Building your confidence

...

This blog post is about building our confidence as an artist, however, it can also apply generally - across other fields and into life itself.

...

Confidence was never easy for me growing up. I thought I was the most unconfident and shy person in existence (probably a perspective held by many unconfident people).

As a young person (like many I'm sure) I had no idea who I was, what I wanted or what to say. Fortunately my interest in art and music fed and supported me internally so I could express myself in ways other than using my very weak voice at the time.

Then I stepped into bold roles, which required confidence in me.

I gradually stepped further into my confidence, and consequently I stepped further into myself and knowing who I am - which I now think is essential in maintaining a healthy level of confidence.

...

I've always been aware of finding a balanced confident state that doesn't tip into arrogance and ego. I've seen so many people go from unconfident to being self centred almost overnight - it feels unhealthy and I don't want to be like that.

I try and keep a 'lid' on my confidence. I want it to be as full as it can be without tipping over the edge and into egotism. Finding this 'cap' is of my personal measurement and awareness that is a constant self-observation and adjustment when needed.

...

However, that is not what this article is about. It is about building our confidence, because I am seeing quite a lot of unconfident and insecure artists at present.

A few years ago I recall watching a season of 'The Great British Bake Off' (2019). There was a young lady on the show who was clearly talented in the cooking department, but her confidence levels were at zero. She made it to the final and ended up self sabotaging her success because of the incredible pressure she put onto herself, plus the obvious insecurity she felt.

I felt for her, as I had been there some years before, and it is such an awful place to be in, and yet maybe there are some areas of our life where we feel more confident than in others.

Building confidence requires self belief and self acceptance. If we are trying to please others, have the prime objective to 'sell our wares', compare ourselves to others, compete for validations and approvals for our existence etc then our work actually suffers - like I noticed in that season of 'The Great British Bake Off', and I have noticed numerous time personally.

I have been very surprised to see so many insecure and unconfident artists lately - this insecurity oozes out of them as a desperation, panic, lack of self belief and a questioning of their actual work. This then subtly reflects out into their work.

...

Stop seeking external validation and approval.

Stop comparing ourselves to others.

Let go of a forced and specific outcome.

Stop worrying about what others may think.

Stop thinking we know what others think of us.

Start looking for personal, self validation and approval.

Start comparing ourselves to who we used to be with gentleness and honesty.

Let things flow more for us in the process and the outcome.

Start caring about what we think (not what others think).

Let go of what we think others think of us.

Step out of our comfort zone more.

Let's try new things, experiment and have fun.

Let's release the pressure we put on ourselves that is over-the-top.

Let's relax.

Let's do our personal best and know that this is good enough.

Let's care about creating a high standard of work to the best of our ability.

Let's keep our work alive and understand that what we create is an extension of who we are.

...

...

If we are insecure, doubtful, hesitant, or even overly arrogant, then all of this can show in our work. In regards to art - the viewer / potential customer is not stupid, they can feel it and know that something is not quite right. I've seen this.

...

As an artist we lay ourselves out on our canvas, and instead of pretending, we can lay ourselves out honestly. Pretending to be 'the best' while secretly seeking approval - is not honest.

...

As a practicing professional artist who has never experienced 'artist block' I think this may be part of the reason why - because I consciously choose to express myself in my art as openly and honestly as I can. This then creates a flow, and when in this flow creativity is running. It may take me in new directions, and into new feeling, new medium and experimentation. I'd imagine an artist block may be when what we want to do doesn't match what we might be best doing.

...

Let's courageously drop our insecurities and the false pretenses of our work, and try laying ourselves bare with honesty, and see if that helps us create more openly, freely and honestly.

...

Once we have learned a good deal of technique through taking the time to practice our craft, then we reach a point when we can extend that skill to personalise our work - to make it uniquely what we have made - not something that copies, or tries to please others.

I've learned that the skills and techniques I have developed and practiced over the years act as a crucial foundation in me being able to more fully express myself through my art. I can trust in the flow of my creations and go straight to the colours or material I know that might best portray what I am feeling, flowing into and want to create.

...

Creating is personal / internal.

Having true confidence is personal / internal.

Therefore, we are forced to look at ourselves and play with that in our art - no matter what our subject matter is or the medium.

...