15 Things You Need To Leave Behind In 2021
Who else is looking forward to saying goodbye to 2021?!
I put together this list for you, and let's be honest..for myself too 🤪
I struggled with many of these this year and am ready to say GOODBYE!
1. Creating art just to have something to post
You started making art in the first place because it brings you happiness, not to just post on Instagram.
2. Feeling scared to share your art with others
Your art is a gift to the world and others, we need your art! Art is one of the few lights we have in this dark world.
3. Putting pressure on yourself to make perfect art
I feel like I say this all the time but you need to make "bad" art and "fail" in order to make better art. And there is no such thing of perfect when it comes to art! I believe it's the imperfections that make art special. We're not machines, we're human.
4. Letting perfection, lack of time, and fear keep you from creating
Let go of those excuses! Bring life to the art that has been trapped inside of you for too long.
5. Making art for others and never for yourself
When we make art exclusively for others or art that is "trending", we lose sight of why we started to make art in the first place. We lose our flame and passion. It's okay to do commissions or experiment with trends, but don't forget to make art for YOU.
6. Waiting for tomorrow to start that art piece or your next artist goal
Let's be honest, "tomorrow" will most likely turn into next week or next month. Lay to rest your excuses and bring to life that art inside of you.
7. Stretching yourself too thin
I know you have so many ideas for your art and so many things you want to do, but remember this: do less to do MORE.
When you say "yes" to something, you're saying "no" to something else.
8. Giving yourself too many art goals
This kind of goes hand-in-hand with number 7. I know you want to do all the things, but try to focus on one BIG goal for 2022, and a few smaller goals. And remember things always take longer than expected. Give yourself breathing room and plan for your goals to take longer than you think they will.
9. Comparing yourself, art, and art products with others'
You may remember me saying this, but I will say it again because it's super important. STOP worrying about what other artists are doing!
Unfollow or "mute" the ones who make you feel bad about your own art. Just because you admire them, doesn't mean you should keep following them. It's okay to unfollow and solely focus on your own art and goals. You can follow them again in the future.
10. Being impatient with your growth as an artist
This is a BIG one for me. I always feel like I should be WAY farther along. Can you relate?
Just remember that it's okay if your growth is slow or it seems slow. The important thing is that you keep moving forward, which you do with each brush stroke you lay down! As long as you're making art (which can just be a quick sketch btw), you're growing.
11. Never celebrating the “bad” art pieces or small wins
Creating art takes courage. Do you know how many people there are who never create, but want to? Fear and lack of time gets in the way, and their art never has a chance to come to life before it's too late.
Each artwork you make is special, a gift to the world, and deserves to be celebrated.
12. Always sharing your successes and best art pieces
This one is kind of less about us, and more about others. Social media can be toxic and hindering to our art, especially when we constantly see others who seem like they have it all together. Who seem like they're so successful and each artwork or product they make is PERFECT.
We need you to share about your failures too. We need to see the not-so-glamourous side. We need to see the messy desk, unfinished artworks, and failed art products.
Your followers will thank you, and your customers will appreciate you even more.
13. Social media and TV taking over your creating time
One of my resolutions for next year is less Netflix. I want to try to only watch TV on the weekends and only for a limited time when I do.
It's crazy how much time we can waste on social media and Netflix!
14. Following people and artists who make you feel bad
This is similar to number 9. Our mental health is already worse than ever before, so we need to be extra careful who we follow and whose content we consume.
15. Forgetting that this is a journey
Being an artist is a life-long journey. There is no end. It's about the journey, not the end result.
Not about where your skills will be in 10 years. Not about that "someday" when you will be able to create a thousand artworks without once messing up.
It's about the small moments, the failures that help you learn, the feeling you have when you see your painting hung on a wall.
It's the little things MORE than the big things that come together to complete your artist journey.
Which of these will you leave behind?
