Want to create art but find yourself procrastinating?
Could it be you are putting too much pressure on yourself?
You don’t have to create a masterpiece to enjoy art.
When people find out I paint, they want to ask about my process, my inspiration, how long I have been painting, what I am currently working on. One thing I have noticed is that a lot of people have told me they used to draw or paint and they want to take it up again, but something is stopping them.
When I ask why they don’t paint or draw anymore, I get the same vague comments. Most people don’t know why they stopped, maybe life just got in the way. Nearly everyone wants to take up art again, but have no definite plans to do so anytime soon, which means most will never get back into it. Such a shame because I suspect some have talent which has not been nurtured for a very long time. I find this sad because being creative is so good for us - whether you have a great talent, or are just having fun.
There is no real reason why most people cannot spare a little time and money to get creative, so why would anyone abandon a gift, something that once brought them joy and contentment? Could it be they are frightened of trying and messing up? We all like to think we can paint or draw, but it can be very demoralising if our efforts are not what we expected. It can be frustrating if we don’t like the end result, but we learn more from our mistakes than our successes.
So don't be afraid to fail. Even the most talented artists do not paint a masterpiece at every attempt - you don’t see the times they produced poor work because they painted over that canvas without showing it to anyone. And if you haven’t attempted to draw or paint for a long time you will not create your best work. It takes a while and a bit of practice to get back into the swing of things.
Buying new art supplies can inspire you to paint.
Don't worry about following any rules, play and experiment and enjoy the process. You are not looking to create your best work at this stage. You are just warming up your creative muscles.
Be patient with yourself. There is no alternative than to get started and see what happens. but if you keep at it you will see improvements.
If you have recently taken up painting or drawing, I would love to hear from you. Drop me an email with a picture of your work and we can all encourage each other.