What is it and what does it look like and feel like while painting? How do you acquire more of it when you feel like you have none?
There are multiple types of courage. There’s the courage to say Yes! As well as the courage to say No!
Saying…
Yes to painting,
Yes to taking risks with design, techniques, styles, and even different mediums.
Yes to taking chances on attending workshops that stretch you.
Yes to signing up for events (and attending) that will grow you.
Yes to trusting your gut and taking chances on new approaches such as compelling or unusual designs.
Saying…
No to distractions that pull you away from your goals.
No to the good just because you know you can do better.
No to changes that in your gut you know aren’t right.
No to that pretty scene that you know you can do because you did it 100 times before.
No to technology interruptions that may distract from the scene…(That is, avoid constantly checking email or social media websites.)
Courage is also confidence or certainty in the application of paint. The brush never lies so don’t paint with fear. Fear only gums up the works and subtracts life from you and your art.
Paint instead with courage and gratitude. These two will help you lay down strokes with confidence and certainty that will then connect and communicate life into your art. And life multiplied with love and faith goes far beyond what you could ever imagine.
Doing the work makes you confident. Doing the work despite your fears creates courage and courage makes you self-confident. Your self-confidence (your courage) makes patterns and habits in your life that makes your art connect.
People don’t want to be moved by how skilled you are in copying reality. They long to be moved by any displays of courage and confidence in laying down paint with certainty. Remember, your brush never lies.
Here are some ways you, as an artist, can have more courage to create your art:
- Believe in your vision: It is important for you to believe in your vision and the value of your art, even if it is not immediately embraced by the world. This can help you stay focused and motivated, and it can give you the courage to continue creating.
2. Practice self-compassion: We can be particularly hard on ourselves, and self-criticism can be a major barrier to creativity. Practicing self-compassion, meaning the ability to be kind and understanding towards oneself, can help us have the courage to create, even when our work is not perfect – yet.
3. Seek support and community: Having a supportive community of fellow artists and mentors can be invaluable in providing encouragement, guidance, and feedback. By seeking out supportive relationships, artists can find the courage to take creative risks and create the art that the world needs.
4. Experiment and take risks: Creativity often involves taking risks and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. By experimenting with new ideas and techniques, we can have the courage to create innovative and meaningful art.
5. Find inspiration and role models: Looking to other artists and creative individuals who have succeeded in creating art that connects to us can be a source of inspiration and motivation. By finding role models and learning from their successes and challenges, we can gain the courage to pursue our own creative vision.
Overall, having the courage to create art that deeply connects requires a combination of self-belief, self-compassion, support, experimentation, and inspiration. By cultivating these qualities, artists can have the courage to create meaningful and impactful art.