Self-Doubt Vs Self-Confident

scythe 2015-10-01 06:49:37 UTC #2

If you're wracked with self-doubt, you're arguably more likely to reach out to others who are similarly afflicted, in order to find solace and tips on how to climb out of your predicament.

On the other hand, if you're full of confidence, or simply lack self-doubt, you're not likely to start a thread bragging about how good you think you are, or at the very least, how little time you spend second guessing yourself.

The end result is a community that appears to be unusually riddled with self-doubt, but in reality is probably pretty even balance of normally confident and doubtful people.

AnnaLandin 2015-10-01 06:57:40 UTC #3

@scythe makes a very good point - people who lack confidence are more likely to want to talk about it. It's not so common for confident people to start threads about how confident they are - they don't feel like they need the confirmation.

Also, outside of that selection bias, there's the fact that art is kind of... undervalued in our society. People will admire you for being an artist, but at the end of the day, a lot of people believe that it isn't a "real job". That it's something you do for fun, inherently less valuable than working a "serious" job - and that attitude holds true even if you DON'T pursue it as a job. Art is for fun, it's not serious, etc. That kind of attitude wears away at self-confidence too, until you find yourself apologising when telling people about your art "I just did this for fun, but...", or "I know it's not great, but..." and so on.

scythe 2015-10-01 07:35:29 UTC #4

Yep, and it's not like this is an american migratory bird appreciation forum. And we're not sitting around just talking about what other people are doing. We're putting our babies up for people to paw over and judge, so there's bound to be an increased level of self-doubt in a community like this. I'd expect you find the same thing in creative writing forums, or musician forums, etc. Anywhere where the members of that community are uploading content with subjective merit.

keii4ii 2015-10-01 07:53:41 UTC #5

I used to be one of those happy people. It's not that I thought my work was great; quite the contrary. I knew I sucked, and knew I would always suck no matter how much I improve. But that knowledge made me happy. I delighted in knowing that I would never run out of room for improvement. The road before me would stretch on forever. How exciting is that?

Depression and anxiety turned that upside down. Now, instead of "look at how much I could improve from this point on!" I think "I'm not good enough." That's the key phrase, "not good enough." Those are the words of the devil. It's what anorexics hear when they look at their own bodies. I hear those words when I look at my own work. I've come to understand that my perception is seriously warped, and that's helped a ton, but I have a LONG way to go before I can be the happy person once again.

I don't put my art down, though. (at least, not for the comic.) It's my writing that my anxiety uses as a weapon.

So yeah, I've been on both sides of the fence.

Believe me, those who want that the most... are the miserable people themselves. Because who enjoys being miserable, really? (Some people enjoy COMPLAINING about how miserable they are, but that's something else entirely.)

Doubtcent 2015-10-01 14:00:38 UTC #6

I know for certain that my art sucks. It barely passes enough. Heck, that's why I even personified my doubt and have been dealing with it. In some ways I feel very unappreciated, especially if someone who puts less effort than me gets a lot of praise, but on the other hand I'm very thankful that I even have this much support in the first place! I've only been making comics for less than a year, so I don't know what I was expecting.

If you even got to see my first ever comic that I posted here on Tapastic... *shivers** then compare it to the work I do now? Wow. I don't know how, but I can easily see that I've gotten better. I'm not that great, but I'm getting better.

My favorite quote (although it's about science, but it could work for anything) is from the character Mayuri Kurotsuchi, all about searching for perfection.

Stellamari 2015-10-01 14:34:23 UTC #7

I read somewhere that the good attitude to have when doing something is to have enough self-confident to do it and enough self doubt to continue improving yourself. Any imbalance between those two component will be detrimental to your growth.

Kayke 2015-10-01 16:26:36 UTC #8

I agree with what @scythe and @AnnaLandin said. They made a lot of good points.

I think there's this kind of social thing where artists (especially young artists) feel the need to talk themselves down? I'm sure some of it is sincere insecurity, but some of it is also... seeking reassurance and positive words.

Since most artistic communities (forums, art schools, portfolio sites, ect) kind of function on this "I suck" - "No you're great" dynamic, it makes people who are more confident feel rude for talking about their work? I know that I personally am usually fairly proud and confident in my skills and creations, but I keep my mouth shut about it because there's not really a way to talk about that without seeming full of myself. I am really happy with all I've done so far, but I don't feel like I've earned the ability to talk about it in that way yet.

I have my off days too of course, where I question myself and my art... but I usually only share those feelings/moments with my close friends and family.

Wishjacked 2015-10-01 23:10:13 UTC #9

I'm still trying to get out of this. I've actually always loved my own art and have always been very proud of it and happy with it. But everywhere I look, especially everywhere I looked when I was just starting out, artists talk smack about their art. I figured that since I was happy with where my art was going and the projects I was completing, my judgement was totally off. I still automatically talk down about my art, just because I assumed it was stupid and naive to like one's own art. I think it's wrong to put new artists in that situation.

AnnaLandin 2015-10-02 04:59:07 UTC #10

It definitely is wrong!

And the thing that it takes people a while to realise is that if you show your art to people, and introduce it with "I know it's not very good, but..." as an opener - people won't be as positive. Having a negative attitude about your own work does NOT make a good impression on people who look at it. I mean, if you think it sucks, why are you sharing it? When you post stuff, talk about it in positive terms! Say "Hey, I drew this thing and I really like it!" or "Look at this thing I drew - it came out really nicely!", etc.

Confidence seems to be one of those things where it's a case of faking it till you make it. The more you pretend to be confident in your art, the more you become confident. At least, that's the way it's been for me.

keii4ii 2015-10-02 06:40:29 UTC #11

People should feel free to be themselves as long as they're not being disrespectful. It goes both ways. If you feel genuinely happy about your own work, you should feel free to express that. After all, "I like how this one came out!" does not mean "this picture of mine is better than yours!"

Likewise, I feel it's unfair to pressure people to act more optimistic than they really are. I constantly feel pressured to keep my mouth shut on anything negative I have to say about my own work or situation, and it's suffocating. Obviously, I shouldn't talk shit about my work when I'm trying to advertise it, but when I'm just posting it on dA or whatever? It's upsetting to have complete strangers post crap like "your fake modesty disgusts me" when I'm just being honest.

kazukitakamura126 2015-10-06 01:44:51 UTC #12

I believe some artists are so insecure because they are not use to criticism or they have been critiqued so thoroughly they question their abilities as an artist. I can tell you from personal experience that I question my abilities alot but, my brother told me if you think you are never good enough you will never be happy. Thanks to those words I only draw because it gives my life meaning and its a way I can express myself. I somewhat look forward to what people have to say about my work. If someone tells me something seems off I will consider it and apply it to my future work.

Iaikaa 2015-10-30 13:39:16 UTC #13

I feel like doubting my work more came after I got better; when I was younger I used to think that almost everything I did was pretty awesome, every idea and every single comic. I do agree that just simply bashing yourself gets you nowhere though. But it seems to be the more aware I am about things to consider the more I feel like "what if this sucks and I just don't realize it".In a way it can hinder a person but then again healthy amount of second guessing the things you do as an artist can also help to improve you. It's a difficult balance to find that's for sure.

mariusthered 2015-10-30 15:07:57 UTC #14

I have lost count the times i have wanted to throw all my art stuff in the bin and walk away.... but I'm an artist. my hands are messed up and my eyes are too but I still have to draw every day and to top that when you spend most of your time alone with just your art , you look forward to a kind word or two about your work. If that word won't come you start blaming your art and then your self , then you have a break...start doodling...start and new project ...here we go again. one thing I will say about being an artist is, it is very important to walk away from your studio every day, get a dog they will make you take a walk, but get out because if you don't depression will get you and that is a dark cloud that never hides behind the sun. end of the day some people will like your stuff others wont but you should always love your talent because like it or not you were born with it.

AffectedMind 2015-10-30 15:10:34 UTC #15

I rememeber when someone gave me a crit on my work and I was like: I SUCK! Dx Now I'm handling the criticism better XD
I always had on mind I'm not great at drawing, but wanted to get better and better. I wasn't lacking on confidence, sometimes doubt I will ever mangae to become a comics artist. Still do that, but I won't risk dropping what I like to do. I believe in matter on time, someday I will finally make it. I'm pretty satisfied with what I achieved. From 0 to hero I guess, nothing will come immediately : D

WhatAHero 2015-10-30 15:49:08 UTC #16

criticism is just a means for tempering skill.
i did not realize this for a while. took literally over a decade for me to handle criticism properly.

iddqd 2015-10-30 20:36:00 UTC #17

A pioneering Scottish psychoanalyst Ronald Fairbairn had a good answer for your question way back in year 1940. It's quite a mouthful, but if you plough through it, it's worth it:

"Exhibitionistic trends always play a prominent part in the schizoid mentality; and, of course, they are closely related to the tendency to adopt roles. They may be largely unconscious; and they are often masked by anxiety. Even so, however, they emerge quite clearly in the course of analytical treatment; and the attraction of literary and artistic activities for individuals with a schizoid propensity is partly due to the fact that these activities provide an exhibitionistic means of expression without involving direct social contact. The significance of the exploitation of exhibitionism as a defence lies in the fact that it represents a technique for giving without giving, by means of a substitution of ‘showing’ for ‘giving’. This means of attempting to solve the problem of giving without losing is not without its attendant difficulties, however; for the anxiety originally attached to the act of giving is liable to become transferred to the act of showing, with the result that ‘showing off’ assumes the quality of ‘showing up’. When this happens, exhibitionistic situations may become extremely painful; and ‘being seen’ at all may then give rise to acute self-consciousness."

nobody 2015-10-30 22:08:50 UTC #18

Exactly.I came across a tumblr post addressing this, where people who review portfolios pretty much say what you just said - why should they think your work is worthy of their time if you don't think so?

Kecreed 2015-10-30 22:38:54 UTC #19

From middle school to high school I felt like my art was crap. Though one instruct told me when I was too shy to show my work "You got into this high school (you had to have a portfolio to get in) therefore your art must have something good" Ironically throughout college I felt like I was the person most struggling. I could tell because no one wanted to critique my work. Then I started shocking a ton of my classmates. Many barely enjoyed the cartoons and were amazed that I could "render" so to say paintings easily. I decided that I prefer hiding my good traits on art because lets face it I was constantly looking for a challenge myself.

Long story short I gained confidence through jumping hurdles, though to make things easier Think of your art as something your trying to sell.

jacintawibowo 2015-10-31 02:21:43 UTC #20

I think artists tend to put themselves down because their work is really easy to compare with others. Along with societal pressure that everyone else has mentioned (art not being a serious job, do it for exposure, etc), there can also be uninformed opinions within the artist community. Talented 13 year olds are held up as the standard instead of the exception. There's even an age-limit in some companies because they believe younger artists are better somehow. This can really mess up an artist's self-confidence.

The "people that are at the very top on sites" and are more "confident and open" could be due to several factors. They probably have gained a degree of confidence after getting jobs/a solidified art style/getting used to sharing their work, etc. More often than not the "top dogs" still go through self-doubt and insecurities, they just don't show it online. It's would clash with their image, and is also unprofessional. I know a lot of professional and popular artists that, early on in their career, would trash-talk their own art endlessly. Most, if not all of them, have stopped talking about it online.
I have bouts of insecurities and a handful of self-doubt about my work, I just don't show it online because I know that attitude is a turn-off for a lot of people/hiring companies. Talking positive all the time improves your mood too, and surrounds you in a happy community! =)

Mharz 2015-10-31 13:54:08 UTC #21

I remember back 4 or 5 years ago I always think my art was so bad much to the point that I hid it from the world. In my opinion, self-doubt arise when you compare your art with others. Before, my confidence was at an all time low because I see many artist who are younger than me and yet are leagues better and because of that I always thought will I ever get better in this. Despite that, I can't imagine doing other jobs than drawing so I just keep it on and try improving my craft as much as possible and I was able to slowly gain the confidence I need to show my art to the world. Of course I still think there's a lot of stuffs I should improve on my art but unlike before, I'm not comparing my art with others anymore.