Comments on: Self Doubt: Friend or Foe? < Deep Thought Thursday

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 17:00:51 +0000

Definitely don’t think there’s any use for self-doubt. I used to think I wasn’t legitimate unless I was constantly editing myself and making sure my art was “ready” to be presented. No one ever saw my work that way though. But recently my friend, Micah, and I produced a mini-series about how to enjoy your self-doubt and depression to the fullest. Clearly a success story because now I’m overcoming my self-doubt by posting the links.

Here are the first two episodes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xOREGVnygE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3udGQfeqgg&feature=related

Enjoy.

By: Do It So Good That You Don’t Doubt Yourself Anymore — Art Biz Blog

Do It So Good That You Don’t Doubt Yourself Anymore — Art Biz Blog — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 13:32:23 +0000

[...] it so good that people can’t doubt it [...]

By: Anne Michelsen

Anne Michelsen — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:24:07 +0000

Karen, you and I are exactly in the same place! I’ve struggled for years with that same paralyzing lack of belief that I could make it as an artist. It’s really just a lack of belief in myself, and all it’s done is make me miserable and rip my life apart. I’m finally leaning to own my power and am working on getting up a website (it’s in progress right now) and developing a marketing system. Like you, I regret the lost time but am feeling so much happier and more balanced to be painting again!

By: Dora Ficher

Dora Ficher — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 19:23:54 +0000

Leda, I love this quote as well! Thank you for sharing!

By: Ann Scott

Ann Scott — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:13:49 +0000

I was so intrigued by the book you mentioned I went in search for it and bought it! Thanks for your post I loved what you wrote!

By: Ann Scott

Ann Scott — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 14:09:18 +0000

Ah I love this quote! Thanks for your post…

By: Jenny Schu.

Jenny Schu. — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 18:46:48 +0000

I LOVE the quote that Deb put up here. Thank you for that, it’s getting logged away into my inspiration.
As far as self-doubt, I’m glad I’m not the only one. In the past 2 years actually I have found that instead of searching for praise from colleagues, I have become more involved, therefore noticed more and I have the guts to ask for suggestions or help from those colleagues.
I have a hard time pulling myself out of the self-doubt dumps though. So I am happy to have my guilds and art groups that I keep me pushing my work along.

By: Deb Trotter

Deb Trotter — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 01:06:33 +0000

I tend to either be totally sure of my talent and thrilled with something I have just created – or down in the dumps and plagued with the feeling that a piece just doesn’t work. I believe doubt can nurture an artist’s talent, provided she/he doesn’t allow it to stifle creativity – and I am confident that a little doubt is better than pure, unadulterated (and blind) confidence.

This question reminded me of a favorite quote I discovered on Robert Genn’s Painter’s Keys … “Creativity requires introspection, self-examination, and a willingness to take risks. Because of this, artists are perhaps more susceptible to self-doubt and despair than those who do not court the creative muses.” (Eric Maisel)

By: An Artist's Doubt | Learn to... Art!

An Artist's Doubt | Learn to... Art! — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 19:02:54 +0000

[...] At the Art Biz Blog the other day, Alyson asked a great question: Is self doubt a friend or foe? [...]

By: Leda Miller

Leda Miller — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 18:28:06 +0000

As an accomplished portrait artist friend of mine once said: “I can’t wait until I’m so good that I can have an ego!” A little humility and a tiny bit of self-doubt can go a long way, but too much makes the people around you doubt you too.