15 Traits that Signal a Healthy Artistic Process
The question I get asked most frequently by growing artists is “How do I find my style?” I am never sure if I can offer an answer that satisfies, as what I’ve learned over the years is that we artists are often asking the wrong questions.
You can’t pick your style from a list. Your style is as instinctive and intrinsic to you as your own personality, and that’s actually a really good thing! When you learn how to listen to yourself and paint from that inner artist, you will start creating your deepest and most authentic work.
I believe that the key to expressing your deepest self is found in allowing yourself to be heart-led, and often, I use the term “Fearless Artist” to describe the heart-guided artist. Recently, I found this list of characteristics that define an artist who is rejecting fear to pursue his or her most authentic work. I wrote this list out a year ago, and finding it again it inspired me. These are characteristics that don’t just enrich our art, but our entire mindset and pattern for living. Take a look:
What makes a fearless artist?
A fearless artist is: (in no particular order…) (printable list here)
Patient. Recognize that you process what you are ready for, and can’t rush the development process. Enjoy the journey!
Forgiving. Mistakes become opportunities for learning, not proof we are failing.
Vulnerable. By showing who we are in our art, we are willing to reveal our flaws, but we also get to show our love and passion for the medium, which connects us to the beautiful, flawed people who will resonate with our work.
Imperfect. Having a “gift” that makes art easy is a myth. By embracing imperfection, we let go of fear of the blank page and don’t let mistakes define our identity.
Hard-working. The act of painting, however flawed, becomes significant. Whatever approach you are taking to develop your painting skills is okay, as long as you are painting, you are learning.
Self-caring. Not obsessed with justifying the cost of art supplies, because you recognize the value of the investment in your mental health and creativity.
Insightful. I spend time thinking about my motivations, seeking out and challenging the fears that hold me back, watching for the moments when I fall in love with my own work and seeking to create more opportunities for that to happen.
Seeks mentors, not gurus. I grew most when I stopped waiting for someone to tell me what to do, and began modeling my painting practice on what I observed in others. A mentor comes alongside and supports, rather than reaching down to point out your next step, or try to haul you up to their level.
Determined. You may not be able to choose how quickly you will learn, but you can decide to be too stubborn to quit. Persist in faith that time invested will grow your skills.
Trusting. Trusting the process means you don’t have to become a master artist today, but you can step incrementally closer when you choose to invest time in creating art. Paint applied by brush, over and over again, is the ONLY way to grow your skills. Study alone won’t do it. Reading, watching videos, even taking workshops; they are a great part of the process, but without the DO there is no result.
Fun-loving. If I can’t choose how fast I learn, and if it’s going to take a long time, I want to have as much fun as possible in the interim. I see joy in my painting journey, and I also recognize that when I am playing, I am revealing my most authentic self.
Seeking. I don’t have all the answers. No matter how much I learn about watercolor, I am still just scratching the surface. I look, and listen, and seek to always be open to new ideas and the possibilities they contain.
Reflective. I cannot stay encouraged in my journey if I am continually pushing myself to be better, and never looking back to celebrate all I have achieved. (This is one reason I rarely destroy old paintings; they are such a part of my history and have contributed so much to my growth!)
Long Term/Forward Looking. I don’t have to accomplish everything now. Small steps of progress accumulate when you are committed to long-term development. Twenty-five years in, I see that more clearly than ever. All the times I wasted feeling bad that I didn’t make MORE time to paint, without recognizing the value of accumulated small efforts.
Open to change. No matter how much experience or knowledge I have, there is always more to learn, and a new direction to take. I believe creativity lies in the unexpected, thus, I cannot find my most creative work inside my comfort zone.
This list is exciting to me because it isn’t just a list; it’s a map for healthy creative development. It’s also full of life applications that have made me so passionate about promoting art to everyone! What would you add to your own fearless artist list?
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