Why Failure is a Good Thing in Art (and Maybe in Everything Else!)

"Do one thing every day that scares you." Eleanor Roosevelt

It's natural to feel frustrated when our work doesn't go the way we want. I certainly have times when I get down on myself after a 'failed' painting session. But this quote reminds me how important it is to risk and be brave in making my work.Without risk, there is no forward movement. And without forward movement, our art withers and dies.But of course, when we take risks we inevitably fail and we have been taught not to do that. We have spent our lifetimes doing our best to avoid failure - at work, at home, in our relationships - and so it can feel much easier to play it safe, to stay where we feel comfortable.But I know this .... all of the gains I have made in my life have been made because I took a risk. And every one of my favourite paintings happened because I made moves that might not have worked.So I think we need to change the way we look at failure in our art.Instead of berating ourselves for our lack of success, I think we need to wear our failures as a badge of honour.Those failed paintings show us that we are pushing ourselves to do more than we currently know how to do. They are evidence of our desire to grow. They are proof that we refuse to rest on our laurels.And each "failure" contains a lesson if we look for it. What could we try next time? What could we do differently? How could we tweak things to get a different result?We may decide we need to take a class, or watch some instructional videos, or read some  books to help us get where we want to go. Or we may be content to keep working through it ... seeing each 'failure' as simply another step on the path.In art, as in life, what we feel is dictated by what we think ... and we can choose what we think :)If you want to have fun with your art and let go of worries about failing, why not join me for a free "Find Your Joy" taster course. The lessons are delivered by email and we will meet in a private Facebook group to jumpstart our creativity and find our joy!  Sign up here.