‘Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.’
Pablo Picasso
I have been struggling with that ‘not good enough’ habit!
A habit that I am convinced for many of us started at school when we were told, as some kind of weird encouragement, that our work was ‘not good enough’ or to ‘try harder.’
Words that for many of us result in instant neck tightening tension habits.
Can you feel tension or tightening right now if you think about being ‘not good enough’ or ‘trying harder’?
My up-coming exhibition in April is in the ‘best’ street in Edinburgh for art, the Edinburgh version of Cork Street in London, and because of this daft value judgement a nasty little insidious voice in me has been taunting –
‘Your work’s not good enough!’
‘Who do you think you are?’
‘You are going to make a giant fool of yourself.’… and other horrible scary jibes.
Do you recognise any of these getting in the way of your art making fun, destroying your creativity?
So I have been asking the question – not good enough for what?
Not good enough to play with paint on canvas or paper?
Is that true?
Obviously NO!
NOT TRUE!
Little children don’t worry about paintings being ‘not good enough!’
It is when ‘grown ups’ start to teach them to ‘keep paint within the lines’ and ‘be neat not messy’ that the ‘not good enough’ starts to set in.
‘If you find a voice within you that says you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.’
Vincent Van Gogh
So my thought for silencing the ‘not good enough’ habit is to paint paint paint …
Cover canvas as fast as I can …
Any way I like …
Music on, dancing with colour …
Playing with feel and pressure of brush stroke …
That is all …
Like a child!
Picasso again ….
‘It took me four years to paint like Raphael, but a lifetime to paint like a child.’
To paint like a child!
Art is a worthwhile journey – we can get out of our own way, let go of thinking habits that do not serve us and paint like a child.
Simple joy!
So easy and yet so challenging with our ego based comparative habits rearing there ugly little heads and ruining the fun.
So my question now, when I hear that creepy ‘not good enough’ thought form, is to ask the rebellious childlike question – Not good enough for what?!
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photo – Yes, I am a very messy painter!
Hmmm, good enough or not good enough? Who cares! It is the way I work! : )
Perhaps you would like to try me free Alexander Technique inspired 8 day creativity e-course? It’s fun. Link below …