As artists, we know fear. We fear no one will like our work, no one will purchase what we make, and in our ability to create. But a fear we have all felt at least once is when an idea is executed the idea will never be as good as it is our mind.
I fear this all the time. I have great ideas, sometimes I even put them on paper as I work them out in my head, but when I go to create them I can't get it right, and I can't figure out how to make it right. Does this happen to you?
I have wasted a lot of material on my fear. I work on an item trying to figure out how to make it better, and it never happens. When I show my family the idea they don't understand why I think something is wrong. Even if I explain it, they still don't see the problem. Well at least my mom, sister, and daughter, have wonderful jewelry collections with all the items I have rejected.
Fear is something we have to overcome ourselves. Their are lots of books on the subject, as well as web sites and blog posts, but when it comes down to it we have to let go of the fear and believe in our abilities, and our creations!
What is an artistic fear you have? Have you overcome it? If so how?
My fear is that of finishing...as long as it's not done, no one can judge how it's turning out, but once it is...there it is for all the world to see.
ReplyDeleteI fear that I will run out of ideas at some point. I think a lot of that comes from being burned out/exhaustion. I guess I just need to rest!
ReplyDeleteI read recently in a great little book about art and fear that vision is always ahead of technique. So when you see something in your head, but you can't make it like you see it--well, that's normal for an artist. (Art and Fear, by David Bayles and Ted Orland.)
ReplyDeleteThere are so many ideas floating in my brain that I fear I can't get them down on paper fast enough let alone execute them. I need to start carrying a sketchbook with me at all times.
Knot-Cha-Chá!™
*****
I definitely have a fear of screwing up a product when trying to finish it.
ReplyDeleteMy vision must be warped, because people always like my little creations, but they never look quite good enough to me. But I'm a risk taker, so every time I put something out there it's like rolling the dice. I'm always asking myself: Will anyone like this? Will it sell? Am I nuts? Maybe. Maybe. Decidedly.
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