Do you ever find yourself hesitating to start a new drawing or painting because you’re scared of making mistakes? Or maybe you’ve made it half way and aren’t happy with the colours you have used, or aren’t sure of the next step you need to take to finish your work? 

The truth is we have all been there, and it can be a tough spot to be in. So what can you do to try and ensure that that doesn’t happen again too often? Below are some things to keep in mind and ways you can have the confidence to make mistakes when making art. 

Don’t Rush:

Creating a piece of art takes time. Take your time throughout the whole process. Research your subject matter rather than just diving in straight away. Practice before you create the final piece. Sketchbooks are great for practicing small sketches and components you might find difficult to begin with, for example you may be painting a portrait but struggle to draw noses, in which case practice until you feel comfortable to do so. Another thing you can test before you do the real thing is your colour pallet. Make sure all the colours you want to use compliment your artwork and represent what you are trying to create. Planning what you are trying to create is an important step of the process. Noone just creates a masterpiece without even thinking about what they are doing, so never feel like you shouldn’t plan or that you are planning too much. Preparation is one of the best things you can do in order to remove that low-confidence barrier.

Always Keep Learning:

Another thing you can do to boost your confidence and worry less about making mistakes is by constantly learning new skills and developing your techniques. Knowing how to express what you want to express can be hard, but if you have the technical skills then it can make it a lot easier. Also something to remember is that mistakes are key when it comes to learning, so don’t be afraid to make them, it’s all part of the process.

Push Past Imposter Syndrome:

Imposter Syndrome can be really serious and inevitably get in the way of someone making the jump to becoming a full-time artist. An important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It is something that many creatives go through. The worry that someone won’t like your art or that you aren’t as good as other artists is very common, but something you need to realise does not matter. It is important to realise that even though not everyone may enjoy your work, many people do and you deserve to be paid for the effort and the value you are providing people.

Challenge Yourself:

If you’re always painting in watercolour, try some oil painting. If you make detailed sketches, try some abstract, modern painting. It might not be your favourite style but challenging yourself to do something different from the norm can be really rewarding. You can learn new techniques and if it’s something you’ve never done before it can really help you to learn how to overcome creative obstacles. Also by trying a new style you have nothing to worry about because it’s okay if it doesn’t go well as there are no pressures to show anyone what you’ve created. On the other hand you may discover a new talent or love for a new medium that you didn’t have before.

Stay Positive:

Potentially one of the hardest things to do, but one of the most important: stay positive. If something does go wrong mid way through your next masterpiece, don’t give up. Analyse the situation and see what you can do. Chances are it is fixable or you can change the direction that you were heading in and create a completely different, yet wonderful, piece of art. It is all about not giving in to the feeling that you can’t do it. There is no harm in stopping the piece of work to go back to it at a later date when you may be able to put another perspective on it. A good way to stay positive is to surround yourself with other people and artists who can encourage your efforts and offer help and advice when you need it.

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