[Svanur]

I am wondering whether people have ever been affected by a paralyzing fear of failure that hinders you from getting down and just drawing? Been having this feeling for the last 2 years but it must have gone into overdrive the last 2 weeks because I am unable to do anything creative or that which requires work.

Anybody experienced similar things?
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... and they shall know no fear.

[Inspector Lee]

Yeah. I think most creative people experience this. For me, the only way I get over it is when the excitement of an idea or image is stronger than the fear. Then I have the energy to start. One thing that might help is looking at the work of artists that really inspire you. Also, there's nothing like a trip to the museum (if there's one nearby) to get the creative juices flowing. Don't worry it'll pass
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Smokey, this is not 'Nam this is bowling. There are rules.

[Svanur]

I am really hoping this will pass by, been looking at other people's art like crazy this week.

Unfortunately there are no good art museums in Iceland(humm I wonder why ) the only art we have here is modern art. Beige color over green and stuff that is expressive. Not my cup of tea so to speak.
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... and they shall know no fear.

[Jami Noguchi]

Boy, I know that feeling well. One thing that helped me get out of the rut was actually meeting artists who I had admired for a while. Jo Chen was at a local anime con and I met her. That helped a great deal.

Also, sometimes getting mad rather than depressed could help. I sometimes look at art that i don't like but is published to get myself out of a rut. Call me psychotic, but that sometimes helps me as well.
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No matter where you go, there you are.

[Svanur]

Lucky me there are no non-modern artists here(damn I hate living on an island) and no cons. But I agree about the anger thing. It's weird how anger can help one to draw although I doubt it's very healthy.
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... and they shall know no fear.

[Jin]

Hi,

By now, I had hoped to be a very wise woman. Well.. sometimes that's depressing too, because I'm still unwise a lot, still confused sometimes, and still paralyzed with fear sometimes. At least I'm still trying, and looking back it's easy to see that the pattern of my life is one of getting through tough times and coming out on top. I know now that I can count on this pattern continuing.. with me coming out on top. That's a good feeling, even when I'm in the middle of a blue funk.

You'll come out on top too!

For what it's worth, here are a couple of things I've learned so far:

It's said that depression follows suppressed anger. Whatever the anger's about could be anything big or seemingly small, but expressing it somehow I think is, after all, healthy. That is, as long as it's expressed rationally and without harm to anyone.

Sometimes I've been able to figure out what I'm so darned angry about by just sitting down with a big pad of paper and writing whatever comes through my mind and out my fingers until there's nothing more left to write. It can be rather amazing to read this stuff a day or so later, even a week or two later, and see that the whole problem is laid out clearly, right there on paper where I can read it again or toss it in the fireplace once its purpose has been fulfilled.

An Indian philosopher once said: "When you recognize the problem, you no longer have a problem." By golly! He was right!

Now for my next bit of "wisdom":

Sometimes focusing too hard on trying to make ourselves do something we are convinced we "should" be doing only makes it worse. We get all balled up in a knot, too tense and obsessed to be anything other than paralyzed.

That's the time to go do something completely unrelated.. take a trip to the beach.. spend a week helping someone who needs help.. spend days walking for miles, just breathing and taking in the sounds, smells, and sights around us. In other words, let go!

It's called resting, taking a break, and best of all it's called (and is) recuperating and regenerating.. our body, mind, and spirit. Then we're free to be creative again.

Every human being needs this.

Take good care of yourself and it'll be alright soon enough.

[Ian Jones]

count me in. I'm lazy aswell... so I never get anything done! aaaaaaaaaaaaarghh. I also see lots of great work being pumped out at a phenomenal rate by some great artists and designers and know I should be doing more. That ties me up in a knot aswell...

[Lionel]

As a sugestion try doing something like a self portrat (shamless plug) or a speed painting everyday. If you feel that you MUST produce something everyday and post it up no mater if it is good or bad you will have bad days and you will produce rubish but you will become less afraid. I think the more you do something the less afraid you are and if you have a bad day you can take comfort that you have a good body of work backing you up so you know you can do it .

[Max]

That's a very good thread I have to say.
Jin: thank's for those great tipps. They will help me alot!!!