Finding Joy in Your Art

The fact that I even speak about joy these days is a major surprise to me.That's because a few years ago I was mired in a depression. My painting didn't help because I didn’t like very much of what I made. So I found myself in an endless cycle of frustration, making paintings that didn't feel like me and didn't achieve any of my goals. Like this one:Two years ago, I vowed to change things and I set out on a journey that has literally changed my life. I found my artist voice and with it I found my joy. (Turns out it had been inside me all along!) And I now know that it’s inside everyone.I believe artists are luckier than most people, because we have a direct route to our joy – if we express ourselves honestly, authentically and from our soul; if we raise our unique, beautiful voice – we experience joy as a natural side effect.It's simple really - but of course it's not easy because there is all this stuff that gets in the way of doing that, and shifting it out of the way can seem impossible. (If you had told my depressed self that I would be able to feel and paint the way I am doing, I wouldn't have believed you).But it is totally possible to move all that stuff out of the way, find your true voice, and feel your joy. (I know because I've done it ... and if I can do it, so can anyone).By the way - joy is not the same as fun or happiness. They are fleeting and usually caused by things that happen externally. Joy comes from within. It feels calmer. It's a deep sense of being aligned at our core.If art-making isn’t joyful for you, I believe it’s because you're not yet aligned with your soul. (I use this as a touchstone for myself now when I’m working. Am I feeling joy? If not, something is off with my process).Once I saw the truth of this and started practicing it, my life changed. I feel so much lighter in all areas of my life. Now that I speak up in my art, I’ve started to speak up in my life. I am not depressed any more. And my art continues to develop because now I know why I paint. It also means I can talk about my work and promote it confidently.I now make paintings that totally feel like me and that do achieve my goals.So how do you access this if it's not currently how you feel?I believe it's a bit like an onion. We have to peel away the layers of crap that are blocking us from expressing ourselves fully and authentically. Once they are removed, we step out of our own way and magic happens.So to help you do that I've come up with a list of the 10 most common blocks that I see preventing artists from accessing their unique voice (and feeling the joy that comes with that).See if any of them resonate with you (I've done every one of these so you're not alone!)

1. Compare and Despair: By this I mean looking at the work of another artist, comparing it to yours, finding yours wanting in some way, and then falling into a state of despair because you can't paint like that.  And of course you can't ... but that's not a cause for despair. It's actually a good thing - you can't paint like that because the universe has different plans for you. You can't paint like that because you're supposed to paint like YOU!
2. Compare and Mimic: This is a close cousin to #1, but instead of despairing, you try to imitate an artist or painting that you admire. The problem is that you get further and further away from yourself when you try to mimic someone. And here's the thing: the reason you’re attracted to their work is that they have their own voice – they found their joy and you want some of it. So it’s not their work you need to mimic, it’s their outlook.
3. Rush for Results: Play and experimentation are crucial in helping us find out who we are as artists. If we get out our paints with the intention to make a picture, there’s no opportunity to dig deeper. This was a huge issue for me and it has taken me a long time to learn the value of play – but the truth is that I get much better results when I stop trying. Duh!
4. Voices in your Head: This could be an old art teacher, a parent, a spouse, friends, random bits of information you picked up from YouTube videos). You can’t tune in to yourself if all these other people won’t pipe down! Once you find your own authentic voice, you will still hear those voices, but they’ll be off in the distance and you won’t give a hoot what they’re saying.
5. Looking for ideas on Pinterest/Instagram: This a) depresses you because of "compare and despair" and/or b) leads to mimicking which we already discussed. The truth is that the artists you admire all found their unique voice - that’s what you love about them. If you swap the time you spend envying them for experimentation and play time, you’ll soon be someone other people try to mimic.
6. Self-abuse: Of all the voices in your head, this is the worst. ‘who do you think you are?’ ‘you’re not a real artist’ ‘ real artists know stuff you don’t.’ ‘real artists do whatever you do don’t do.’ You really need to kick this voice up the ass. Once you realize that we all have a unique interesting voice, you realize that of course you’re a real artist – self-acceptance is one of the keys to finding joy in your art. So treat yourself with kindness. Respect yourself. Talk to yourself the way you would talk to your dearest friend.
7. The need to impress – if you are painting to impress others (or yourself) you won’t access your true voice. Because if you want to impress, you’re pushing for results and we already talked about how damaging that is. So when you start to work, it's crucial to recognize any desire to impress anyone else and then let it go.
8. Focusing on the wrong things:  I am often asked what materials I used on a piece. But the truth is it doesn’t matter! Even if you knew exactly what materials were used on your favourite painting, it wouldn't help you make a painting as good as that one. The materials are not why you love the work – you love the work because it has an authentic, individual voice.
9. Making excuses: I don't have enough time, I don't have enough space, I don't have the money for nice paints, my spouse isn't supportive ... we can find all kinds of reasons not to make our work, but they are all false, limiting beliefs. If you commit to putting yourself first, you will find ways to get around any obstacle.
10. Seeing failed paintings as failures: If you are going to create anything worthwhile, you are going to leave a pile of mistakes behind you. The sooner you get comfortable with this, the sooner you can create something unique. See each failed piece and each mistake as a badge of honour. Recognize that you are on a lifelong journey of learning and you will never get it all right and welcome your mistakes as steps on that journey.

Underlying all these is one major overriding issue experienced by the vast majority of human beings the world over ... a lack of confidence. But the secret to overcoming that is in truly understanding this simple fact: you are called to create. You wouldn't be here reading this if you weren't. And you are the only you that has ever or will ever exist. No-one else has your DNA or your life experiences. Which means no-one else can make the art you are called to make. I can't make your art. Tracey Emin can't make your art. Even Pablo Picasso wouldn't have been able to make your art. Once you embrace this idea, you really have no reason ever to lack confidence. You are the best in the world at being you and that's all anyone needs you to be.I've become deeply interested in helping artists in this area. It's why I run this website and our Facebook group. But I know some of you would like more support and some personal coaching, so I've created an 8-week online program for artists called "Find Your Joy" and I've priced it as low as possible while still ensuring I can provide everyone with the attention and time that they need.The course only opens for enrolment twice a year, but you can sign up to learn when it is next available. Learn more by clicking here or email me with any questions. (You'll always get total honesty and no hard sell from me).Meantime, for free ideas, inspiration and support, you can join our free Facebook group, or sign up for my Sunday newsletter, which comes every week.