I was recently an artist-in-residence in Northern California where I had the chance to learn letterpress along with other printmaking techniques. All the processes I learned were brand new to me and I enjoyed the challenge of incorporating them into my oeuvre. After twelve intense days of printmaking, the residency culminated in a public exhibition. Because it was such a quick turnaround, I hadn’t really had time to fully resolve one of my pieces and get it to a place where I felt complete. I decided to show it anyway.
Because I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, I started to worry about what other people would think about it and how well it would be received. These were uncomfortable feelings that I hadn’t experienced in a while.
But after taking some time to reflect, I realized that it is important to me that my studio practice continues to grow and change. Staying stagnant or doing the same thing over and over again doesn’t feel energizing to me. There will be times when I make things that I don’t like.
As artists, it’s important for us all to remember that we need to be ok with being uncomfortable. This is what leads to new discoveries or solutions. Sometimes the hardest part of being in the studio is setting our ego aside. You can’t predict how someone will feel about your work and at the end of the day, that isn’t your job. Your job is simply to create.
I invite you to join the conversation. How do you handle feelings of insecurity when they crop up? Share with me and the mindful artist community in the comments below.
