How to Overcome Discouragement as an Artist
A few tips based on my personal experiences dealing with discouragement as an artist!
Ups and Downs
If you have been on this artistic journey for a while, you can understand that sometimes being a creative person has its ups and downs.
While creating art can be fun and worthwhile, there may be days when you wonder whether it is all worth it. You will have moments of discouragement, feelings of inadequacy, imposter syndrome, and doubts about your abilities.
In recent topics, AI art seems to be one of the primary sources of "demotivation" for many artists. However, do not fret! We will look at some tips to help you stay positive when facing artistic challenges or even just in other areas of life! Many of these points are based on my experiences dealing with discouragement, so maybe some of these ideas I present will resonate with you, or maybe some may not, and that is okay!
Down below are some tips that helped me to climb out of the pit of discouragement. Let’s take a look!
Identify the Cause
Step one: What is causing these negative feelings? Do you compare yourself to other artists? Do you feel like you can't be as productive or that you don't have as much time as other artists? Is it the AI Art topics? Do you have people that support you and your creative endeavors?
Once you can narrow down what is making you feel this way, then you have a clearer idea of how to come up with reasonable solutions. I suggest writing these causes down. Make a list of the top stressors down to your lower stressors.
It can be helpful to write things down. That way, these stressors won’t just sit on your mind, but you can assess and analyze what could be the problem. Making a list can help you see what you could try and tackle first. If you do not want to make a list necessarily and just want to write freely, that is fine as well!
When I would journal, I would just write things that happened in the day, and on the other page would write down what I could have done differently or what I could do better the next day.
Changing Your Mindset & Tackle the List
Changing my perspective on how I viewed my obstacles was the hardest part. Before I could continue with anything, I needed to see things differently. Instead of seeing my list as these impossible barriers and letting irrational thoughts take over, I tried to focus on what was possible.
For example, in the past, one of my biggest hurdles was not having enough time to do art. I work as a graphic designer and photography specialist full-time. However, I enjoy drawing and digital painting. Instead of trying to go against the circumstances, I accepted the fact that maybe for me, art was more part-time than full-time. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to create full-time, but for now, I had to find a way to balance my time. A lot of the artists I looked up to were full-time artists, usually, so yes, they obviously could do more, but it didn’t make me any less of an artist.
Our lives are different, and circumstances are different. Seeing that perspective helped me to be more relaxed instead of stressing over things I cannot control.
"You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." - Marcus Aurelius
Find Your Why & Count Your Blessings
Finding your “why,” I think, is crucial. Many videos on YouTube can explain this better than I could about “finding your why,” but I will explain it the best I can in this context. You are trying to rediscover why you enjoyed creating art in the first place. What made you start on this journey? What pushed you to explore your imagination? Why did you want to be a concept artist? 3D artist? Oil Painter? Sculptor? Who are your inspirations?
I suggest you write down your reasons for pursuing art and read them back to yourself. Remind yourself why you wanted to pursue art. If your enjoyment of creation is strong, no matter what happens, you will always be compelled to create. Knowing your "why" can help solidify that drive for creation.
As for counting your blessings… I attach that to “Finding Your Why” because sometimes the roots of our discouragement can come from feeling like we do not have what others have.
“I wish I had his or her skill set.” ”If only I could use colors like him.” “I want to have a bigger following.” “Maybe if I did x and y like these artists, I could be ahead.”
While there is nothing wrong with learning from or being inspired by others, it can also lead to envy or resentment if we're not careful. We can go overboard and feel like to be successful; we have to be like them. You need to focus on what you have and the goodness that is around you, not what you lack or don't have. Grow upon your strengths, not things that will hold you back.
When we compare ourselves, it's constantly comparing our negatives to someone else's positives. However, what we see is never the complete picture. We only see the successful parts of someone's life, just a window into their world. Comparing apples to oranges is a waste of time; you are your own person and have something unique to share with the world.
Building a Support System
Remember the first point I mentioned?
“Do you have people that support you and your creative endeavors?”
When you're trying to improve your skills, build up your presence, and network with others, art communities can be great places to find like-minded artists to share ideas and interests with.
However, when it comes to your mental well-being, you might need a different kind of community, a smaller group—a support system. It doesn't have to be large—it could be you, your closest friends, and your dearest family members.
Having a support system creates a tight-knit circle for yourself. It is nice when someone can have your back, and you can rely on others. Remember, while having a support system can be good, you must also learn to trust yourself and build resilience.
Other Tips: A bit of Self-Care
These are other ideas that I think might help as well:
Exercise - Getting your body moving can help boost your mood by releasing endorphins, which are hormones that improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. Exercising can also help reduce fatigue, lower your risk of health problems, and just overall improve your body. With exercise, I would suggest doing what is comfortable for you that can get your body moving. It can be walking, jogging, some form of a mix of cardio, cycling, etc.
Sleep - Sleeping at least a solid 7 - 8 hours can help improve your brain performance as well. If we are too tired, it can be difficult to make sound decisions. On the other hand, when we are well-rested, we can carry out our day-to-day activities with clarity and energy.
Journaling - It can be a great way to keep track of your daily habits. You can write about literally anything: your feelings, what triggers your negative emotions, how your day went, and so on. Journaling can be a helpful tool for organizing your thoughts and evaluating yourself. You can reflect and learn to improve your skills by journaling regularly and keeping track of your progress.
Closing Thoughts
Discouragement is something that we all go through. Whether you are an artist or not. You don’t have to let discouragement take hold of your life and prevent you from achieving your goals. There is always a solution, so it’s never too late to change! I believe you can do it, and I hope this little article resonates with you!
What are your thoughts? Do you also have some tips for overcoming discouragement?
I would love to hear your thoughts! We can all learn from one another. If you would like, leave a comment down below!