Art & Fear

"The difference between acceptance and approval is subtle, but distinct."

"For the artist, the dilemma seems obvious: risk rejection by exploring new worlds, or court acceptance by following well-explored paths."

"Wanting to be understood is a basic need"

When I first began making art, I never would have considered myself an artist. I was in the fourth grade, and I took classes at a local art studio in Marblehead. The other members of the class were certainly artists (or at least they appeared to be). They were all older than I, and they had several years of experience. As an unexperienced child, there was little room for me to feel confident about any of the work I was creating. Of course, when my teacher noticed my fears, he approached me immediately. He explained that there's a starting point in every artists life, and I shouldn't be so harsh on myself. Still, I was nervous, but I began to consider his advice. After all, he did have a point. Why was I being so critical of my own work, I thought.

As time passed, I began to feel more comfortable with the work I was creating. Although I was still visibly not as talanted as the other artists in the room, I knew that I didn't need to be. I wasn't making art for them, I was making it for myself.

Since then, I have certainly grown as an artist. Of course, I still fear that my work will be rejected by others, but then I remember what my first art teacher said to me, and I begin to feel more comfortable.