" My Problem Is That I AM AFRAID TO PAINT "
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 22 ส.ค. 2020
- This video will be a little bit different than usual. I wanted to share an email that I've received from a subscriber, struggling to find the courage to start painting ! With his permission, I transcribed our correspondance, hoping it can help someone else.
If you happen to be in the same situation, if you have been there but found a way out, don't hesitate to leave a comment for Thomas and all the community !
If you want to share your story with me : www.florentfarges.com/contact
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About me (bio) :
I am an artist living and working in France. I learned the techniques of the Atelier of the Nineteenth century and now I try to share some of my knowledge with the rest of the world, because I think that beauty still has an important role to play in artistic creation. I do mostly drawing and oil painting, and my goal is always to provide techniques and explanations that can be useful to anyone, from beginners to more advanced artists.
The material I use most of the time (not necessarily in this video) :
Drawing
Equipement
✓ Kneaded eraser
✓ Plumb line
✓ Small mirror
✓ An old synthetic brush
✓ Masking tape
✓ Cutter
✓ Sandpaper or sanding block
✓ Mahlstick or Hand rest (DIY)
✓ Level ruler
Graphite
✓ Pencils 2H, HB and 2B
Charcoal
✓ If available: Nitram charcoals (H, HB and B)
!!! Or, if not::
✓ Square Venetian charcoals Lefranc and Bourgeois
✓ Natural charcoal box (check that the heart of the stick is not spongy and hollow)
Black and white chalk
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
✓ Square Conté noir : HB and 2B
✓ Chalk or pencil holder
✓ Pencil sketch Conté Pierre noire : H and HB
Sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté : Blood and blood Medici
✓ Crayon Polychromos Faber-Castel : sanguine
✓ Sketch pencil Conté white
Oil painting
Palette
(Extra-fine paint, recommended brands according to availability: Lefranc Bourgeois, Winsor and Newton, Royal Talens Rembrandt, Sennelier)
✓ Titanium white PW6
✓ Yellow ochre PY42
✓ Burnt Sienna PR101 or PBr7
✓ Venetian red or English red PR101
✓ Permanent Alizarin crimson (Attention: do not use the traditional pigment, which is not very light-fast) PV19 or PR177
✓ Cobalt teal blue PG50
✓ French ultramarine blue PB29
✓ Raw umber PBr7
✓ Burnt umber PBr7
✓ Ivory Black PBk9
Brushes
✓ About ten filbert hog bristle brushes sizes n° 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12
✓ Some flat brushes
✓ Round sable brush or round Kolinsky sable n°10 (from the size of the nail (about one inch) or synthetic imitation
Medium
✓ Linseed stand oil
✓ Odourless mineral spirits
✓ Safflower oil
Surface
✓ Linen canvas, fine grain universal coating
✓ Canson oil-acrylic oil paper Figueras
Others
✓ Palette
✓ Foam and spalter brushes
✓ Palette knife in the shape of a water drop
✓ A few small pots, containers, jars...
✓ Paper towels
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Thanks for watching !
Dear Thomas, your letter has touched me so deeply. I cannot express how much I relate to your story. The rare and precious sketches or drawings that you preserve as if they were your life. An immense amount of money spent on art supplies that were destined to be barely used once. It all comes to this impossibility of moving forward in the production, while being abysmally scared of moving forward with the underpainting. A canvas with your proudest brush strokes lays there while you stare it unshakably, with the wish of painting over it. You feel enthusiastic for trying something that you learned from a video; you prepare the canvas, the paints, the oils, the fine brushes and yet again fall down defeated by the white canvas.
I hope that you will take Florent's advice. I will certainly paint with more confidence. Thank you for the great video!
Anna xd, same here! Recently I have started using this words in everything I do...may that be cooking, sewing or painting..."I have "everything"! haah, as I have been out of my own activities due to sickness in the house, have made me wondering, 'Is this me? I was not like this before...I never hesitated starting anything, period of time was not a problem for me, even I would wake up at midnight, I would get up and start working on my unfinished task,,,may that be my painting or filing my papers or any task...but now I just keep postponing chores and do only what is a must! But I want to get back to be ME. I am happy I saw this youtube video by accident and I am inspired!
Hi Anna, thanks for Thomas ! His experience is certainly every artist's experience at some point. It resonates with all of us somehow !
@@FlorentFargesarts
Thanks to Thomas for having expressed what is deeply in my mind too and occured frustration, anxiety and... anger and frustration.. And thanks to you Florent, for bringing the words to facing them.
Sketching is doing the trick for me slowly. I read this tip from somewhere else: do ANYTHING, say 5 or 15 minutes a day but do it consistently. To practice getting started. I started drawing to a small A5 sketchbook every time my laptop starts up - it takes 2-3 minutes.
Also, I started praising myself when I fail - lol. Especially if I keep going when I fail. That's the hardest part. I learn nothing from drawing what I'm good at. It doesn't even make me feel satisfied because I WANT to learn and to develop. To try stuff, to be creative. Instead of copying the same poses over and over again.
When something turns out just really bad, that means I pushed my limits. Then I might for example try the same thing again 2-3 times, feel EXTREMELY frustrated, go away, come back to it later and see the good in it.
If you can, share everything with a friend. Even your worst sketches. Or keep your stupid sketches. Only then you can compare your progress!!
Acknowlege you're a beginner - and keep that attitude. There's never a time you SHOULD have learned something already. Skills always get rusty.
These have worked for me but we're all different. Still, like Florent says : go at your fears. Fail as much as you can. Then do it again. As long as you pick up your pen/brush again. That is more than enough because it's terrifying. THAT, the courage, the struggle is what you need to praise yourself for. Not the results. As Florent says the best artworks are a minority - they will never happen if you don't create the bad ones. If you're perfectionistic you are so driven already the results will always come, as long as you just do something.
Oh - and do croquis!! It's terrifying!! It will show you everything you suck at. But it WILL force you to focus on what you're doing instead of how good it is. It will teach you to take a new page instead of fiddling. It will help you to release tension in your strokes. And the progress is so quick especially once you start. It feels like a cold shower, you feel refreshed and strong afterwards haha.
When my 17 year old daughter, a talented and passionate artist, became pregnant, had to quit school and give up a scholarship to study art at University, her principal said to us.
"Art is who you are. Your life is art. Everything you touch will be artistic. Always see your everyday life as a tribute to your art, by seeing beauty and meaning in everything you do. Making peanut butter and jelly sandwhiches for your kids, arranging a closet, mowing the lawn, creating a garden....and when the day comes when you can return to the pigments and brushes, you will have a masters degree in LIFE to bring to the canvas. Moments are never lost for an artist."
Wow! This principal spoke life & hope to your daughter! I will remember these powerful words!
This is beautiful!
What a wonderful way to live the daily hum drum of life. As art.
Beautiful
Yes!
‘The only time paint is wasted is when it’s in the tube’ :)
Love this!
Omg that’s so beautiful 😭😭😂
I love it, so true🙌
Wow i love it!!
so true!
Someone once said, "If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I would spend the first six hours sharpening my axe." I spent more than 30 years sharpening my axe; buying art supplies, reading art books, and thinking that someday I would paint again. My sweet wife encouraged me one day to just get my supplies out of the storage. You don't have to do anything with them, just get them out, she said. I got them out and started painting. Now I'm sufficiently hooked that I must draw or paint whenever I have the time. If a painting isn't going well, I simply put it aside, out of sight, and move on to the next. 6-12 months later, while rummaging through my unfinished works, I find one that I'm ready to finish because I have developed the skills to finish it. I create because I want to leave a legacy that lives on when I'm gone. My hope is that my great grandchild will proudly hang one of my paintings on their wall and say, "My great grandpa painted this." Thank you for the video Florent. You are an inspiration.
J. Reed Me too 👍❤️
Thanks for sharing this thought. It really got to me as well - the whole metaphore with the axe and sharpening, but not going at the tree.
good read sir 🙌hope u doing well
Smart wife!
This is so beautiful I started to tear up 🌼
I swear this letter from Thomas sounded like I wrote it myself, down to having a studio full of supplies which rarely get touched. Thank you for this so very much.
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter that you succeed, it matters that you do. Because the alternative is that there is nothing. The canvas remains blank forever and what good is this?" - Words to live by. Thank You!
I feel like this quote needs to be memorialized on a placard or something. It is profound!
Me too
I needed to see this. Thank you
Yes, but I'm tired of producing work that doesn't please me = rubbish mostly. I've been through a mega home AND country move and my flow has been seriously disrupted, I keep trying but am finding it extremely difficult, also because my back & neck are now even more injured & painful. I do keep trying though...
@@jennyhughes4474 if you keep pushing through the valley of despair, you'll eventually come through to a place of contentment.
Chin up, keep the faith. Or as my late mother always told me, "now darlin', everything's gonna be alright."
I'm not a fan of picasso, but this quote is golden.
"A blank canvas is the worst thing an artist can face"
Its not empty canvas for me, its half finished one.
It's when I get all the base colours down and then look at it. It looks like a horrible blob that is unsaveable. Now if I stick with it it might turn into something, but for that one horrible moment it feels like all hope is lost. Sometimes I end up putting that piece down for weeks before I have the courage to go back to it. Sometimes I never go back to that piece...it's a struggle for sure.
@@antemercep8844 Completely agree. People ask me all the time, isn't the blank canvas so intimidating? Not at all I say. Finishing canvases at various levels of completion is always the challenge!!
I just show up. It works.
Adams Artist This has been my biggest challenge! I am working through a painting I started several months ago. The base was easy, but filling in has been my hurdle.
The tears don’t stop falling from my eyes, thank you so much. I quit art school, stopped painting for more than a year I even bought more materials but the fear of starting something was bigger, I still don’t have the courage to paint but I definitely don’t going to give up, I really appreciate this again thank you.
Pola, I feel the same way, I was crying my eyes out, it expressed me so well. I have the same problem. I think I may try to paint every day or so, and at least 30 min. I think even our failures will lead us to art that makes us feel good. I wish all the best for you (and me), I think we can do it
i struggle with starting to paint. a good practice that helped me is to just sit in front of the canvas (or table) without distractions, neither big spectations, and since the only thing to do is painting, then i paint.
is not failproof, but is eases a lot of the pressure, take it easy, enjoy it. you may need to establish an hour (to form an habit) or do it with somebody else. but don't expect a transformation from one day to the next, these things take time, so patience is also a valuable thing to learn
I feel the exact same way. I used to be so proud of my art and looked forward to selling them and then I got super depressed around 17 and ever since then I’ve just bought more and more supplies and have done nothing with them. My husband loves my art and he wants me to get back to it but I’m afraid to start again.
Dang i thought I'm the only one that struggling with this kind of problem. In my case it's digital painting. I'm really afraid of failure and seeing people's art makes me want to quit.
I'm glad that you guys not giving up on yourself and that kinda inspired me to start making a digital painting again
15 years ago I had a breakdown. One day I went to the studio of a good friend. No idea why. She is a supremely talented sculptor with works visible in many places that you will have seen. She saw my distress and sat me down with a steel frame, clay, and skull. I took a day to complete the skull sculpture. She told me to come back again which I did. She set me up with mirrors, tools, calipers. Told me to do a self portrait. I think it was about 6 days later I sat back and looked at what I had done. And promptly burst into tears because I was looking at myself. I had given birth to myself. I was so proud of it. Then my negativity hit. It was just luck. I could never do one as good again so I won't try. It would only be a disappointment. I finally did another this year in lockdown. Better!. Don't make my mistake of being afraid to make mistakes.
This topics should be more discussed by the artists. There’s so much going on under the creative process
yea
Very good advice. Good luck
I know! I have one year stuck.
Yes, I agree. I will do my best to address this topic in my next videos. Thank you for the idea 💜🙏
@@georginabach1442 Read the book "The Artist's way", by Julia Cameron. Her passion is unblocking the creative flow in people and artists. I hope this helps. I will also try to address this in my future videos. I hope to see you around ✌️💜
So...art supplies hoarding is a thing, aparently. I feel less of an dummy now, thanks for this.
It's not really hoarding. To be an oil painter, a huge amount of art supplies are genuinely needed. Including supplies from different mediums for sketching out ideas & studies. It is a lot.
I think we just didn't know how deep the rabbit hole was when we started.
Art materials are so wonderful to behold, then the hunger to possess them, the dream to create with them, then reality sidetracks . . .
I've literally been trying to clean/declutter my room up for several years now...only to conclude yesterday that most of my things are art supplies....supplies that I would like to use one day to create something to sell... unfortunately, my "one day" was supposed to be many years ago, but...I must admit that I'm afraid to even start creating something...even though I have many MANY ideas. :-(
Ahhhhh!
@@hyacinthdibley2420 I fully understand. I have been where you are now!!!
hyacinthdibley2 I also have lots of ideas!
All my life I’ve wanted to paint, especially portraits but I never got the nerve to try, I studied design and have made a career from it but what I really wanted to be was an artist.... Thomas, I was in my sixties when I finally thought if I didn’t start it might be too late. I can’t tell you the joy I have felt, seeing that with each painting I am learning....will I ever sell a painting or be in a museum, probably not but I have had the support of my family and seen how proud they are of my efforts, that’s my prize...When my little granddaughter asks if she can paint with me & we sit side by side, painting and creating memories . I wasted way too many years afraid to try, looking at professional artist and comparing my efforts.....I couldn’t even take a class for fear of not measuring up but now there is TH-cam & artist like Florent who are so generous with their knowledge and talent, no judgement, just great content and encouragement......thank you Florent!
i haven’t painted for about six months now, sometimes i sketch but that’s all i ever do, whenever i painted in the past i struggled to get past the first layers in fear of ruining the piece. i’ve never heard someone discuss this topic and thought i was the only one struggling like this especially when i follow so many artists on instagram who appear to mass produce paintings every week. i really appreciate that you talked about this even though i still don’t know how to get past my fear of painting, i currently have a new set of gouache i got at the start of quarantine still sitting unopened in my cupboard :/
It happen to me a lot when i sketch or paint.. i arrive to a point that i am so scared to ruin the piece that im just afraid to continue. But you know what i put asidr and start something else..couple days later i have like a better look at it...and fuck it man sometimes its not perfect nobody cares dude ...just have fun.
Hi Niamh,
I’ve gone through times like this. Just recently I started painting again, with Gouache actually. Side not gouache is an amazing paint that you can do so much with. What I’ve learned from art school, experiences, and other peoples views is that you just have to do it. I’ve been where you are, where you start a piece and then stop because your afraid to ruin it. I’ve sketched pieces so many times that I love and then decide to go another step by painting it and I absolutely ruin it and it ends up in the garbage. What you need to keep in the front of your brain is that I’m going to create something even better than that and then I’m going to try again with paint. If that one gets ruined then you do it again and again. At some point you are going to paint something that is beautiful to you whether it looks like what you pictured or not. What I have to do sometime since I’m so eager is that you have to sleep on it, wait a day before you start painting your piece. Sometime even days. Make sure that you really want to paint it, come up with a little plan or just let it flow and come naturally. The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other artist. What you create and how fast you do is on your own time. Someone might be able to make a mass production of paintings and you might not be able to, that is okay. The people that we see on social media live totally different lives, we don’t know how long they’ve been doing what they have, or how fast they pick up on something. It might take you a few months to get the hang of painting and get over your fear, for someone else it could take years. Everyone is on their own path and on their own time. Don’t rush anything. Just start painting, keep every mess up and learn from it, take breaks and come back with fresh eyes. We only learn by doing it over and over.
I didn't search for this, but it answered the question I have been pondering for a really long time. Fear of failure has stopped me from achieving so many things, but I never had the guts to accept it. My unused guitar, keyboard, stacks of paint and brushes are proof for that. I hope people who read this, find it in them to finish that one thing they wanted to master without fearing failure 🖤. Thank you so much for this video❤
I bought watercolors for Christmas. I didn't open them until June. I have little background in drawing and painting, but many in my family are artists. I thought that I would start out with a class. Didn't realize how expensive art supplies are especially pandemic.
@@rubyred794 I don't do the avoidance tactics.
I've dabbled with painting and given up; but what you said brought immediately to my mind "the violin" that you have that has lain idle for almost 3 years. I have much music in my background - piano since about the age of 10 (I am 80 now) and an Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer (30 years) and took group lessons for 5 year on the "fiddle" but gave up at a time when I did have an excuse (caring for a husband who had been stricken with blood clots in a leg, surgery, rehab, etc.) and needed my time. But the truth if I can admit it is that there could have been 30 minutes each day to just go sit outside and play - scales, tunes I already know, etc. and I would not have lost the skill I had gained. But I didn't and now have been wondering if I should just sell the thing and forget it. My choice, after reading this, is not to get rid of it but to pick up where I left off and use the time I have left here to enjoy the gift of music through my fiddle. Thank you for writing. You are an inspiration to me.
@@Gospelmama1940 I took care of my mother for 10 years, and I didn't read or do anything constructive. I think that it is very difficult to take care of someone without help. I also worked part time. The last couple of years, Mother told me to buy a kayak, because I wasn't the type to stay at home and play on the computer. I would go once a month for about an hour to a nearby river. I wish that I had thought of painting or photography! I probably did but my art looks like a 2nd grader. Both are expensive.
@@Gospelmama1940 Don't sell it. Play, play, play! I know a couple of women who are in their upper nineties and still drive!
I spent years stuck... had 30 blank moleskines on my cabinet.. waiting for me to "get better" so they can be properly used... Then one day.. I started drawing on absolutely everything... and painting, and carving... and then... after 2 years of making art every single day I opened my cabinet and there were no more empty moleskines... they were all full... and on top of them, piles of watercolor paintings.. and wood carved prints, and doodles... The thing is, for me, the most important thing I did was quit waiting to get better so I could... well... get better at stuff. Murder your blank sketchbook pages, cotton papers and canvases... just murder them with no remorse.
Wow thank you, this is very motivating. I also have several completely blank sketchbooks I don't use because I think I'm not good enough to use them. I'm always waiting for me to get better before I can use them, but you're right. I hope your comment will help me realize that and use it every time I want to but in the past was afraid my skills weren't worthy of drawing in a sketchbook.
Yes very motivating. I like the murder thing because most of the time we treat the blank canvas with tender and loving care.
I had a bad habit of buying beautiful sketchbooks that I would never use. But now I usually go into old gas stations and look for ancient yellowed notebooks to draw on, which I find less intimidating
This is what I needed to read! Thank you!
Love this sooo much. Gawd, all those precious sketchbooks, all that ‘good stuff’ I still hold on a pedestal, tucked away safely until I’m worthy...which I never think will happen.
“Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.”
Victor Kiam
when you said ''I think you are afraid of the potential within yourself. It's dying to be expressed but you're afraid of what might come out'' I just started crying because I have never been able to think like that and I am so happy knowing that there are a lot of people with who I can share my pain.
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it."
-Henry Ford
Thanks, I think I need to remember that one!
Jesse Jzette Art Perfect ❤️
Hello from South Africa 🇿🇦 I have now been painting for 60 years and feel I have a specific hand writing. I approach a canvas fearlessly because that's the only way to paint. It doesn't matter if u are afraid just start ! Big brushes lots of paint and see where your hand takes you... courage my dear is all you need.... paint for You and only you. Pull the magic from your brain its all there.
"There is no way to pull yourself by the hair out of the swamp, you must dive in... swim as deep as you can, and bounce back once you hit the bottom."
These are the words I needed to hear being that I'm in the same position.
That’s deep and meaningful
I know that my comments will eventually become lost amongst the muddle of the other 900 or so more salient thoughts about this video. But I have to say that the title literally screamed at me! I have longed to paint and when I heard Thomas' heartfelt cry it resonated with mine. But as of yet I have not gathered the courage to even approach a canvas board of feel the smoothness of oils beneath my fingertips. So I color. I guess one would coin me a "Colorist." My favorite colored pencils are ones composed of highly pigmented oils. And yes all of my friends can tell when I use wax pencils as opposed to my deeply rich oil based pencils. My heart literally wept with the words of Thomas, for they are mine too. And too, my heart smiled when I knew that you, Florent, took the time to write him back! What a kind soul you are! Haven be touched deeply by the message of this video has given me the courage to visit my local art supply store, venture down a different aisle, and begin my journey into the deep water of art! Thank you for this gift!
CreamintheCoffee - no, your message has not been lost among the 900 other messages. In fact, your message has just given me a massive boost of motivation. Just what I needed. Thank you and I hope you are enjoying the good art again. Kind regards.
Dear Thomas, thank you for reminding me that what happens on the canvas is reflection of what happens in life. Thank you making the world more meaningful.
Oh my gosh. I could have written that letter myself 😭
I hear you! Thomas, we are their too, i even uploaded some of my works, hoping that i might get some thoughts to it. And maybe i will feel i can do it. Lost my way.
isn't it amazing to find out suddenly that it is not just me! There are so many who are passing through the same phase like I do! Let's get inspired with such a wonderful message from the video and share our progress! Wishing you good luck.
Yes, me too.
I am literally sitting here with tears streaming down my face. I feel the same anguish. The letter and response was exactly what I needed to hear. Much love 💕 thank you both.
This touched my heart. Thank you so much to Thomas for having the vulnerability to share his story, it was as though I was hearing my story told by another.
And, thank you Florent for sharing your beautiful advice and inspiring video.
All the best to both of you, and to everyone else out there who is struggling - May we all find our way out of the darkness.
I'm so shocked that this made me cry so easily. I never had the words to articulate why I couldn't "art" at times. This expressed just the feeling. Watching this video is something I never knew I needed to hear and I'm so grateful to have stumbled upon it. Thank you.
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I'm crying for sooooo many different reasons right now. But i needed this. Thank you both, Florent and Thomas.
Same here...
I like this a lot... I always just thought why I didn't paint more or do more drawings was because I'm lazy. But it really is fear and intimidation. It takes a lot of effort to set up your supplies, find the time to paint for a long time, and all you want is the paint something perfect. And when it isn't you just want to give up. I just started a larger painting today and I am committed to finishing it!
I can’t believe I broke down hearing this. I relate with this on so many levels. This is exactly what I’ve been feeling inside lately and was unable to put into words that what is it that actually is stopping me from painting. I’ve always known that it is the fear of facing failure. But I’ve lately convinced myself that “Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.”
I understand all to well what that fear is like. I heard a quote that really touched me. I have it written down in all my sketch books so I remember. It is from Seth Godin
Art is what we call the thing an artist does. Its not the medium or the oil or the price or weather it hangs on a wall or you eat it. What matters, what makes it art, is that the person who made it overcame the resistance, ignored the voice of doubt and made something worth making. Something risky, something human. Art is not in the eye of the beholder. It is in the soul of the artist.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this!
Thank you for sharing this wonderful quote!!
Thanks really needed those words
A similar quote from Luis Borges in which he answers a question about what he thinks about poetry and he says "Poetry is the act which takes place when the writer writes it and the reader reads it"
Its never just the words, or in this case, its never just the finished painting which might be hung on a wall.👌👌
Thank you for sharing that!
This brought tears to my eyes. I can't believe there's someone out there who has the exact feelings and struggles as I do. This has encouraged me so much, thank you Florent.❤
The fear of failure stops many of us from trying. I have done so many arts and crafts successfully over the years but seemed to go no where financially. I felt like a failure over and over. I would sit at craft fairs wishing I was selling what the booth next to me was selling, as they seemed to be making more money. Your words that the canvas remains blank forever are so profound. I am currently trying to find my voice in painting. It’s time for me to stop with my internal excuses and pick up the brush and just paint.Thank you for your encouragement. You have brought light to a darkened room.
As a beginning painter who is still struggling with how to get the paint on the canvas without making an unholy mud pie, this video was just what I needed. Thank you.
Thank you Thomas for putting in words what I was feeling in the depths of my frustration. And thank you Florent for giving the most inspiring and helpful response for anyone that is having this troublesome experiences, like myself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Vinicius Paolini I second this. This is exactly me and I so badly want to do, I always find the excuse to do nothing. This video was amazing and I’m going to do. There is no failure in learning and I am going to learn. Thank you for this video
Yes, dear, I too felt the same.
Such a great topic! What beautiful words and conversation! For all of my artist friends here, I highly recommend the book "The Artist's Way", by Julia Cameron. Her passion and purpose is unblocking artists and people who want to find their creativity. I wish you all to be inspired and fearless in all of your creative endeavors! ✌️💜 much love
This video appeared in my feed at a time when I've been facing this. Actually, I've been facing this for 30 years. I did attend art school briefly when I was 18 but could not continue because of the cost. I tried to continue to paint but I lost my way. Here I am at 56 trying to get back. I recently had someone telling me the only way to overcome the lack of self-confidence was to paint every day. Thank you for your video and letting me know it's ok to fail because that is the way to learn.
You have written my exact thoughts.
I am 56 and just recently "found" painting. I've never been happier. I create for for the sheer exploration of what happens NEXT. And selling my work is great because I can buy more paint and canvases :-)
@ Lisa Ares ~ Maybe not so much 'failing' as still learning...??
I love the part that say, "see how far you can push it until it's good enough for the trash" :)
So true.... four years ago I had the courage to decide that I wanted to go to art school, it scared me so much! Making art scared me so much, I always felt uncomfortable with other people seeing my work because they would know what a fake I was and that I wasn’t any good at all! Being at art school didn’t teach me the correct things to do to make “good” work, it gave me the space and resources to experiment and figure out for myself what “good” was, and what brought me joy to make... for three of the past four years I was dissatisfied and embarrassed of the work I made... until one day, one day I made a small piece of sculpture in very quick time and boom! There infront of me for the first time was something that was true to me! I loved it! And nobody else could have made it. I’m just at the beginning of my life long journey and i still get nervous and worried I’ll fail, but then I remind myself to trust what is inside me and to keep going forward and I am rewarded (not all the time) and it is a joy to live like this. Good luck and trust in yourself x
If the outcome matters too much, matters more than the process of doing the painting, more than being active, being creative and productive - then you'll be stuck and fearful. But if you develop the want to just be active instead of being done, instead of being a master painter already who has nothing to learn anymore - then it is more likely that you will actually paint. And only when you actually paint, you will start to really read and use your painting books. Also put away most of the stuff you gathered, that's overwhelming you, and only start with a limited amount of painting materials. Make the most out of very few colours and one brush. Have fun, learn, be active as often as possible.
Lisa Zoe that is so true! If the outcome matters too much there’s a lot of pressure and if I fail then I’m a failure.
Thanks Lisa!!
Thank you, Lisa. You hit the nail on the head there. The "doing" needs to be most important. It's just so easy to forget that.
Yes, gathering just the paints and brushes I need and working fewer parts of the painting helps me. Starting with smaller 'pieces of the puzzle', so to speak. After accomplishing the particular areas, I find it difficult to stop! Because if I can do THAT little bit, I have EnCourage-ment!, and only want to keep going to find and see the outcome! This time I am pleasantly surprised. I painted a small canvas of a sky, sun, ocean, beach and palm trees. 🌴⛅🌴 I love it!! I was always afraid of forming the palm trees. But I say if I never try, I will never see satisfaction. Now I want to paint same with larger canvas!! I did it!! Like Nike; Just Do It!!😀 🐎
Thank you so much Lisa, this is exactly what I needed to hear. I've been in this rut for so long that I've forgotten what it felt like to not feel that weight on my chest every time I even think about art, but I think I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. This was worded beautifully and I feel like I'm beginning to understand the fear that has followed me through every single one of my hobbies and endeavours ever since I can remember. Seriously, thank you.
I suggest to the writer of the letter to try digital painting. It will help you to get over the fear, since you can always use "undo" & "save version" to keep your incremental work. One thing that I do, when painting in oil, is take a photo, put it in photoshop (or Krita which is free if you prefer) then I develop it a bit to see what direction I want to go. Then once happy, go back to oil
Scarlet very interesting! This is a process I haven't learned about yet (I'm old :-D ).
Ditto Thomas; I too relate to your experience. I'm 64yrs old and recently retired providing greater opportunity to play with paints. I have lived my life with ADHD (so have a Masters Degree in procrastination) and I recognise your difficulties in my behaviours. Thank you Florent for your logical advise and encouragement. Hey guys, we have nothing to loose and everything to gain! I'm ready. Enjoy. Bron x
What makes failure almost unbareble? The way we interpret it, the way we talk to ourselves about it. We are not afraid of failure, we are afraid of ourselves. The good news is, we can control that. The fear of failure is a invitation to be kinder to ourselves. You are worthy, you can not fail. ❤
Watching the video, reading the comments, and reflecting on this a moment...
This whole conversation fortifies for me that there is something about art that is so much more than our brush strokes. It's deeper and bigger than any one of us, but yet it comes from with in each one of us.
He's right... you have to start with your "why".
And any "failures" are only failures if you take no lessons from them.
Don't think of it as a failure. It's an opportunity.
Also, oil paints can be very forgiving. Step back from your work often to evaluate it as a whole.... oil paint will let you make adjustments or corrections.
Life is short. And they say that our biggest regrets in our final moments on Earth are often not the things we did.... but the things we didn't do.
He's just afraid to fail, simple as that. Unfortunately how you learn is by working on a painting really hard, only to have it fail. Sometimes it fails because you overworked it, kept painting when the light had changed or when you were tired or when you're palette and brushed needed to be cleaned or you needed to put out more paint and mix better but you just kept dipping into what you had, or you stopped looking at your subject to study and only looked at the painting. And you would have been better off to face it to the wall and leave it alone and come back with fresh eyes. Then you often see immediately what to fix. You will never have success if you worry about messing up a pretty underpainting or detail. Those things dont make a picture any more than one scene makes a film. Work on something until you absolutely hate it and set it aside, it's the only way to learn and eventually you will make something you don't hate.
I think that what Thomas and Florent are talking about goes beyond the technical issues and the knowhow ..
@ Steve E. Brown ~ Perfect word picture of my own method. I've over-painted 'pics' so often that they are so bad they can only get better. Doing something right, once I stop for a break.
Afraid to fail when the only thing to do is breathing
Sometimes it’s so hard to paint on the canvas because you’ve spent so much time painting what it could look like in your mind. Fear is real but you are so right. Sometimes you have to allow yourself to sink so you can force yourself to swim. This was a beautiful video!
Wow! I am actually speechless ... and that doesn't happen often! Thank you, Thomas for writing and Florent for the inspirational reply!
I related to that letter so much it shocked me. I was considering giving up my art career entirely. So strange because I know my gift is just that a gift . I will try that small study toss away idea...I think somewhere down the line all my paintings became too big to fail (not literally big but as great as my early work which to me was majic). Hopefully we get past this and this stupid pandemic
This really resonated with me. I think that's my problem I think I have this gift and then when it doesn't look like how I pictured it in my head I think but I have a gift what happened? I'm no good. It definitely doesn't help that now I need reading glasses too. My daughter, who is really good at her art says it's not a gift its hard work and she gets angry if someone tells her shes gifted or talented. She makes a lot more art than me so maybe that's the trick!
Oh no! Don't give up. Please. I start to feel like I'm failing sometimes and think I should just give up, but I always recover eventually. A few times I've kicked myself when I get back to work because I tossed some things out and was very sorry. I like that expression: "too big to fail." It really does feel that way. Your words helped me because I know I'm not alone in this. Thank you.
@ L.R Evans ~ While you rate your gift as a gift I rate mine as a hand-me-down left-over from my real-artist eldest sister.
I got over this by realizing that a so called "finished" painting is never finished until you are happy with it. There is nothing wrong with constantly painting over some or all of it. Sometimes I used "failed" paintings as a back round for collage which I continue to paint on and around. Collage has helped me break through the fear of painting. Also keeping an art journal. Your honesty is appreciated
tree painting in 6 different ways --------> th-cam.com/video/hUbwvRT8vUU/w-d-xo.html
I was like you Thomas and occasionally I relapse, but this time I decided to push myself and overcome my fear of ruining a painting by looking for tutorials. This time I found Florent and his video for you. How many decades have all of the people in these comments struggled? Let’s cheer each other on; onwards and upwards!
I don't paint or "do art," but the advice in this video touches me with regards to my own fear of failure. The concept of the empty canvas will, hopefully, stay with me a long time.
Thank you!
Stop thinking of painting as a lifestyle and realize it is an activity like many others, a craft. Learned over time. Keep churning them out and excellence will follow. Excellence is ALSO 90 percent perspiration. I couldn’t stop painting, drawing, making pots, building sculptures if I tried. Luckily I don’t have to stop! Everyone should start their daily tasks with HUGE humility. Your painting is not going to change the world. But it will do wonders for your vision of the world, and it will help to establish your place in it. You and your paintings are not that important. Now THAT is freedom! Just do your work. Who else can do it for you?
sandra4999san Love your observation that painting is an activity not a lifestyle. So very true.
Thank you.
Starting the day with humility.
But at least starting..i feel. So ashamed of not expressing ny inner voice for decades
I feel so behind
Natural Silver hair Living the silver life style - Not behind just where your whole life’s journey has brought you. I’m silver haired too. These are our golden years.
The essence of art. I'm in a similar position and I've had many successes and I still get what I can only describe as a type if stage fright that stalls the execution of work. They say that you're your own worst enemy. That's cool to think of when you feel your standards are higher than anyone else but that can still set up a wall that blocks you from reaching the other-side. God, I know it's hard sometimes, especially when you're experimenting with something that makes asking for help or encouragement difficult to find people that can get what's in your mind. Even my parents would tell me that no one, not even them is ever going to see reality the same. I guess the only thing well can do is explain what's there. If we don't then no one will ever see what's over that proverbial hill.
Wonderful advice for all creative activities. We can become so afraid of making mistakes that we stop trying altogether. If you look at young children, they will try, fail, learn from the mistake and try again. That is how we learn - embracing failure as the wonderful opportunity it is to learn and grow. Somehow, as we age we lose the ability to celebrate failure and come to fear it instead. Chris Baty, the creator of Nanowrimo (national novel writing month) and author of "No plot? No problem!" said "“The quickest, easiest way to produce something beautiful and lasting is to risk making something horribly crappy.” I teach psychology for a living, and we talk about this in class, how perfectionism stifles creativity. It's important to remember that amazing artists like Florent and Eric Tischler didn't achieve their success through sheer talent alone, but with many hours of hard work. I love how you say it matters that you paint something instead of nothing - a perfect response to dealing with that nagging "it's not going to be good enough" fear so many of us face.
Thank you for causing me to look at and understand my “Why.”
Basically, it is so that I can understand the world better; to see it more deeply. To appreciate the beauty that I didn’t understand until I spent time looking at it in a new way. Like the beauty of smudges of charcoal. Or the meditative and fun effect that acrylic pouring has, very freeing and zen. (Also, very good for conquering your fear of making art).
I also see things that didn’t exist before, as the paint can form an infinite number of shapes, colors, compositions... so my life is always filled with something new, that didn’t exist before. I feel richer, because my life is so full of newness. And playfulness. And a deeper understanding, from looking deeply at things. It slows me down, and teaches me to appreciate the shapes and shadows of the most boring things around me, like the highlight on the lock of my doorknob. I get lost studying it. Without art, I would never see the rainbow hidden in that little bit of reflected light, or notice the way the light and shadow falls on that shape of metal.
Also, art reminds me that life can be fun. It can be about creating. Not just work and stress.
And finally, if I don’t speak my words and draw my visions, the world will never see or hear them. I have a unique perspective, because we each do. Whatever I can create, that’s unique to me, I want to make, because that’s beauty that won’t exist unless I make it happen. The world would never see it. So I make it. And I appreciate myself better, as I see myself reflected in the art (which is good for someone with low self confidence). I get to know myself better, through my art. And I can be known more fully, if those who know me, can also see my art, because I’ve made it. I want to be understood for who I am. And I want to see and appreciate all that I can.
Great video as usual! :)
I'm in the same situation. I find it difficult because I don't want to 'waste' good quality art materials painting something I am not 100% happy with.
I know it is crazy and irrational and I suspect it is an excuse for a deeper fear. You hit the nail on the head when you said you need a reason, I think that is the key for a lot of lost artists.
I cannot afford "quality" art supplies...I still forge ahead with what I've got!
I have never had much in the way of "quality" materials. Buy some cheap paint--paint on Dollar store canvasses, cardboard, garbage sketchbooks--whatever--enjoy the ride! (Save the good paint for your masterpieces--later!) Love to you! xx
Totally agree with Louisa. Had the same thoughts when using expensive supplies so I scrapped that. Started out with buying a huge block of those little note papers and did tiny sketches with the intent of the object being recognisable and the sketch being overly ugly. From there on I had some kind of pathway to some kind of artistic confidence... maybe something like this works for you as well, since I felt exactly the same way as you
Eric Tischler well said 👏🏽
That's exactly what I've been thinking for years. What a waist of this beautiful materials....
Paint small, paint daily, set a timer. I prefer finishing something in one sitting, otherwise, the painting sits on the easel and nags at me.
Great point Dian. Also, I find when I come back to the painting much later, my initial impetus and feeling for that painting is GONE with the wind!
I do it exactly the other way around. I start a new painting / drawing always before I finish the last one. Therefore I have a constant flow of doing something instead of falling into the trap of pausing the overall painting because I am finished the last unfinished piece.
@@muadrico I'm loving this idea too! Thanks for the great tip!
Good advice!
Hi Dian, that's great advive ! I'm the complete opposite, I love huge pieces, like a mountain to climb, knowing it will take me months to finish. But ultimately, I work in a similar manner, I paint a little piece of the canvas every day, like it's a new small painting every day.
This touched me so deeply. I have been drawing since I was a child, and I stopped drawing and trying to paint because I kept hitting a brick wall, I looked for every excuse not to start something, chores that I needed to do first and all because I was afraid to fail, because in each failure I saw "I'm not good enough", I have been looking for some guidance for such a long time, thank you
This was inspiring. This is my brain! Gathering all the art things, doing research upon research, gathering ideas to paint and then being paralyzed by the fear of failure. I find it's worse after a few really great paintings. It's like a looming sense of "well that's all you have in you" and then I'm proved right. This is a video I need to watch more often.
As a self taught painter starting in the late 90's, this is the best I've ever heard it put into words.
Thank you Thomas for being the voice of many of the artists and creatives within the comments section here. I feel so much less alone navigating my exit from art paralysis by hearing your letter and reading the comments. Thank you everyone!
P.S. I wanted to share a tool that has been helping me with my art paralysis. I committed to dedicate at least one hour every weekday, and that has helped me a lot in overwhelming art projects I procrastinate on. I repeat to myself on the way to the canvas "Baby steps. Just one more baby step today. It's only an hour. You can leave after the hour if you want. You are also welcome to stay if you want. Just one baby step hour. You can do one hour." I'm not perfect at the everyday part of this hour a day commitment, but I have gained a little more confidence seeing all the baby steps adding up over time. I'm 80% done my painting now and still TERRIFIED of the last 20%! Alas, another baby step tomorrow!
This is such a good reveal. Facing our fears of failure is the hardest part of being an artist. One of the things that gave me courage was realizing that every Picasso is not good, or every Matisse. Some are brilliant and some are meh, but they just kept working.
I rarely ever comment on any online post of any sort...TH-cam, Facebook, Instagram...nothing. I'm very private but felt prompted to comment on this post as this video moved me...to tears... because everything Thomas wrote applies to me right now. Thank you for your sage advice to Thomas, Florent. And thank you Thomas for your vulnerability to ask your question. My easel is 12 inches away from me as I write this comment...with a piece I've been working on for almost a week...it's not a complicated piece but I'm fighting all the negative voices as I work and rework portions of this painting with long interludes of finding "other" things to do...all the while those constant voices are telling me I'm no good. I will post this response, turn to my canvas, and commit to the hard work of painting with the idea of progressing rather than trying to be perfect. I have much to learn about painting and I am thankful for teachers like you, Florent, that help me on this journey!
I wish I could hit the like button a thousand times!!! That was amazing!! I am, well as of tomorrow turning 47!! Only about a year ago I was playing around painting with my 3 year old grand daughter.. and I surprised myself with what came out on the canvas!! I just had cheap dollar store stuff that I was using to keep my grand daughter busy and pushing her into a creative thinking.. I am getting better everyday, when I get time, I paint. My family loves the painting I do and I have sold a lot of my paintings, I don't ask much, especially for family and friends, just enough for more supplies.. I hadn't even tried anything artsy since I was in 9th grade.. I put no pressure on myself, that is the problem with a lot of ppl.. if it doesnt look like Picasso in 20 minutes of trying.. they give up and never try again.. Everytime I paint, I am learning more and more!! Maybe that person is trying to start too big? Or the expectations are too big? Don't give up!! Quit making excuses and just DO IT!! The grass will still be there tomorrow, the dirty dishes will still be there tomorrow.. sounds like that person just needs to let go!! Paint!! AND Enjoy!! These days we need that more and more!!
I've been there since a long time ago now and I'm tired as hell with all the fear im my head and in my hands. I gave someone the power to make me feel bad about my drawings and I stopped completely with the idea of creating and expresing my art. Im really afraid of using a pencil now.
I wish the best to all the artist out there struggling with a similar situation.
This was very touching for me and I appreciate the words and advices in this video.
Keep fighting!!!
I totally get what you're saying. I'm a sculptor. Self taught. I showed a family member my work feeling so proud of it, but there opinion was different. Instead showing me what a sculpture that someone made that was beyond my experience should look like. I feel that there goal was to not directly to tell me that my sculpture was not good and comparing it to mine, but instead I took it like that's what my goal is, to be that good. So I continued with my passion and created one sculpture after another. Always perfecting my skill. I've come a long way and not giving up. Like that song " if they could only see me know". I say never quit. Your inspiration is not there's. Just continue doing and your progress will show.
@@patriciavillegas6055 Thank you so much for taking your time to write some encouragement words. I'm trying, step by step, doing small doodles and sketches and oh boy is hard, but I really want to improve myself and win against the fear.
I wish you the best with your sculptures and your art. Appreciate and be proud of the power in your hands.
Your statement" I gave someone the power to make me feel bad about my drawings." Resonates with me...i gave someone the power to make me feel bad about my paintings...and in doing so lost almost 25 years of painting...becoz i couldnt bear the criticism and comparison....until one day i realised that i had a God given natural talent and my time was running out...I was getting on in years and soon i would leave this earth and there would be nothing to remind my children and grand children of me...so i began painting regardless of the fear within.i painted beautiful portraits of them all.....I can now, confidently say....Art is a spiritual connection with our Maker....no man /woman should try to destroy that....fight the fear.....pick up the pencil and draw...pick up the paint brush and paint....a blank canvas is just that ....Blank....and so will your life be....blank..🙈🙈🙈😥😥😥
@@rutharmando8963 Thank you for sharing your expericence, it feels good to know that there's people willing to listen and share their issues and their overcome against the fear of failure and self-criticism. Sometime we turn someone else crtitics into our own critisim and the monster keeps only growing after that.
As you said, art is an oportunity to leave our mark in the world, and sometimes even in the hearts and souls of some people, we should enjoy our works no matter what.
If we gave the power to someone, then we are able to GIVE POWER TO OURSLELF.
Keep growing in the most beautiful artistic way.
I just want to thank devil jack for posting, not only was it a great post but it brought others and their encouraging stories. I can relate to all of you. Thank you for encouraging myself and I’m sure others. Much love ❤️
THAT is the most accurate expression of my inner battle ever. Every cell of my body is shivering.
Thomas.... every word you wrote or almost all could have been written by me. Except i don't have my own place anymore, and there is much too much lawn to cut, laundry to do, grandkids to raise... to let me have time to paint.. I am very happy you wrote to Florent... and so grateful i happened to look today.. my first day in 4 yrs i had the day to myself... and i drew., i could not paint.. every canvas i have is not finished.. most of all i am grateful for the letter Florent wrote back to you. so encouraging with just the right words to pull you out of the mire. me too. Thank you again.. and Thank you Florent.. i will be visiting this video many times when i need to remind myself .. it s just a study.
Dear Florent when I listened to Thomas's email, it was as though Thomas was talking about me. I find myself in exactly the same position.
I found your advice invaluable, thank you. And thank you to Thomas for sharing.
Thank you kindly for sharing your knowledge . Blessings on you and your family.
Kind regards
Fatima
in the summer of 2017 i was so inspired that i made 26 paintings, sold half very quickly. then i discovered instagram ,ytube and same artists you talk about ...tishler,santos ,igor saharoff etc . we are all programmed in this era and dumed to the competition . unconsciounsly our brain is hacked .i followed all artists ,techniques, tricks to get inspired .and i found even more videos made by artists talking about the art burnout .in small words i didnt touch colours for 3 years .but art burnout means ...MIND OVER TALENT (CHILD PLAY).CREATIVITY . another part in my body has the love do dive and paint ...its not my mind at all .
the truth dear thomas is that every artist has already from birth his own stile and preferences in colours .because the fotoreceptors are unique 4 every human being. i tell you there is no technique ,there are no rules ,the best painter artist ,,does not exist . and yes ...as artist i can tell you many ,many paintings will remain unfinished . it's perfectly normal .but the first time this year i felt the smell of oil colours i start to play with them ...i didnt had the intention to paint .just play...and then all came back alive again inside me . the moment you become self judgemental in your art means you can do more .so dont be afraid of it .that's good but ...its way healthier when you PLAY FOR YOURSELF . dont search ,dont study ...you are the study itself .forget about the world and just have fun . remember who you are as artist .
you are right. comparison is a killer. would be nice if everyone just stayed their authentic selves and true to their own style. especially now when everyone on social media is a critic, right. i know artists can get comments that can lead them to totally changing their style to do what pleases the crowds or might lead some to catching an art paralysis all together or worse quit for good. so yeh, stay true to you and do what makes *you* happy.
*play for yourself* 🤗
Thank you for your beautiful words, gave more inspiration!
Thank you - just what I needed to hear
Wonderful to read your words.....I do need to play for myself and not get caught up in the world of comparison and other's work. Today I play, explore and hone my own style of art....those words need to be my reason why I commit to art and using up all those beautiful art supplies sitting on the shelf of my studio.
This is exactly what I needed! Thank you soo much! I have always had a constant fear of failing, I have such high expectations for myself that it has been holding me back from my full potential for so many years. I have the worst habit of always doubting myself and my abilities. Something I have leant and continue to try telling myself each day is I don’t want to die wondering what would have happened if I tried, what would have happened if I faced my fears. I want to witness my true potential and to do so I have to face my fears and continue to tell myself each day to have patience and to strive for progress not perfection.
This is such a deep subject. I think back many years ago when I was a kid. One thing I was always happy to get was new art supplies be it a new sketch tablet, crayons, markers or whatever. I was always drawing. I was aware of art and artists like Bob Ross and William Alexander but I never compared my drawings to theirs or felt my art was less than perfect every time. What happens to us as we get older and we lose that sense of simple joy in creation and start second guessing ourselves and feeling as though everyone is watching and judging. Finding that beautiful spark again is the ultimate quest when we stop worrying what others think causing us to doubt ourselves when our opinions and happiness and sense of accomplishment is the first and most important thing
Thank you, Florent. I feel like the original letter came from my heart too. The answer you gave is one I will revisit often in the future. I too have all of my supplies. I even have my fully equipped studio, with lighting, and absolutely everything I could want to paint with. But every day, I'm afraid to face the canvas or the page. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. You have given me hope where no other words have helped me before. Bless you, bless your family. ❤️❤️❤️
"You're supposed to paint what's at the bottom," I agree. That's just what's interesting.
The real question is always "why" ... (why I paint, or I can't paint, I keep destroying my paintings, ...) and we have to face it, yes. The "how" question (know-how, better tools to buy, etc.) is a way to escape the why... Thanks for sharing, Florent
(NB : Marion Milner's books can help)
Thank you very much Mag, I like your point about the "how" as a reason to escape the "why" 🙏🎨
Excellent point
Super touched. I felt this deeply. I have the same problem of not being able to paint despite having a collection of watercolor, acrylic paints, brushes and paper. I have tried and tried over the years to start up painting regularly but I always end up stopping after a while. Pages of half finished sketches and unfinished paintings are all sandwiched together in a box where I keep them hidden away.
When I was young, my dream was to be an artist and to go to art school. But my parents was against this and wanted me to study something more "professional". They even stopped me from going to art classes I was taking at that time.
I ended up studying engineering and told myself I could always practice art as a hobby and try to get more skilled on my own. I did paint when the inspiration struck and was happy for a while. But eventually I reached a stage where I just stopped.
When I paint, instead of enjoying the moment, I keep hearing the taunting remarks made by my family members. My mother even told me once to throw away my paintings which I treasured.
I realize more than a creative block, what I am undergoing is deep trauma caused by other peoples rejection of my artistic abilities.
Thank you so much for sharing the letter and video. It really touched me, it is somehow comforting to know of other people's experiences and lessons learned since this is a topic not much talked about.
This has given me some strength and motivation to start again. To heal my trauma and paint with joy again.
Thank you again. And I wish peace and happiness to anyone who has ever experienced this. May you find your happy place too.
I'm holding my tears. At this moment I'm stuck without drawing in months because I want to pursue my dreams to build an art career, but the perfectionism is killing me inside. The fear is a big shadow in my mind, if I just think and decide to actually draw a scene I got anxious, my body gets sick and my stomach hurts as my heart start beat faster like I will die. It's desperate. Thank you for this video, it gaves me motivation and a little bit of peace in my heart. I'll try again.
I felt it when you said he was afraid of his potential. I feel like there's a very dark message deep inside me and I'm afraid to let it out... Thank you
It’s true! Any guess what; the more you do the better you get. No such thing as failing. You are just learning. The only failing is not trying!
Moe Ganim Well said, because it’s exactly my problem...and I’m a beginner. Bought all the best materials, the books to learn, I do practice, but when it’s time to actually do something of my own, I freeze then I feel like a failure and feel like giving up...
I 100% relate to Thomas’s email! In fact art teachers from courses I attended had to keep reminding me to not be afraid, to be brave and just begin. Fear of failure in anything is crippling and your advice to Thomas was magnificent! I will take this advice too and those in the comments. It should be no surprise to us all that we all in some way have an urge to create - whether through art, cooking, writing, sewing, building, teaching, raising children etc etc. We come from YHWH The Creator. We are eternal beings from an invisible realm and we (the one inside our earth suit) live on even longer than the visible art we create. The lives we impact with love is eternal. This experience on earth is just the cradle, just the beginning... loving Yeshua(Jesus) who is The only Way to YHWH The Creator and loving our neighbour as we love ourselves is our goal here in the cradle of our lives... then what we move onto after that is another story....
With this video and those beautiful people’s words, you have saved many artists from leaving what they love most because of fears and insecurities. I cant begin to express how much I needed this. Thanks youtube recommendations, I’ll keep going.
thank you so much for this video, and also thank you Thomas for representing most of us by your letter. im in the same situation rn ive bought oil pait, brushes, pencils , charcoal etc. and im still procrastinating. and yes the reason is that im afraid of the outcome.
now i feel motivated enough to start reading a couple of book and experiment what ive learned for the past few years.
Omg this is my same exact situation. It’s unbelievable how accurate this gentleman has described it. And your answer is very inspiring. Thank you for this video.
I haven't painted in months, or is it years? My easel, brushes and paint supplies in plain sight but we just sit a few steps apart, waiting... You are incredible and thank you so much for this message 🙏
I'm afraid to mess up a painting although I still consider myself a beginner (only about 10 paintings in 2 years). I found that putting a clear acrylic sheet from a poster frame on top of the painting lets me put ideas on it with markers without messing up the painting. This painting I'm slowly working on will never be sold but I still don't feel free to mess it up. I like some of the comments about not letting the mind take over the art. I needed to hear that!
"Nothing is always a possibility and yet it matters that there is something in the universe instead of nothing. It matters that you paint instead of nothing." -I love this!
Also, I have recently read the book "The War of Art by Steven Pressfield" and it has touched about the topic of not being able to create due to resistance. Sitting down and doing the work on a regular basis helps bec eventually you'll get to set something in motion that'll pull inspiration and ideas along the process.
Thank you Florent for this video.
Thank you very much ! I will check out this book, sounds interesting 🙏
For thomas... i have been there ... for whole my life i had successfully convinced myself simply i won't be the next Picasso...so no need... for years i was hovering around painting ,drawing and designing... then i dived toward an idea what if i am not the next Picasso really... but what i want... i want to draw a portrait i want to be happy for what i am drawing.. i started to remake what i see on TH-cam... and i am still trying... draw a flower... draw what makes you smile... then i will find a lot
For flore.... this video is a master peace.... this a life learning lesson.... this is will be downloaded.. saved... for me when i ever gave up ...thank you and God bless you
This was the most beautiful, sensitive, spiritual response. I'm so deeply moved. Diving to the bottom = confronting your shadow self. Just wow.
I could have written toms letter word for word and all 100% true to me . I hadn't painted in years but started again in the lockdown , last week actually. I'm not where I want to be yet but advancing at a good pace and delighted,. Your comment about the canvas always being blank if you don't start is perfect . Thanks. Ray.
He has said everything! I could relate! ❤️❤️
NEVER EVER throw away the things you make, any sketches or paints! Why? - because later on it is the only way to see them as a whole, to see the spectrum of what you had done, how far you are and what there is still to be done. Good luck and all the best! :)
Thomas, I haven’t painted in decades, life got in the way, and here I am at 63 years old, finding myself again. As a mother and wife, everything took precedence over my creativity, and now I realise it didn’t have to. I discovered if I had allowed my creativeness out, I would have revealed my true self and shown others how to follow one’s passions, resulting in happiness. It is so true, just paint, practice, don’t worry about the perceived mistakes ( there are none in my eyes) no one sees art with the same eyes anyway! It is interpretive and subjective to each individual. My reason for picking up a paint brush again after 40 years, is my heart is bursting at the seams to give birth to myself, finally. I don’t particularly think I am any good but I LOVE IT and the more I do it, the more I find my own rhythm.
Find your rhythm through your desire to paint and just play!!! My very best to you Thomas, or anyone who is going through similar issues. Thank you so much Florent for your wonderful advice and care, it pours out of you which is amazing! 💛
I can absolutely relate with you Thomas. I was always convinced that every piece of art I make has to be perfect and 100% of what I can do. This meant that I never really wanted to start and continuously had to fight against the fear of ruining my precious painting so far. This was until I came across the statement "draw for the trashbucket". This completely changed my artistic journey: The idea is that you produce many sketches or small paintings with the intention that you essentially throw them away afterwards. Of course this way you don't care if you make mistakes or ruin your art because you throw it away anyways. And then if you really like something you produced you can keep it, great! For me this went hand in hand with the idea of iterative drawing. So I used to just erase and redraw my sketches constantly until I got the "perfect" sketch to work from. But iterative drawing tells you to just leave it be if it's not good and just redraw it. It really helps to use a pen that can't be erased. This way you learn that whatever you draw or paint, you can do it again. There is no special piece that can only be drawn at midnight on a full moon or something like that. So then when you work on a full piece and you hapen to make a mistake you know you can just redraw it from scratch, no problem. This really helped me to build the artistic self confidence to actually go and continue after the sketch.
That was beautiful wow
wow, I am not alone! I have been struggling with this same issue for many years, I have also been accumulating art supplies during this time? So weird! Thank you for sharing your struggles being stuck, it allowed me to realize that someone else is enduring the same pain. So thank you again!
Oh Sweet Thomas. I have been there before. Somedays I'm there. It's hard to make time and paint in such a busy world. I've scheduled specific times to sit and when to do my daily life and 9-5 job. Setting aside quiet time only for you and your paint is crucial. You need focus and let yourself get into that Flow state where it all comes naturally. Sit down and say "I'll paint for 10 minutes." It's small amount of time soy our ego won't resist you. You sit. 10 mintues goes by. You look up, and it's been an hour. Give yourself permission to have that time for yourself.
I watched this entire video staring at the blank canvas sitting behind my computer, and I felt so called out lol. But it motivated me, and I'll start it right now. Thank you, and to whoever is reading this: you're not alone.
Start with some excess of materials so that it makes no difference whether you keep or throw away your work. Maybe just use Gessoed thick paper or canvas on cardboard. Get rid of the fear of screwing up valuable supplies, i.e., stretched canvas. Don't make a plan or a sketch. Just start putting the paint down and see what happens. You will see things develop in the paint and you do not have to follow up on the first or second thing that somes to mind. Gesso it over and start again if you don't like it. Keep working. Work every day. The fear will go away.
This really touched me. I am going through the same issue and give up at the first sight "mediocrity." I will continue to work at getting better.
Two years later.. I'm watching this video !
It's been heart-warming to hear from both sides ❤
Yesterday was the 'first time, ever' I painted in oil-paints .
I've been practicing watercolours for years but never had the courage to start oil painting.
I always wanted to.. but never did it.
What Thomas has been experiencing is exactly 💯 what I went through for years..
Thank you, Florent from the "bottom of my heart " for putting out this video into the universe 🙏🏻 I'm forever grateful!!!
This touched me on the deepest level. I love to create, yet I have a heaviness when it comes to painting. I am worried I will waste the canvas, waste the paint, and ultimately create failure after failure. The most abstract thought process consumes me, I love to paint, I feel alive, it's like I have to create to feel alive; yet when I paint I feel as if I'm wasting my resources, the self deprecating thoughts seep in and tell me "I'm not enough", "You'll never really be an artist." Thank you for sharing this. There are times when we feel so alone in our thoughts, we begin to believe that no one would understand. We become ashamed of ourselves and hide our true feelings.
Hello everyone, i just found this video on my recomendations... I realy felt represented by this thing of consciency of your mortality and trying to make your legacy through your art. Its a very beatifull thing. I was a good drawer in my youth, but sadly i didnt continue with that, i find my self in a way of life that i probably will not be happy, but art conforts me. I just wanna say thank you for this amazing video. Sorry, english is not my first language.
This rings true for me. I only really manage to paint when there's a deadline coming up, which then sends me into 1-2 weeks condensed of panic, joy and pain as I attempt to learn the skills I need to paint a specific image during the process of painting it. Every time I attempt a big project, I'm faced with a certain thought: that maybe this time, this project, this will be the one that I won't be able to surmount. The fear from this thought is paralyzing and gives me great anxiety even though I've managed to produce multiple works with decent success- each one surpassing my last. Yet, with every painting, I still feel paralyzed.
So thank you very much for this video. Hopefully, this will help me approach painting in a new light, one that is more productive to my growth as an artist.
What a great gift it is to listen to this today! Thank you both. You have given me the courage to face my own fear. Each time I produce a painting, people rave. That’s nice. But all I think about is how am I ever going to match this, or improve on it ? It’s a terrible paralyzing shameful feeling. You have both allowed me the freedom now to gain some perspective. To try again and to realise most of all, that we are not ALONE! Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart !💝
Florent it doesn't matter what or how u paint, just paint. Please paint. And Thomas your letter was heart warming!