Ever felt stuck in a creative rut? Ever really just wanted to prove something to someone? Ever felt completely ignored and wanted to burn all your materials in a giant heap of cathartic flame? Well I have too, and I'm here to tell you that all of your reasons for making (or not making art) are probably wrong.
Examine the lists below, and see if something feels familiar.
bad reasons for making art
to prove someone wrong
to achieve fame or wealth
to make someone jealous
because it's "cool"
to “be the best”
If you're making art for some kind of crazy image-enhancing scheme or external motivation, you are going to burn out eventually. Someone you're trying to impress may not even be worthy of your efforts! Don't make art because it's impressive to do so.
bad reasons to quit making art
there's no money in it
there's a lot of it out there already
someone else is better at it than you
no one's noticed
it's a "waste of time/money"
"I have nothing to say”
Just because "it's been done before," or you're not as good at it as someone else is a poor excuse, undermining the beauty of doing a thing for the sake of doing it. Everyone has a right to make the art they want to make, and they have their own story to tell. DO IT.
Feeling stuck? You may just need a brief creative reset!
