Are you one of those people who think you don’t have any artistic talent? I’ve heard that confession frequently from people when they start to talk about art. When I ask why they think that is true, I usually uncover some past experience of the person being told their art is terrible, they can’t draw the ‘right’ way, or they can’t paint like others. Often the criticism was doled out by either a teacher or parent during early formative years. Yet the damage of this type of comment can last a lifetime, as it repeatedly echoes through the subconscious mind.
Every person has a balance of various strengths and abilities, but creativity is a quality found in all human beings. But human beings tend to gravitate toward doing what they know how to do. The more time a person spends at doing something, the better they get at it. Take skiing for example: few of us were born with a natural inclination to slide on snow at high speeds. Yet, the more time a person spends skiing on snow, the more confidence one builds with each increasing experience.
The same is true with making art. Confidence is a natural result if one continues to practice, to be disciplined, to face risks, and to push beyond uncertainty and discomfort.
Like skiing, art-making has elements of fear and risk to it, and it ultimately brings exhilaration and satisfaction as a reward. An artist may start with an idea of something they want to create. But along the way, the artwork could take its own course, often due to the medium having a mind of its own or things not going as planned. At some point the artist will wonder what to do next? Is it better to go the safe route and be mechanistic in technique (ie. do what you already know how to do), or should one explore the new possibilities that have surfaced?
Yes, confronting fear is involved. The fear of doing something ‘wrong’ wrangles with the fear of not trying and missing out on an opportunity to push beyond ‘the comfort zone’ of ability.
From my experience, I’ve come to view risk-taking and problem-solving in art as opportunities to explore greatness beyond my original expectations. Once an artwork goes into unknown territory, it has the potential to become more beautiful than originally imagined. Sometimes an artwork must look like an ugly duckling just before it becomes a beautiful swan.
When an artist explores risks within their artwork and decides to show this art to the public, they often experience dual sensations of excitement and exposure. This feeling of vulnerability feels like standing in front of a crowd in your underwear. What is this feeling of exposure about? Is it self-doubt? Is it there a fear of being laughed or sneered at? Is there a fear of being disapproved of, or of revisiting the discouraging comments from the past that echo in our memories? Or is the excitement related to a hope for validation? Is it a test of self-confidence?
Confidence is the antidote to fear, regardless of its source. Nando Parrado, a Uruguayian soccer player who survived the infamous 1972 plane crash in the Andes, recently came to Tahoe and gave an inspiring speech in Incline Village. He spoke of his newfound understanding of the importance of confidence: ‘I have gained confidence in myself, a quiet tranquility that has given me a better perception of the world around me. Making decisions became easier because I knew that the worst thing that could happen would be that I could be wrong.’
Getting strong with your creative process will make you more fearless and decisive in your overall life. You have the ability to recognize patterns of self-doubt and charge through them. Those voices of criticism that chatter in your mind when you are creating something only serve to hold you back from growing. Through practice and experience, the process of creating can be trusted and enjoyed. By exercising creative muscles frequently and exploring the unknown in our work, we build strength and increased confidence, breaking boundaries and creating amazing art.
~ Carole Sesko is a Truckee-based artist and designer, with a passion for promoting art and culture in our region. Contact Carole: 530-587-7750, carolesesko.com.
