Pretending to be a painter
When I hear a negative voice in my head saying, “I am in over my head, they are going to find out,” this little voice reminds me I am not good enough. It seeks to devalue myself worth causing me to underestimate myself. Then I come to the conclusion that l must be mad about choosing to be an artist. I realise that l have volunteered myself for all this self-doubt. I feel like l am pretending to be a painter.
If l am not careful the voice gets out of control and my self-confidence is eroded. It is hard to break the psychological patterning in which I fear l will be exposed as a fraud. The term ‘imposter syndrome’ describes the situation well.
Like a lot of artists when I started on this journey I asked myself, How do you make good art? I realise anyone can call themselves an artist. However, there is a problem with this question. It sends you in the wrong direction. It leads to you questioning everything you make.
Pretending to be a painter – related links
One brushstroke at a time
Then I had the idea. ‘What if I practised failure instead?’ What if I focus on my weaknesses? If l remove the need for quality and perfection maybe it would help. I realised l needed to give myself permission to make mistakes and remove expectations.
The strive for quality and perfection causes so many paralysing difficulties. Malcolm Gladwell said in David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits and the Art of Battling Giants; “You can’t concentrate on doing anything if you are thinking, ‘What’s gonna happen if it doesn’t go right?”
I slowly realised that the reward in painting doesn’t come from making a perfect painting. It is in the daily practice of getting your work done. When I am practising failure I don’t have to know what I am going to do. Ideas often develop from a previous painting. The trick is just to get started and get something made.
Stuart Bush Studio Notes; Pretending to be a painter
Adrian Ghenie: The fuel of failure
“There is a key to success in every failure” – Tony Robbins.
“What others may call a failure is only a temporary set back if you really believe in your dreams” – Kory Livingstone.
“Are you are paralysed with fear? That’s s a good sign. Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” – Steven Pressfield, The War of Art.
©Stuart Bush, I can’t trust myself, oil on wood panel 40.7 cm x 30.5 cm x 3.9 cm.JPG – click on the link
I hope you enjoyed reading ‘Pretending to be a Painter’. You can get to see my artwork, reviews, insight and inspiration by joining my mailing list below
Congratulations to Jenny Saville from London for winning my June print giveaway. The print ‘Just a feeling and not just the truth’ looks great at the bottom of your stairs, on your hall wall.
It was nice to meet you, talk, and chat by delivering the framed print in person. I hope your husbands gets better soon. Best wishes.
It is easy to feel helpless, like we are in the flow of the river. And we are looking for something to grab hold of. To pull ourselves out. This is where I think art can make a difference.
Connecting us with our sense. I hope my print can help to do that. I’m into beauty, but not pretty pictures. I want to make something that rattles you and makes you think. Art on your wall, and this print in particular, can help you to reflect on the moment, and the past and of course the present.
When you look at it once, it hasn’t sunk yet. It takes repeated viewing. When you live with an artwork in your walls and you see it everyday, the artwork slowly reveals itself. #printgiveaway #artprints #framedartwork
I don't know what it is but I am sure it is highlighting some kind of truth. ‘Great Souled Way’ #oilpaintingoncanvas #figurepainting #abstractpainting #londonart
#redskyatnight
“Free and alone in the maze of the city, the flâneur craves a revelation that might change his life and destiny.” Quote by
Federico Castigliano #flaneur #inthecity #figurepainting painting by #stuartbush
#oilpaint #yellow💛 #inthestudio
#london #happynewyear
Not sure where I am going with this one. Today mistakes. Work in progress #workinprogress #todaymistakes #oilonaluminum
@stuart.bush New painting, please help with suggestions for a title. Or please DM me if you have any questions about it #oiloncanvas #figureinthecity #inthestudiotoday
#busydaypainting #blankcanvas
#progress #playingwithpaint let me know what you think
Reed Hoffman said “if you're not embarrassed by the first project you launch you're too late” I feel awkward and uncomfortable showing these new artworks for the first time. It is still #workinprogress
#stuart.bush #oilonaluminum #newartwork
#sneekpeek #newpainting
#olufareliasson #tatemodern
@santarama
@damienhirst #ilfracombeharbour #publicart
@stuart.bush photo from current show @rugby_art_gallery_and_museum #artistsoninstagram #artist #artexhibition #paintingexhibition #oilpainting #inthecity #figure #contemporarypainter #contemporarypainting #citylife #londonlife please click my bio to join my mailing list
Final day of my show, @Rugby Art Gallery #artgallery #artistsoninstagram #paintingexhibition #figurepainting #artwork #painter please click on my bio link to join my mailing list
#tatemodern #todaysart #rightnow
@stuart.bush #figurepainting #sketches #art #paper #gesture #artistsoninstagram