Absolutely not.
Criticism, even constructive criticism that you’re looking for, can be really challenging to deal with for some people.
Everyone deals with it differently, I personally get really demotivated, and kinda shattered if someone whose opinion I value says it to me. Such as my parents. I know that the most common advice for situations like these is to just ignore them. It’s easier said than done, huh?
my story
I’ve always been someone who loved art. I found art in anything and everything. That doesn’t mean I was always good at it. I didn’t start excessively critiquing myself until I became a teenager. I tried my absolute best my whole life, and although it wasn’t amazing, I’ve still won awards for what I did. It really helped me with my confidence. I mostly did pencil sketches when I was younger, and I got told by teachers that I was the best in their classes. I was good “for my age”.
Until I tried painting.
See, when you’re sketching with a pencil, you’re in control. You can erase if you mess up. When it comes to painting, especially for the first time when you have no idea what you’re doing, it could get messy really fast. My first ever painting was when I was 10, and it wasn’t bad. But I tried again when I was in the 9th grade, and I messed up really bad. I think my parents, especially my dad, thought I would be really good at painting. He thought, and still thinks, that I have the potential to be like one of those talented street artists. But when I messed up that painting, he looked disappointed. Like really disappointed, even if he’d never admit it. He shrugged it off, but it really got to me that I didn’t meet his expectations.
It wasn’t only that. There were a few other scenarios that broke my heart, but I’d rather keep them private.
I know that doesn’t seem like a big deal, but I was 13, already with hormones flying all over the place, and I started critiquing myself way more after that.
I didn’t touch a sketchbook for months, and maybe I overreacted, but I felt so unworthy every time I sat down to draw.
Eventually, I came around and started to draw again. But this time, I tried digital art. It was a slow process, trying to figure everything out. But then, I realized that I couldn’t draw without a reference anymore. I didn’t need a complete reference, but I needed an example of certain angles in order to draw it. I also know that a lot of really talented artists need references as well, but I just felt like I couldn’t call myself an artist if my imagination was so low. I couldn’t close my eyes and picture something before drawing it. My confidence was so low at that point.
When teachers came to class and announced art competitions, I hid at the back of the class, hoping nobody would point me out. My friends always said I was good at art, and they’d always volunteer me for these competitions. But I can barely draw when someone is watching. I’d be so out of my comfort zone. Everyone around me was giving me compliments, but I never once believed them. They’re lying. I heard a YouTuber once say “People say that negative comments won’t get to them if you don’t let it, but they always forget that the same goes for positive comments as well.” I never believed anything.
I knew I was trying my best, but is my “best” really that bad?
This lack of self-confidence went on for a really long time, until I reached out to someone I knew I could trust: My sister.
She helped me see that what I did was enough. Art isn’t supposed to be perfect. I’m not supposed to be perfect. I started reading books about anatomy to help with my perspective issues, and I practiced every single day. Believe it or not, I’d admit that I’ve gotten better at it.
This story is supposed to end on a happy note, but if I’m being honest, I still lack the confidence. It’ll take time, and a ton of practice, but I’ll get there one day.
So, you see, it’s okay. A lot of people ask artists how they’re so good at it, and they get annoyed when the reply is “just practice”, but what else can you do? Those artists don’t have some magical pencil or a very expensive drawing program/tablet to do what they’re doing. Everything takes time, as annoying as that sounds.