As an artist, you are passionate about creating art. But sometimes, things might get rocky and you even might become afraid of making art. At such times, many artists ask themselves, ‘why am I scared to make art?’. Don’t worry, the fear of making art is totally normal and we all tend to feel like that at one point in time. This blog post explains why you are scared to make art and what you can do about it!
Art is something we hold dear to our heart. For most artists, it’s a form of self-expression that reflects our personality.
Whatever your motivation, it is for a reason that we get interested in making art in the first place. Then, we spend a lot of time learning, creating, and getting better at it.
Most of us are not born artists. We cannot simply create ‘good’ art from a couple of days of practice. Genuine art that comes from the bottom of our heart takes years and years of commitment.
It doesn’t happen over night, and there are many obstacles that we may face on our artistic journey.
One thing that might happen is that we are scared to make art at one point in time.
The fear of making art
First of all, let me tell you: it’s totally okay to be afraid of making art at some point in our life as an artist.
This can be due to a variety of reasons.
Maybe someone tells you that you don’t have what it takes to be an artist. Maybe you believe that you cannot make a living with art. Many artists are also afraid of not being recognized in the art community.
The list goes on and on… But fact is that none of these are true, and they shouldn’t stop you from being creative.
I believe that every one of us is meant to create something in their life. If you feel a calling to make art, then your purpose in life is to be an artist.
That also means you already have everything it takes to be an artist, you just need to hone your skills.
It is also possible to make money selling art, and many artists have started a successful art business.
Just like with anything in life, we all have our doubts and fears.
In this post, I want to talk about why we might be scared to make art at times and help you find ways to overcome your fear of making art.
Because creating art is so enjoyable and fun (and it even has proven benefits on our mental health). I know that if you feel called to make art, you can do it. It will be a wonderful enrichment of your life.
All you need is some perseverance and practice, and an effective way to deal with your creative fears.
“Be brave enough to live creatively. Leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you’ll discover will be wonderful: Yourself.” ~ Alan Alda
Why is making art so frustrating?
Before we come to what you can do when you are feeling scared to make art, let’s dive in a bit deeper and explore why making art is so frustrating at times.
Usually, this fear of making art arises from an inner conflict. On the one side, there is your desire to create. And on the other side, there’s some sort of internal disagreement that’s holding you back.
The inner fear you are experiencing can become paralyzing and block your creativity.
Related: 19 Lifehacks To Break Out Of A Creative Rut
But don’t worry. You are not the only one who is afraid of making art. Many artists have encountered the same fear at some point in their career.
I myself have been experiencing the fear of making art every now and then in my life as an artist. But once I realized that many artists (even the best!) are facing the same problem, it was easier for me to explore why this is happening and understand the underlying reasons.
Why you are scared to make art
& what you can do about it
That’s why I created this blog posts for you. I hope that the tips I will give you in a minute will help you to overcome your fear of making art and become creative again – and enjoy it so much!
That said, it’s time to get to the bottom of your internal disagreement and show you that there’s a way out!
9 Tips on how to stop being scared to make art
1. Don’t try to be perfect.
I think we all know that trying to be perfect can weigh really heavy on us. It is understandable that we all want to be our best. We want to create the best art possible.
Improving our skills and challenging our boundaries every time we create art is certainly a good thing. But when we become too stiff and always want everything to be perfect, we tend to pinch off our creative flow.
Your art doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t even have to be ‘complex’. There’s an audience for every type of art. And when you create a bit of exposure for your art, you will notice that there are people who enjoy and appreciate your work.
- Solution:
Let go of perfectionism. Realize that nothing on this earth is perfect. We all have our imperfections, and so does our art. Give yourself some room to experiment. Be playful and don’t try to force the outcome. Just watch where your creativity takes you!
Have a look at the great artists in history. Not even their artwork is all perfect, and they were also experiencing the fear of making art at some point in their life!
Read more: 66 Inspirational Artist Quotes To Overcome Fear Of Creativity
2. Don’t compare yourself to other artists.
Comparison is another creativity killer. When we compare ourselves to others, we tend to come short.
The same holds true for our art. We see all the stunning artwork of other artists and compare our work to theirs. But when you analyze this behavior more closely, you will quickly notice that it’s not fair to compare your art to others.
Why? Because no two artists – and no two people in general! – are the same. Maybe the artist who you are comparing yourself to has been creating art for decades. You have started out only a couple of years ago.
Due to the sheer number of years of practice, it is simply not possible that your art is already as elaborate as theirs.
- Solution:
Stop comparing yourself to others. It’s important to realize that every artist is at a different phase of their artistic career. Learn to appreciate your own creative process and enjoy the journey!
And fact is: your art is never going to look the same as someone else’s. You are a unique person and a unique artist. That means your art is unique and different from anyone else!
Read more: How To Develop A Unique Art Style [Ultimate Artist Guide]
3. Make art for yourself.
Art is something innate to us humans. We all need art in our lives – whether it’s making art or contemplating the art of others. And as I already mentioned above, art can have a variety of positive effects, among others on our mental health.
While this should already be reason enough to make art just for ourselves, I know that it is easier said than done.
We all want to be liked and appreciated. In the day and age of the internet, this usually means getting Likes on social media, such as Instagram, Facebook, and so. And this is a trap we all fall into too easily. In fact, social media is designed in a way to get us addicted to the ‘social reward system’. I talk more about that in my post on how to use Facebook as an artist.
Another thing that might deter you from making art for yourself is accepting commissions. Don’t get me wrong. Art commissions can be a great way to earn an income as an artist and advance your skills.
Related: The TOP 7 Places To Sell Digital Art Commissions [& How To Start Selling!]
But once taking on commissions becomes stressful – maybe because you constantly feel judged and forced to please others – then it’s time for a change.
All these things can make us feel drained, and we might even be scared to make art because we are not able anymore to satisfy our inner passion that made us become an artist in the first place.
- Solution:
Creating art should be a freeing and joyful experience. That is why it’s important to set up boundaries and protect our passion.
When you feel anxious or afraid of making art, it’s best to take some time out. Take a break from social media, ban the ‘Likes’ out of your mind, and just create what you want to create. Remember: making art is personal, and it opens up so many opportunities to learn more about ourselves.
Stop accepting commissions or only accept those projects that are completely in line with your passion.
If your intention is to earn an income with your art, don’t forget that there are countless ways to make a living from art.
Read more: Is There A Market For Digital Art? (& How To Make Money Selling Art)
4. There is no such thing as bad art.
The fear of making art sometimes stems from thinking that your art is ‘bad’. This may also result from comparing your art to others.
When looking at the great works of other artists, it’s easy to think your art is just not ‘good enough’.
We already talked about that your art doesn’t have to be ‘perfect’. Plus, there is no need to compare yourself to other artists because everyone is at a different stage of their artistic path.
There is no such thing as bad art. It’s all about mindset.
- Solution:
It’s important to understand that every one of us is at a certain point of their artistic development. If you have only been creating art for a couple of months, it is not yet as good as the work of an artist who has long years of practice.
Then, art is also about taste. We all have different preferences and it’s totally okay that we all like different types of art.
If you get a negative comment on social media, slurring your ‘lack of skills’, don’t despair. Most of the time, people post such comments because they are unhappy with themselves, out of envy, ill feeling, etc. These comments are really nothing to do with your art.
So be patient with yourself and give yourself the room to freely follow your artistic path.
Read more: Your Art Gets Ignored? What To Do When No One Likes Your Art
5. Don’t let the criticism of others stop you.
Every time we put ourselves out there on social media and other art sharing sites, we cannot avoid getting judged and criticized by others.
Although some commenters may be well-meaning, there will always be comments that hurt our feelings.
Some comments may be intentionally mean, while others are meant to be advice on how to make your art better. Nevertheless, such comments may make us feel as if our art is just not ‘good enough’.
Constant judgment and criticism (even with the best intentions) can lead to us being afraid of making art.
- Solution:
If the criticism of others hurt you in a way that you are scared to make art, take a break from social media.
Stop reading the comments and start focusing on yourself and the art you want to create. Remember: art is something that you create for yourself.
It can also be a good idea to connect with other artists (or non-artist Instagrammers, etc.) who already have experience in being in the public eye and dealing with negative comments.
But one thing you should never do is stop to create art. Just keep on practicing and grow your confidence as an artist. No one is charmed against criticism, no matter how good their art.
With time, you’ll notice that you care less and less about such comments. And there will be a time where you are completely unaffected by the opinions of others.
Read more: How To Teach Yourself Digital Art – 5 Tips For Beginners To Get Started
6. Don’t listen to your inner critic.
Maybe you don’t put your art out on social media or don’t receive any negative comments, and still you wonder, ‘why am I scared to make art?’.
Apart from the critics in the outside world, we all have our inner critic. And even if you don’t receive any negative feedback from outside, your inner critic keeps talking and talking…
Even though this seems weird, it is absolutely normal. We all have this constantly babbling critic in our heads.
But it’s important to understand that this is nothing bad. Our inner critic only means well with us, and its main purpose is to protect us from physical and emotional harm.
- Solution:
The criticism that your inner critic confronts you with does not necessarily mirror reality. It simply paints out the most terrifying pictures to protect from the worst that can happen.
Don’t try to shut off this critic. Realize that its innate purpose is good. Simply choose to follow your path and continue making art no matter what your inner critic tells you!
Read more: 12 Benefits Of Learning Digital Art (And Where To Learn It)
7. Be mindful of your thoughts.
Overthinking is something that many of us, including myself, tend to do. We often overthink the art we create, judge it, and tend to find fault with it. We are often quite harsh with ourselves.
This can lead to us feeling afraid of making art.
The thoughts we think play a large role in every aspect of our lives, including the art we create.
- Solution:
When you start analyzing your thoughts, you will notice that there are many irrational beliefs and concepts. Becoming aware – or mindful – of your thoughts is a great skill that can help you in so many other aspects of life than just art.
When you are mindful of your thoughts, it is easier to see that not all of your thoughts are true. And you will be able to choose to not listen to the irrational ones.
Your thoughts are things. If you think positive thoughts, they have the power to lead you to new, positive beginnings.
Ask yourself if your thoughts are holding you back, or if you are thinking thoughts that help you grow and get better.
Read more: My 55 Favorite Inspirational Quotes For Positivity and Motivation ♥︎
8. Don't expect to create a masterpiece every time you make art.
If you have been creating art for a while, there will be ‘better and worse’ creations among your body of work.
When you have made an artwork that turned out amazing, you might be afraid of not being able to repeat it.
This can be a reason why you are scared to make art.
- Solution:
You can let go of this fear by not trying to force the outcome. Consider every creation as a new adventure. You don’t know where it takes you until it is finished. Let go and be open to where the journey takes you.
Stop comparing your artworks with each other. No one artwork is like the other. Every piece is unique.
Have a look through the bodies of work of the great artists: no one is able to constantly produce the same quality of work! It’s just human.
9. Understand art as a development process.
Like almost everything else in life, art is a development process. It’s completely normal to be anxious whether or not we’ll ever make it as an artist.
Starting your own art business and becoming a full-time artist takes a lot of time, effort, and courage.
And sometimes, the mere thought of failing can be one of the reasons why we are scared to make art.
- Solution:
Your creative journey becomes much easier the moment you understand that it is a development process. Growth is always slow and gradual.
Just look back to when you started. Most likely, you didn’t know anything about creating art at the beginning. You had to learn everything step by step.
Related: 7 Must-Have Skills You Need To Be A Digital Artist [& How To Get Them!]
Every step takes you closer to where you want to be. If you remain persistent and continue to work on your skills, you will make it in the long run.
In my mind, it’s all about what you want to do in your life. If you follow your passion, doing the work doesn’t feel like ‘work’ anymore.
This is also true for this website that I created. Before I started out, I thought it was going to be hard to build and maintain a website. But now I enjoy more than ever writing blog posts, sharing my experiences, and hopefully helping you on your creative journey!
Read more: How To Make A Website For Digital Art – Best Website Builder For Artists
