Artistic Failure Leads To Artistic Growth

Created in April, 2013 by Kristin Lanier

Many artists let failure completely overwhelm them, to the point of giving up for a period of time or even all together. With failure, every artist has the chance to learn and grow from something that otherwise eluded their understanding.

How To Grow From Failure

• Ask for a critique if what's wrong with the drawing is hard to find
• Ask for a critique during the process of the drawing as well
• Practice, practice, practice what you're having difficulties with in sketches and warm-ups
• Be prepared to redo that part of your art—think of it as a rough draft
• Go over past pieces that you used to love but hate now. What does it need improvement on?

If You Feel Like Stopping, Keep Going 
If you stop, you're denying yourself the opportunity to learn. Pushing through that struggle gives a reward far more fun than letting failure get to you and hold you back. 

When you push forward, you continue improving, especially when you focus on improving on the techniques and skills you struggle with. When you push forward, your skills snowball into a massive avalanche. Soon enough, your skills impress yourself as well as others.

Shaking Off The Feeling Of Failure
All artists, and many others outside the creative industry, have experienced the feeling of failure. Coming back from failure always proves difficult. Sloughing off the disappoint to move on to the next best thing takes willpower.

Keep This In Mind To Move Forward

• All artists have to start somewhere
• The greats became great by overcoming their failures
• Failing only means improvement follows
• Give yourself a break if you feel burnt out
• On the other hand, push yourself if you're feeling burnt out only because a technique evades you
• Natural artists may have talent at the beginning start—others can pass them up with constant practice
• You have a support system you're probably unaware of, seek them out.

Failing Is An Uphill Journey
When an artist fails, it's easy to give up. It's harder to stick with the art, although far more rewarding. You can only improve if you stay at it—the responsibility lies in the hands of the artist.

Created in December, 2013 by Kristin Lanier

Helmigh, s. (2014). Fast lane to becoming a better artist. Retrieved at http://conceptartsessions.com/forum/29/Tips-Tricks/13/Fast-lane-to-becoming-a-better-artist