Being jealous of another artist can be a crippling feeling that we often are ashamed of. We think it is not normal to be jealous of each other as artists, and we try to push the feeling away as fast as possible. But the truth is that jealousy in the art community is not uncommon. So what to do? Here are 6 ways to overcome art jealousy!
As humans, we naturally crave the attention and approval of others. And there’s nothing wrong with that. We are social and empathetic beings who want to connect with each other and feel accepted.
Nowadays, however, it is easy to have Likes, views, and follower numbers take over your original passion for creating art.
You don’t need to be a particular narcissist or fame-seeker to have that happen to you. The ‘social reward system’ is extremely captivating and, I guess, we all have already fallen into that competitive trap at some point in our life.
Jealousy in the art community is not uncommon. All artists get jealous of other artists from time to time.
Scrolling down your social media feed, you cannot avoid coming across some great work of another artist and have thoughts like, why didn’t I hit on that idea? Why does my art never look as good as that? Why does that artist have so much more talent than me?
It happens to all of us. It’s not only that novice artists look up to seasoned creators with envy. Even established artists may get jealous of younger artists that have a bigger following, get more Likes, and create –supposedly– better art.
Dwelling on art jealousy is a sure-fire recipe for disaster. It will prevent you from enjoying your creative process and eventually lead to depression, frustration, and self-loathing. To not let that happen to you, it is important to take action and counteract art jealousy as soon as you feel it coming up.
Here are 6 tips for you on how to overcome art jealousy:
What is art jealousy?
Before we talk about how to overcome art jealousy, let’s first define what it actually is. You probably already have your own idea and experience with art jealousy, as you are reading this post. (ᴖᴥᴖ)
However, I quickly want to set the tone about what we are going to delve into, just to make sure we are all talking about the same thing.
- Art jealousy refers to feeling resentful of another artist’s achievements, talents, skills, ideas, or perceived advantages. It is often linked to the fear of losing something we have.
- Art envy is the desire to have a quality, skill, or other thing that another artist has and we don’t.
Art jealousy and art envy are often used interchangeably, even though they shouldn’t be. In this article, I’ll be referring to art jealousy or envy to describe the feeling of resentment and discontentment when viewing another artist’s work.
That being said, let’s get into it!
Do artists get jealous?
Most of us started to make art because we felt some sort of a calling to be an artist. It was like a catharsis when we finally discovered a way of expressing ourselves visually. And it is this inner fire that keeps us going.
Some of us make art to have an outlet for stress, depression and anxiety. Others use it as a means of self-expression and escape from their everyday life.
No matter what it was that made us become artists in the first place, it might look like art-making is just that happy, blissful activity of self-forgetfulness. But that’s not always the case. Making art is not all about rainbows and unicorns. All artists struggle.
We’ve all had bad-art days and experienced creative block, procrastination, self-judgment, rejection, and what not. Not all artists speak about that. But even those who go into overdrive and create one artwork after the other are not free from self-doubt.
We are all good at doubting our abilities and along with that comes art jealousy. We want to be better than we are now. Self-improvement is part of the journey. But in the process, it may also result in us envying the skill, talent, acclaim, and ideas of other artists.
Why do artists get jealous?
When you look a bit closer into why artists get jealous, you will quickly discover that behind art jealousy is fear and insecurity. We feel insecure about our own art. Deep inside, we question that we are a real artist who got what it takes.
We are afraid that our art is not as good as that other artist’s work and that it never will be. No matter how hard we try, we will never be good enough. That is our inner art perfectionist talking.
We are resentful of other artists selling commissions because we assume that there are only a limited number of commission jobs available out there. If another artist lands an exhibition place, we feel they are taking away an opportunity from us.
You can already tell that those thoughts and feelings come from a place of limitation. If someone has something we don’t have, we automatically assume there must be less left for us. I am going to address this mindset problem later on in my tips on how to overcome art jealousy below.
Is it normal to be jealous of other artists?
All artists, no matter how good they are, happen to be jealous of other artists at some point.
Jealousy and envy are normal feelings that are part of our human experience just like joy and happiness. Even though we don’t tend to welcome those ‘negative’ feelings as much as we welcome the ‘positive’ ones, they belong to our repertory of feeling gifts given to us.
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But all those feelings are okay and they have a message for us, especially the negative ones. That’s why we should never try to ignore or suppress a feeling that we think is ‘not good’ or that we ‘shouldn’t have’.
When you are feeling jealous seeing another artwork, then that art jealousy wants to tell you something.
Naturally, your first thought might simply be, ‘Darn, my art will never be that good’. But when you peel back the layers and look a bit deeper, the actual message might be: ‘Look at that great artwork. If you work a bit more on refining your skills and developing your creative vision, you can create such great work, too!’
Beneath the layer of jealousy and the fear of not being as good, you are actually feeling attracted to that artwork… or selling commissions, or organizing a gallery show, or whatever it is. It is a hint that someone is doing or having something that you could do or have, too. You are just not quite there yet. But if you love something and want to do or have it do, it means you already have the potential in you.
Remember, what you seek is seeking you. So art jealousy is not only a normal feeling but it also has an important message to tell us.
How do you overcome art jealousy?
When we used to find a beautiful work of art online, it was clear that some human artist must have created it – until 2022. I usually would not have mentioned that here, but since AI art generation has become commonplace, things have changed.
Whenever you now see a piece you admire, ask yourself first: is this a work created by a real human artist or has artificial intelligence made it? In a previous post, I already talked about why AI art cannot be considered real art.
So whenever you come across an image generated by AI, stop comparing your work to it altogether (unless you are a promptor yourself and want to compare your AI-generated images to those of another promptor). Instead, you might want to look for ways to make your art stand out against all those artificially created pieces flooding the art market.
With that being off the table, let’s get into it and have a look at what you can do when you are jealous, envious, or resentful of another artist – whatever the reason may be.
Here are 6 tips to help you overcome art jealousy as quickly as possible and channel those grudging emotions into new creativity!
6 Tips to overcome art jealousy
TIP #1: Give up comparing yourself.
Art isn’t a competitive activity, but it often seems that way. Many of us tend to spend several hours per day on social media. We all come across artworks of other artists that fascinate us. So far so good.
The problem begins when we start comparing ourselves to others. They make better art, they get more Likes, they have more followers, …
But oftentimes, we forget to see the bigger picture. If you just started out to create art, it is impossible to compare your pieces to those of an artist who has 10+ years of experience.
Instead of being envious of a beautiful artwork you see online, take it as inspiration. Analyze the technique, colors, and composition in order to learn and enhance your own skillset.
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However, if you feel yourself getting jealous over and over again, it is necessary to figure out the cause. Maybe the posts of a specific artist or art group trigger you time and time again. In that case, it is important to take action and do something about. Switch off notifications for a while or unfollow the artist or group completely.
Your energy is sacred and should be protected at all cost.
~ Buddhist saying
So whenever you feel getting your energy drained, do what is necessary to preserve your good vibes!
TIP #2: Focus on your own creative journey.
Focusing too much on other artists will only deter you from your own creative path. Nobody is born a master of their craft. Accept where you are in your art career and keep improving.
Look back at all the beautiful artworks you’ve already created and take a moment to appreciate how far you’ve come. Another artist’s success doesn’t take away from your own achievements.
You are an artist today and you will be an even better artist tomorrow. The more secure you feel about your own art, the less you’ll worry about other people’s art.
So instead of letting others’ artworks divert you away from your own creative journey, focus on building creative confidence!
TIP #3: Work on developing your own art style.
Another thing that may cause art jealousy is when you haven’t found your own art style yet. It is easy (and understandable) to get jealous of another artist’s style when you are still struggling to find your own voice.
While it is ok to learn from copying art at the beginning, you shouldn’t chase after someone else’s style hoping to appease your jealousy in the long run.
You are unique. You cannot be like any other artist out there and you shouldn’t try to. You wouldn’t expect a Picasso to look like a van Gogh, right? Likewise, you shouldn’t expert your art to look like anyone else’s.
Developing a unique art style takes time and practice. So the best thing you can do is practice, practice, practice…
TIP #4: Surround yourself with a supportive community.
Sometimes it’s not enough to read your list of positive affirmations and focus on developing our own art style. As humans, we naturally need some approval and validation from outside.
That’s why it’s so important to have a supportive community! You can find like-minded people online and offline. But usually, it is easier to connect via the internet. Art sharing sites are a great place to start connecting with other artists. You can also join Facebook groups for the specific type of art you are interested in.
But that’s not all. There are many more resources that can help you overcome art jealousy. Everyone deals with such feelings. Therefore, you will find a lot of blogs addressing that topic and other artist problems. So the next time you are feeling green, pull up your favorite blog to lift your spirits.
I myself provide a lot of free content on my art blog, because, with more than a decade of experience, I know how you guys are sometimes feeling. If my posts can help you, I am more than happy. You can also reach out to me via email or message me on Instagram.
Another place to find comfort are books. It can be very comforting and eye-opening when you see the experts writing about your artist problem that you thought only you had. Some of my favorite books are:
- Art & Fear by David Bayles and Ted Orland
- The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
- Steal Like An Artist (10 things nobody told you about being creative) by Austin Kleon
TIP #5: Channel your negative feelings into new creativity.
There will always be someone better than you. That’s just how life is. Or at least your subjective perception. After all, art is mainly a matter of taste anyways.
Instead of standing in judgment every time you see a beautiful work of art or an artist being successful, use this opportunity to fuel your own creativity.
If you see a piece and you love it, don’t allow your art envy to degrade your own merits. Envy is a powerful feeling. You can use the energy to drive you to hone your skills and pursue your passion.
If you see a thriving art business and you want the same, don’t allow someone else’s success to put you off your own dream. If someone else made it, you can make it happen, too!
- Get your FREE Art Business Startup Checklist
Learn more: How To Start A Digital Art Business
TIP #6: Cultivate an abundant mindset.
Let me finish this post on a more spiritual note. As I already mentioned above, art jealousy originates from the idea that there is not enough for all of us. You somehow believe that the opportunities are limited. That talent is limited. That there are not enough people to like your art, because there are so many that like another artist’s work.
But if you take a step back and look at it objectively, is it really like that? New artists come up all the time – be it musicians, writers, painters, photographers. Many of them are able to build quite an impressive following – and all that while the older artists are still there and not losing any of their fame.
At the end of the day, it’s all about your mindset. If you subscribe to an abundant mindset, you subscribe to the idea that there is more than enough for all of us. You can win, I can win. Everybody can win and we are not taking away from each other’s successes.
When you have an abundant mindset, you operate under the assumption that there is more than enough to go around for all of us. You can create art in a joyful way and get what you want through your passion. You are the director of your own story. You are in control.
When art jealousy overcomes you the next time, acknowledge it, and let it pass without fear. Other people’s successes don’t threaten yours. If you look at it in the right mindset, it will help you achieve your goals!
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I hope this post helped you look at art jealousy from a different angle and overcome it more quickly the next time it shows up!
How do you deal with jealousy and envy? Please leave comments and questions below or reach out to me directly. I’d love to hear from you! Make sure to sign up for my email list below so you don’t miss out on new blog posts and other cool stuff. ♥
Very quickly this site will be famous among all blogging users, due to it’s good articles
Haha, we’ll see, Tia. But great to hear that you find my articles helpful (:
This post was so relatable and encouraging. Turning feelings of jealousy into motivation and a drive to improve is such a positive way to handle those emotions. Your advice on cultivating an abundant mindset is something I will definitely try to practice. By the way, I ordered your printable quote 😊
Hi Ethan, great to hear that you found the post helpful. I think we all encounter jealousy at one point of our creative journey. And, as you say, the best way to deal with those emotions is to turn them into motivation and positivity!