Overcoming Artist Self-Doubt: What I Wish I Knew Starting Out
There have been times when I lost myself as an artist, when impostor syndrome was trying to take over and pollute my creative world.
Sometimes it was because I doubted myself. Other times, it was because someone else’s voice was louder than my own, telling me art was “a nice hobby” but not something serious, and that belief followed me for years. It took me decades to find my way back, and the moment I did, I knew I could never abandon my creativity again. I wish I had understood sooner that the world doesn’t decide whether you are an artist or not. You do.
If you’ve ever questioned whether to keep going, whether it’s worth it, whether you’re “enough”, this is for you. This is what I would tell my younger artist self, especially on the days when doubt tries to win.
Dear Younger Me: An Artist’s Reflection
MAKE THE ART YOU LOVE.
Not what you think will sell. Not what people expect from you. It’s easy to lose yourself chasing what’s marketable, instead of creating what feels meaningful and true to you. Make the art that feels like oxygen to your soul. When you follow that spark, your art becomes honest, and honesty always resonates. Even if no one else understands it yet, you do. Everything else stems from that place.
DON’T STOP CREATING BECAUSE OF SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION.
People will inevitably share their opinions about your art, sometimes with the best intentions. You will hear more than once that being a doctor or a lawyer is a “real job.” But an artist? Forget it. Don’t believe that message, that art isn’t a sensible path, or it will silence you for years. Trust me when I say the world needs more people who dare to create. If art keeps calling you, it’s calling for a reason. So listen.
PROTECT YOUR CREATIVE ENERGY.
Surround yourself with people who love and believe in art as deeply as you do, especially if you’re struggling with self-doubt. One dismissive or careless comment can echo in your head for weeks if you’re not careful. But your people exist, the ones who lift you and cheer you on, who are there to support you and your dream. Go find them! Attend art classes, exhibitions, workshops, creative communities. You and your art deserve that space.
FOLLOW YOUR DREAM, DON’T IGNORE IT.
We all have dreams that ended up in a drawer at some point because life got in the way or because we were too afraid to follow our hearts. But if art lingers in your thoughts, perhaps the unfinished sketch waiting for you, or the art palette that keeps calling your name, that dream isn’t random. It’s the part of you that is trying to resurface. Suppressing it doesn’t make it disappear; it just makes your soul ache over time and can become a source of frustration and sadness. It is better to begin again than to regret never trying.
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO BEGIN.
Art doesn’t run on a schedule, and it really doesn’t matter how old you are. Some people bloom early. Others bloom exactly when they’re meant to. You’ll discover watercolour later in life. And yes, there might be moments when you wish you'd found it sooner. But more than anything, you’ll feel deeply grateful that you found it at all. There is no deadline for creativity. If the desire to create is alive in you, so is the possibility. Life is too short not to do what you love.
YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE WILL REVEAL ITSELF IF YOU LET IT.
You’ll spend a long time thinking you need to watch every tutorial and find your “style” before you can share your art with the world. But the truth is, you only find your voice by making art. When you stop trying to recreate someone else’s technique and finally start painting from your own soul, everything changes. The more you paint, the louder and clearer your voice will become. And you will find it, when you give it space to speak.
PERFECTIONISM WILL PREVENT YOU FROM CREATING.
Perfectionism will only convince you to wait until you are ready, to delay, to never be satisfied with your creations, to avoid sharing your art. But “perfect” is a moving target, and chasing it often leads to silence. Art isn’t supposed to be flawless. It’s supposed to be real. Give yourself permission to experiment and have fun, without the expectation of creating a masterpiece every time. Better imperfect and honest than never creating because the voice in your head tells you it’s not good enough.
DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS.
The internet makes it dangerously easy to believe that everyone else is so much better than you or further ahead. But every artist you admire is brilliant, probably just because they are themselves. Your voice is not supposed to sound like theirs. No one else can paint, draw, or create through your lens. So stay rooted in your lane because that’s where your magic lives.
BEING AN ARTIST IS A WAY OF BEING.
Even when you’re not painting or drawing, you are still creating. You notice colours, light, movement, and form. You see beauty where others rush past, and your creative mind is always working, quietly gathering inspiration. That is not a hobby, it is who you are. You may not sell a single painting at first, but none of that defines you. Your art matters because you made it, it reflects your way of seeing the world, your emotions, your truth. That alone gives it value. You don’t need external permission or validation to call yourself an artist. You already are one.
“If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.”
You’ve probably read the quote above many times, but I couldn’t resist sharing it once more, because it is so true. I’m not saying it’s easy. That voice, believe me, I hear it every time I sit down to paint. But I’m learning to gently tell her to be quiet and let me enjoy my time in the studio, doing what I love the most!
So, if you are just starting out, returning to your art after years away, or questioning if you are “good enough” to keep going, let this be your sign. Just don’t let the voice of doubt be the one that decides for you. At times, it may speak loudly, but it doesn’t get the final say… if you choose to keep creating.
