Building Confidence

When you are stuck, you sometimes think the problem is out there in the confusing, ever-changing demands of the art world. Those factors do impact artists, but your struggles might also be internal. You are not moving forward because you’ve lost confidence in yourself and your work.

​We use the phrase “lost confidence” as though it’s a thing, a sock hiding behind the dresser. Confidence is not an object but a process, a set of behaviors you can choose. 

You build confidence by doing things that are not easy for you. You work gradually, in steps, learning as you go. The idea is to get out of your own head, with its infinite loops of hope and despair, and to take your art back out into the world.

If you’ve stopped making art, the first step is to return to a daily practice. Start gradually, even just 15 minutes a day, until you have reminded yourself that you are, indeed, an artist. 

Then you might decide to get feedback on your work.Artists sometimes use critique groups for this purpose, but I find that partnering with one other artist can be a good way to begin. Choose your partner carefully! Find someone you trust, and share your works-in-progress, talking through your intentions and how you evaluate the results.

Consider whether you need to develop new skills or gain new knowledge. It might be time to take a class or workshop, to apply for a residency, or to take your art in a new direction.

When you’re ready, think about reaching out to new audiences.This takes courage, but gradually you feel less vulnerable because you are building a foundation of confidence, one step at a time.