:
    November 1, 2010 at 7:28 am

    […] Stop taking yourself so seriously. Let your readers see your true […]

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