{"id":25897,"date":"2020-06-02T00:15:11","date_gmt":"2020-06-02T00:15:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/?p=25897"},"modified":"2021-08-17T08:18:52","modified_gmt":"2021-08-17T08:18:52","slug":"artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/","title":{"rendered":"Artist Tips: How to Deal with Insecurity About Your Art"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Feeling insecure isn&#8217;t limited to artists but how come we&#8217;re more affected by this soul-crunching cloud of self-doubt more than say, lawyers or doctors?<\/p>\n<p>Well, let&#8217;s blame society for not giving value to artists who are still trying to make it. If you&#8217;re not yet as successful as Kubrick or Bob Dylan, they would think you&#8217;re simply wasting your time. They would start looking at you with pitiful eyes. Some might be relieved that they didn&#8217;t take the artist&#8217;s path like you did.<\/p>\n<p>And when you take a look at your bank account at the time you feel awful about yourself, you will start questioning your life decisions. Why did you do this in the first place? Why didn&#8217;t you become a lawyer? And it will spiral down to an endless pit of self-loathing.<\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re in a phase where you start to doubt your art and your choice to be an artist, here are some things you should do:<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_83 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0e31db0f422\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a0e31db0f422\"  aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#1-have-some-distance\" >#1 Have some distance<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#2-this-is-not-your-last-project\" >#2 This is not your last project<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#3-look-at-bad-art\" >#3 Look at bad art<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#4-look-at-the-other-things-you-have-other-than-art\" >#4 Look at the other things you have other than art<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#5-sulk-but-give-yourself-a-time-limit\" >#5 Sulk but give yourself a time limit<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/artist-tips-deal-insecurity-art\/#6-search-for-the-lesson\" >#6 Search for the lesson<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1-have-some-distance\"><\/span><strong>#1 Have some distance<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33331\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/1-Have-some-distance.png 2000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Think of something else other than your art. Indulge in a new hobby or take a long stroll&#8230;at least for one day. Take yourself away from your art and stop thinking about it. Maybe you&#8217;re just burned out and all you need to do is breathe.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2-this-is-not-your-last-project\"><\/span><strong>#2 This is not your last project<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33332\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/This-is-not-your-last-project-artist-tips.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/This-is-not-your-last-project-artist-tips.jpg 866w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/This-is-not-your-last-project-artist-tips-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/This-is-not-your-last-project-artist-tips-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/This-is-not-your-last-project-artist-tips-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you really think your art sucks, try to condition yourself that this is not your last work. You will still learn a lot, do a lot, and experience a lot. This is just part of your process. You still have a decade or two or three (a lifetime!) of art-making.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3-look-at-bad-art\"><\/span><strong>#3 Look at bad art<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Take-a-look-at-the-Museum-of-Bad-Art.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"758\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Take-a-look-at-the-Museum-of-Bad-Art.jpg 700w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Take-a-look-at-the-Museum-of-Bad-Art-238x300.jpg 238w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Take a look at the Museum of Bad Art, for example. Don&#8217;t do this to comfort yourself that you&#8217;re better than them but get inspired at how they don&#8217;t take themselves too seriously, and that&#8217;s okay for you, too!<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4-look-at-the-other-things-you-have-other-than-art\"><\/span><strong>#4 Look at the other things you have other than art<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33334\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Look-at-the-other-things-you-have-other-than-art.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"542\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Don&#8217;t roll your eyes.\u00a0This could actually be helpful so you won&#8217;t be down in the dumps. You have a cute dog, you have a roof above your head, the sun in shining brightly. Sometimes we forget. Art should make you appreciate life. If you&#8217;re too caught up with your career, then it&#8217;s time to step back a little and ask yourself why you&#8217;re making art.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-sulk-but-give-yourself-a-time-limit\"><\/span><strong>#5 Sulk but give yourself a time limit<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33335\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Sulk-but-give-yourself-a-time-limit.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Sulk-but-give-yourself-a-time-limit.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/5-Sulk-but-give-yourself-a-time-limit-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Cry if you must. It&#8217;s the most therapeutic thing to do when you&#8217;re really emotionally down. You have to reach the bottom so you can kick your way up.<\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6-search-for-the-lesson\"><\/span><strong>#6 Search for the lesson<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-33336\" src=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Search-for-the-lesson.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Search-for-the-lesson.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/6-Search-for-the-lesson-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;ve recharged, done some yoga, yet you come back to your art and still feel the same way about it, then ask yourself why you really don&#8217;t like it. Stare at it directly, don&#8217;t bat an eyelash, and tell yourself as honestly as you can why you don&#8217;t like it.<\/p>\n<p>You can do it. You&#8217;re not made of soft stuff. And once you accept the things you hate about it, it has served its purpose. But please, don&#8217;t throw it away! Set it aside and come back to it some other day.<\/p>\n<p>________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><b><i>James Hill<\/i><\/b><i> is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope\/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole&#8217;s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company <\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/\"><span class=\"s1\"><i>Unified Manufacturing<\/i><\/span><\/a><i>, a CD\/DVD\/vinyl and merch company in LA.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Feeling insecure isn&#8217;t limited to artists but how come we&#8217;re more affected by this soul-crunching cloud of self-doubt more than say, lawyers or doctors? Well, let&#8217;s blame society for not giving value to artists who are still trying to make it. If you&#8217;re not yet as successful as Kubrick or Bob Dylan, they would think [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":25979,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-artist-tips","category-graphic-design"],"contentshake_article_id":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25897"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33337,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25897\/revisions\/33337"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25979"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unifiedmanufacturing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}