r/ArtistLounge • u/blankenson • 1d ago
General Question [community] fear
Hello artist lounge, my name is Jackie and I’ve come to confess.
Since 2016 I started drawing. Replicating poses by 2018 I started drawing digitally and took a hiatus which I’m on to this day
I do drawing as pre visuals for costumes and I try to sketch in a book to try and practice. But I just feel frightened to get back into it. Like am I good enough? What if I wanna do other things? Can drawing be a side activity ?
Is any of this normal or felt by others?
Edit: don’t think of me as a jerk but there’s something I left out. I’m on a disability pension you see. “The man” thinks I’m incapable of employment and I have no intention of college. I tell you this as my fears seem stupid “dude Whaddya winging about you have nothing but free time”?
2
u/Flicking_speed_frog 1d ago
All these feelings are normal, even for artists.
I often struggle with these same things. But I come back to art because I love doing it.
When pencil hits paper a lot of the fear quickly goes away
1
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Thank you for posting in r/ArtistLounge! Please check out our FAQ and FAQ Links pages for lots of helpful advice. To access our megathread collections, please check out the drop down lists in the top menu on PC or the side-bar on mobile. If you have any questions, concerns, or feature requests please feel free to message the mods and they will help you as soon as they can. I am a bot, beep boop, if I did something wrong please report this comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
1
u/ScribbleAndy 1d ago
I've seen so much of this lately and I just -
Sigh
Make art for yourself. Make art because you love it. Make art because it's a hobby that helps break up the day. Yeah, we all like it when our work is appreciated, regardless of our skill level or whether art is our profession or not, but all this "am I good enough?" questioning is confusing and alarming. Good enough for what? What are your goals for your art? What are you using as a measurement for you being "good enough"?
Of course drawing can be a side activity. Nobody is forcing you to do art as a career, and if they are, then the problem is with their perception of art and its place in society and not you as an artist, hobbyist or otherwise.
1
u/FlyAwayG1rl 1d ago
Another disability reciever here and I get this. I feel the exact same way and it's hard to ask this question without feeling a little judged. I think we feel this because we're afraid of not mattering and being forgotten in the grand scheme of it all. I asked a freelancer if she ever gets the feeling of "what's it all for" and felt silly when her answer was that she's never had that feeling, she does art for her sake. I have recently found out you can make a certain dollar amount each month without it hurting your benefits. You'd need to talk with either a financial adviser or lawyer to see what that dollar amount is for you. Perhaps that could help, if you feel like you could offer up a couple pieces to the world?
1
u/VitaminR1000mg 1d ago
Art and Fear is a good book to read for some perspective. There is no consequences of trying except bruised ego. You don’t have to commit if you don’t like it either.
I was a pro for a while, had to retire. Drawing is now a side activity and it’s more fulfilling to me than it has been in a while. A lot of that is due to me dismantling excessive, self-made obstacles.
Just be gentle and give it a go. Good luck
1
u/blankenson 22h ago
What kinda obstacles?
2
u/VitaminR1000mg 22h ago
Perfectionism was a big one for me. I could never leave a work “good.” It had to be “amazing” or bust, which is not only stressful, but ridiculous as well. Being comfortable with making ugly art freed me quite a bit and led me to explore new subjects. I also had lots of doubt and tried to feel better about it through obsessive study instead of tackling my negative thought patterns.
At this point, I take art seriously, but it’s never THAT serious where I have to stress and obsess
5
u/thesolarchive 1d ago
Only one way to find out for sure right? Watcha scared of, having too much fun?