Before I begin ranting about my insecurities as an artist, let me preface this. I’m not saying this fear only applies to artists and that we are special misunderstood sunflowers that only understand this fear. I’m sure this can apply to many fields other than the arts. However, due to the fact that I am an artist and my background is pretty much solely creativity based, that’s what I plan on writing about. Now that I’ve shown that I am aware that I not a unique special snowflake with his own unique fears it is time to stand on my soapbox and act like one.

When I was six years old, I wanted to be a comic book artist. I loved reading comics, and I wanted nothing more than to tell stories of caped crusaders and their constant battles between good and evil. It was my lovely fourth grade teacher pointing out that my handwriting and drawing abilities were about the equivalent of a drunk toddler's (thanks Mrs. Gunning) that gave me my first big push away from art. Meanwhile, my brothers were in the processes of becoming sports prodigies. I was never jealous. I was always happy to see my brothers improve at the thing they loved.

There was only one nagging question that seemed to eat at me. What the hell was I good at? It wasn’t until my junior year in high school that I had two amazing teachers that saw potential in my writing and told me to keep it up. Obviously I did, but for the longest time I was plagued by another question. Am I any good at this? I feel like this is a question every artist runs into, regardless of the medium you work in. That’s the weird and very stupid thing about art. It’s subjective. You could be reading this very article right now and think I am the most enlightened and refreshing writer you’ve read in awhile (which I clearly am), or you could think I am some pompous idiot that somehow managed to get his ramblings posted on a respectable website (which I also clearly am).

Then you start to think: Who do I listen to? Your fourth grade teacher crushing your dreams and telling you to give up? Or those teachers that looked at you and saw potential and told you to keep going. Obviously you want to listen to the uplifting voices telling you to keep going, but I’ll be honest. It can get pretty hard trying to block out the negative voices. Yes, hearing those voices supporting you and cheering you on is possibly one the best feelings in the world, it makes an artist feel validated and is something every artist deserves to hear. But the criticism is what sticks. It’s that one crappy review you read about your show. It’s that one teacher that told you that your short story is garbage. It’s that one painting that didn’t do too well during critiques. Sometimes all it takes is for one voice to make you feel like you should just stop making art together.

I know this article has been super optimistic and full of hope for all us young artists. I promise that there’s a meaning behind all of this angsty, edgy pessimism.

Ask any artist why they do what they do. Ask any artist why they put with up the constant, “No, what do you really want to do?” or, “But what’s your backup plan?” They’ll all tell you the same thing. They love what they do, and in all honesty, boys and girls, that’s all that matters. Screw the voices, screw the seeking approval for your work! If you love what you do, as cheesy as it sounds, then that’s all that matters. The only real voice you need to listen to is yours. So go out there and make art! There’s no proper way to do it, there’s no one way to make everyone one love it. The only important thing is just to love what you do.