I used to get so mad when I was in a creative slump and a friend uploaded a new piece of art. I'd look at their work and think, "I could do that." But I would never sit down and make anything. I had big ideas, (even some good ones), but I would spend all of my time thinking about them, and never actually make anything. In fact, sometimes I would actively try to talk myself out of starting a new project (like the 100 Day Project--I made it to day 40), because the thought of "failing" and not finishing the project was crippling. The frustrating thing about seeing other people doing great work was knowing that I wasn't doing any work at all. I wanted to prove that I was a great artist too.
The problem is, the work you make when you're trying to prove yourself isn't very good. Why? Because it's not creative. It's not trying to be unique. The only point of the art you make when you want to show off is one-upmanship. It's not about being good or even great. Let that sink in for a minute. You're so focused on being more impressive than the other guy that you don't actually even care if the work you're making is good. As long as it's better than him, you'll be happy. Is this really why you became an artist?
I know, it's complicated. When I try to think about why I make art, I go into a tailspin. Is there really any meaning to making art? Then I devour an entire tub of ice cream while starring at the wall and listening to my "creative" Spotify playlist and I come up with some nonsense answer like this: "I make art because I want to have an impact on the world." Um, okay then, Mother Theresa.
The real answer is brutally honest and brutally simple.
Think you can handle it?
Okay. Here it is:
You make art because you want to.
Yep. That's really it. You make art because you want to. Sounds off somehow, doesn't it? I know. What I'm going to do now is reveal the invisible script that's going through your mind right now.
You're thinking that this is wrong because the whole problem is that you don't want to make art anymore. Maybe you don't even want to be an artist anymore. You're like a super poser. You call yourself an artist but lately you're starting to wonder if you've just fallen out of love with art.
Here's the thing. You can make incredible art. I know this because you've done it before. But think about it for a second. What made it incredible was how free you felt. You didn't worry about what anyone else thought. You weren't trying to prove anything. You were actually just having fun.
It's that simple. The way you prove that you're an artist is by having fun when you're making art. You don't have to suffer, you don't have to starve, you don't have to put on a huge show, you don't even have to share what you make with anyone at all (one of my greatest joys is taking a whole roll of photos and then keeping a few really good ones for myself that I never post anywhere).
Literally any other agenda will suck the joy out of the creative process. It will turn it into work. I know that we worship work in America (and hard work especially), so we're inclined to admire the tormented artist, but at that point you've got to wonder if maybe the artist has some personal problems in their life... like maybe they need to see a psychologist about those weird dreams they keep having?
Honestly, it doesn't have to be a struggle. It doesn't have to be painful. It doesn't have to be about impressing people. When you make something just for fun, you feel free. And that feeling of artistic freedom is worth more than struggling to impress someone any day.
But the best part is, when you make art because it's fun, other people love it. Seriously. So forget trying to prove yourself, and just go make something really, really fun.
