Good or bad art?

So many stay away from making art out of the fear that it won’t be good enough,  I know I did for a long time. Well, let’s talk a bit about what that even means. 

Sitting down to paint, I used to be terrified of what the end result would end up being as I knew I would disappoint myself. So terrified in fact, that it kept me from doing it at all - no matter the urge I had to create. So what were the standards I was holding myself up against? The paintings I’d seen from full time painters that had years of training behind them. Paintings that had made me gone WOW! at some point were at the back of my head as the end goal. 

Now I’d say that’s the equivalent of someone not buying skates as they’re afraid of not winning the Olympics the first time they’re on the ice. Insane right?

So many of us love making art, it makes us feel good. We get into that flow and time just flies, stress and anxiety gone, the sound of your kids fighting over the Barbie with the yellow dress - gone.  Regardless of our skill level, it makes us feel good - we need it in our lives to stay sane.

If art is good or bad is such a subjective matter. We don’t see beauty the same way, our life stories will affect how we see something and so many things affect how we view it. Taste even changes over time so what you love today may not seem as amazing in ten years. 

And then there are technical skills. Of course we’d prefer it if the outcome is what we’d envisioned in our minds. Sometimes our brushes just don’t co-operate the way we want them to. But the fact is - as you keep painting, technique will improve. So every time you get lost in that flow - regardless of the outcome - you’ll find yourself one step closer to being the artist you are in your mind.

So set those brushes free. Someone else will likely find beauty and joy in your artwork even though it’s not at the skill level you’d like. Or keep it in your closet but don’t. Stop. Painting out of fear of not being good enough. The world needs your art.