So much of this post resonated with me! Whenever I try to get back into an art practice, though, I’m plagued by extra feelings of inadequacy — I used to be quite “good” at painting, in high school when I was taking art classes every day, but it’s been so long. The thing that keeps stopping me now is feeling like I’m just not as good as I used to be. Logically, I can tell myself that’s a silly excuse and that the way to get better is to keep doing something and also that the point is not to produce something amazing but just to do it… But when I look at the watercolors and paintings I do now, I often feel ashamed at how “bad” they are compared to what I was doing when I was 16. Like I’m comparing myself to the 16-year-old version of myself and coming up inadequate.
I'd put your watercolor painting from April(?) not on a fridge, but framed on a wall :) The colors and composition are lovely. Art can be intimidating, yet so freeing. Keep pushing past any fears; experiment with it like a science project. Take a leap of faith for yourself.
You mentioned "morning pages," are you doing Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way? Have you heard of it or done it before? It may be a good tool for your inner, sensitive, baby artist.
I find that my art practice allows me to explore my academic ideas without needing to present them in that 100% polished way you mentioned. It helps me untangle and trace my thoughts to see what I can turn into more structured, formal ideas. Art is almost like a form of note-taking, personally. That is the sort of work that I post here on Substack. I have found that sharing my art/creative works with others helps me strengthen my own inner artist and keeps my practice consistent; plus, it is nice to have it all documented in one place.
I really love this. I have always been a very terrible visual artist. (But also a really intensely visual learner??) Even in culinary school when we practiced plating things, I got a lot of criticism because I couldn't figure out how to plate things in a way that was cooly asymmetrical or perfectly symmetrical. It was just a mess. I have really wanted to take up painting or drawing at some point. I do knit, which is a skill I'm proud of and taught myself but it's not the same as drawing. To me, drawing is like running — if you're good at it, you can just do it any time and it must feel SO GOOD. I'm jealous of that freedom. I obviously get that from writing and I am lucky for that. But the visual art aspect of that would be fulfilling I think. In any case, this is a good motivation to at least try. I have a crush on this sketchpad that I imagine doodling on while I take a break from writing: https://www.bostongeneralstore.com/collections/shop-all/products/jotblock-chunky-sketchpad
That sketchpad looks amazing! And I have to say: I also have no drawing talent, but practice does help a lot. It’s all just shapes and values in the end!
Stick with your inspiring art and thank you for the timely reminder of how important 'playing' with pencils/water colours is for those of us who need time out from constant self-criticism. I always smile when I'm playing (rarely when I'm writing)!
I often give away my favourites and laugh when someone displays them when I visit...
THE ONLY THINGS WORTH LIVING FOR ARE LOVE AND ART
So much of this post resonated with me! Whenever I try to get back into an art practice, though, I’m plagued by extra feelings of inadequacy — I used to be quite “good” at painting, in high school when I was taking art classes every day, but it’s been so long. The thing that keeps stopping me now is feeling like I’m just not as good as I used to be. Logically, I can tell myself that’s a silly excuse and that the way to get better is to keep doing something and also that the point is not to produce something amazing but just to do it… But when I look at the watercolors and paintings I do now, I often feel ashamed at how “bad” they are compared to what I was doing when I was 16. Like I’m comparing myself to the 16-year-old version of myself and coming up inadequate.
Curious about the kits you’ve enjoyed most 🎨
I'd put your watercolor painting from April(?) not on a fridge, but framed on a wall :) The colors and composition are lovely. Art can be intimidating, yet so freeing. Keep pushing past any fears; experiment with it like a science project. Take a leap of faith for yourself.
You mentioned "morning pages," are you doing Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way? Have you heard of it or done it before? It may be a good tool for your inner, sensitive, baby artist.
I find that my art practice allows me to explore my academic ideas without needing to present them in that 100% polished way you mentioned. It helps me untangle and trace my thoughts to see what I can turn into more structured, formal ideas. Art is almost like a form of note-taking, personally. That is the sort of work that I post here on Substack. I have found that sharing my art/creative works with others helps me strengthen my own inner artist and keeps my practice consistent; plus, it is nice to have it all documented in one place.
I really love this. I have always been a very terrible visual artist. (But also a really intensely visual learner??) Even in culinary school when we practiced plating things, I got a lot of criticism because I couldn't figure out how to plate things in a way that was cooly asymmetrical or perfectly symmetrical. It was just a mess. I have really wanted to take up painting or drawing at some point. I do knit, which is a skill I'm proud of and taught myself but it's not the same as drawing. To me, drawing is like running — if you're good at it, you can just do it any time and it must feel SO GOOD. I'm jealous of that freedom. I obviously get that from writing and I am lucky for that. But the visual art aspect of that would be fulfilling I think. In any case, this is a good motivation to at least try. I have a crush on this sketchpad that I imagine doodling on while I take a break from writing: https://www.bostongeneralstore.com/collections/shop-all/products/jotblock-chunky-sketchpad
That sketchpad looks amazing! And I have to say: I also have no drawing talent, but practice does help a lot. It’s all just shapes and values in the end!
Stick with your inspiring art and thank you for the timely reminder of how important 'playing' with pencils/water colours is for those of us who need time out from constant self-criticism. I always smile when I'm playing (rarely when I'm writing)!
I often give away my favourites and laugh when someone displays them when I visit...