DO YOU EVER ASK: “Is what I’m doing GOOD ENOUGH?”
Well meaning people have a way of crushing our dreams, big and small. It starts with our parents, who lovingly “warn” us about not making a poor career choice. Then our teachers feel the need to save us from our “bad” decisions. And society, also groomed by these same beliefs to stay safe, criticizes us for being different or thinking in too strong of a unique way.
But as artists, we see the world differently. We are the people who invent new solutions and show visual representations to help the rest of the world see what we see. Bringing new ideas to life is not always welcome by others, and often is discouraged.
The strength to believe in yourself, when others don’t, is a powerful tool that leads directly to success in just about any field.
If you ever doubt your creative mind or your new ideas, or if other people doubt you, this story I’m about to share will shift everything for you.
When my husband Drew was starting out as an artist, he was discouraged by many people in his life. He had a vision of painting surfboards in a way that was different than anyone had ever seen; but the problem was, everyone criticized him for it.
After painting one of these “new” designs on a surfboard, one surfboard maker said to him “Drew, that’s the ugliest painting I’ve ever seen.”
It hurt, but Drew was stubborn and stuck to what he was driven to paint, despite feeling the criticism.
Fast forward twenty five years, and Drew’s unpopular painting techniques became the world’s standard for painting boards, and his painted surfboards are collected by A-list celebrities and musicians.
I’m going to share with you a blog post that Drew wrote on this topic, and I hope it will inspire you to continue to stay strong in your own ideas.
A young Artist asked for Drew’s advice on how to find her style. She wanted to know how Drew developed his own painting style. This was Drew’s answer to her:
“When I was young and trying to make a living as a surf artist and a surfboard painter, I painted a lot. Every day I produced new work.
I painted what I wanted to paint, even when other people didn’t like it.
I didn’t try to please anyone with my paintings. Many people didn’t get what I was doing. I thought they were nuts that they didn’t get it. (And they thought I was nuts.)
In the beginning, I tried to get people excited about the paintings I was doing, but most didn’t respond.
There was an entire world of people who didn’t respect or understand what I was doing. It wasn’t good enough for galleries or even surf shops at one point. I was turned down by almost every single surfboard maker in the early years, because they didn’t understand my art.
I was constantly rejected, but I didn’t stop doing it.
I felt insecure, but I didn’t let it stop me. I put my head down and just kept going. Creating what I was driven to create.
Then one day some people started to like what I was doing.
Eventually, more and more people liked it.
My style became popular, and now decades after all the rejection, people copy it all over the world.
My advice: Do what you want. Paint, draw, create a lot. Every day.
Create for yourself and see what develops.
Don’t do what other people do and don’t do what other people tell you to do, not unless you really want to. Be stubborn.
Don’t do things just because they have always been done that way. Do things your own way.
Do what draws you in and what keeps your interest the most. Don’t worry about other people’s opinions.
No matter what you do, someone is going to love it, and someone is going to hate it. Find the people who love it.
Experiment with a lot of things. Be patient. Let it develop. It may take months or years to find your style and it will constantly evolve and progress.
Just keep creating art.
I hope this helps all those people out there who aren’t sure if what they are doing is good enough. It is. Just keep doing it.
Drew”
When you have a strong desire to create something new, and others don’t get it, don’t let that stop you.
It’s okay to feel disappointed that they don’t understand you, but don’t allow that feeling to prevent you from creating in a way that you are driven to do so.
We all want to be accepted and loved. Some of us have great insight into things, but we have to be patient and wait for the rest of the world to catch up.
Put your head down, keep doing what you believe in, and eventually, one by one, people will come around.
Have you experienced criticism, from yourself or others, for thinking differently?
Please, share in the comments below, your questions or thoughts on this. I would love to hear from you!
With Love,
Maria xxoo
37 Responses
I am a pyrogrpahic artist located in Franklin, Tennessee. Over the course of the past month I have nearly been refusing to make any art. My friends and family ask if I have made anything new and I tell them, “No, because it sits in my closet and collects dust.” I have a niche and a style and people look at my work and tell me they’ve, “never seen anything like it.” And yet, I swear at times I couldn’t GIVE it away if I wanted to. I told my best friend yesterday that I’d like to throw away my entire body of work, perhaps the sting of it’s disposal would hurt less than the sting of it’s failure. People don’t understand my work and they spend a lot of time telling me it’s great but that I should, “burn the state of Tennessee’s flag into wood,” or I should, “burn the logos of football teams into wood, you could make so much money!” Basically, I should appeal to the masses, I should do what everyone else is already doing. No disrespect to the people who have created a business off such things, good for them, but it’s not what I want to do. It’s not what I love, it’s not what I’m drawn to create. I say all that to say, thank you for this post. When you’ve been stubborn for so long, when you work job after job that you hate because you refuse to sell yourself out as an artist and make what everyone tells you to make, when you walk by the closet that your body of work sits in day after day after day, it’s hard to keep creating sometimes. It’s hard to find a point to it all. Thank you for permission to keep being stubborn, I needed to hear it.
Ann Marie, thanks for sharing your story.
I can totally relate to what you’re saying, about how people will tell you to create something that is not meaningful to you.
We are always told “Drew should paint Santa Clause, he’d kill it in sales!” And it makes me cringe, because that is not what his art is about.
But people mean well, they don’t understand art when they say things like that. It’s not their fault.
Keep doing what you love, own it, enjoy it, stay strong!
Annmarie, there is someone right here in nearby Chattanooga you could talk to about this! Hollie Berry is a painter and pyrographic artist doing very original work. If you come to the open studios at the Chattanooga WorkSpace next Fri (May 4) she’ll probably be giving a demo. You’ll at least get to meet & talk with her about it. She may be able to give you some insight. Unfortunately I’m going to be out of town or I would have offered to introduce you and give you a place to stay for the night. If nothing else, check out her work – really good stuff!
Wonderful article! Thank you! Making lots of art is the key! At some points its all gets connected. Even our “horrible pieces ” exist for a reason! How else would we compare our growth? You have helped me greatly before Maria and continue to. The tips you gave me worked all the way! .You are very inspiring. I adore reading your blog!
Thanks for the kind words, Claudia, and for taking the time to leave me a comment! 🙂
Maria,thanks for sharing Drews’ amazing triumph over fears and the rewards of achievements in his art. I feel the pain when someone discounts a work of art always. “finding yourself or style” is my search. The fear of being influenced by a past artist or even emulating them seems to have a stigma attached to it. the fear of “COPYING” another artists style or look to some degree. I want to have my own look but seem to lean on past artist and the way they create. I see in Drews art a wonderful influence by Rick Griffin. I love it and apriciate it… has he ever felt uneasy for this adaptation or has anyone ever accused him of being a “copier”?
Jim, thanks for the comment and question.
Drew has never been accused of copying, as he has never copied someone else’s work. But, you can see the influence of several artists in his work; Rick Griffin, Salvador Dali and Bill Ogden.
The symbols used in many of Rick Griffin’s work came from Hopi Indian artwork that he was inspired by. And Bill Ogden was inspired by Maxfield Parish.
Artists always influence each other; there’s no greater compliment than to see that you’ve influenced an entire generation of artists behind you.
As long as you’re not copying someone’s work, being influenced is okay. Don’t worry about what anyone else says about it. People always want to compare art to other art, it helps them to better understand it.
Drew’s work and style is copied around the world; some ask permission and some don’t. He sees the big picture and is happy to know that his work has inspired people to create art.
It’s like passing it on, from one generation to the next. Not a bad thing!
Thanks Maria, I agree with you that he has never copied someone else’s art. And yes I can see the great influence of those past artists that Drew has been inspired by and grown from it. I remember the first Lost board I saw with Drew’s art on it and was blown away!!! He has such an amazing imagination and use of color in his work. Your advice about creating art and not letting others bring you down was very helpful. And a huge thanks for sharing all this with us artists. Your transparency and encouragement is only propelling us artists to levels we never thought possible. And given many artists vision for things to come.
Thanks again
Jim
I feel like I pretty much know my niche ( thanks, Maria, for helping me identify it). Fear, self doubt, and discouragement seem to slow me down. I met once with a mentor who essentially doubted that my art, as it is, would have a broad appeal. I know what I want to do, but most days feel quite all alone. Thanks for the encouragement to keep on going.
Carol, thanks for reading my post!
Regarding the mentor who doubted that your art would have broad appeal: There is no way for that person to know!
When artists come to me, asking if their work is worthy to offer to the public, I refuse to give my opinion. My opinion does not matter – because I cannot guess how the rest of the world will respond.
There is only one way to find out, and the opinion of one person is not it. You put your work out in the public, make it visible, see WHO it resonates with.
It will resonate with people, you just have to find out where those people are, and find a way to reach them.
Please, Carol, continue doing what you love and find various ways to share it with the world. And allow yourself to enjoy it while you’re doing it!
Carol, I love your work! So unique! And that’s the thing to remember – most art doesn’t have “broad appeal”, nor should it. It’s meant for who it’s meant for. I’m not Catholic, but I own a couple of icons painted by a Little Brother of St Francis. I’ve also painted a couple of icons myself. And there are master artists whose work doesn’t interest me in the slightest. Just keep going. Put your work out there and your people will find you! PS- in my senior year of art school one of my instructors told me to never paint again. Seriously. But I am painting and I’ve sold a lot. As Maria said, one person’s opinion doesn’t speak for all.
One of your best posts and there are tons of them, thankfully! Facing so many challenges, reading this was like balm for the soul today! Thank you both!❤️??
Indigene, always wonderful to hear from you. Thank you! 🙂
Great post Maria! I’m going to flag this and return to it!
Many years ago, I saw a television interview with actor Burt Reynolds. He had just won major critical acclaim for his portrayal of a character in the film, “Deliverance”.
Burt specifically and sincerely gave thanks to all of his critics, detractors, and naysayers, saying that they ultimately provided motivation for him to work even harder to improve his acting skills.
Beautiful words that any creative person needs to be reminded of, like me….Thank you for posting this! 🙂
I’ve always been someone who has enjoyed drawing but never considered what I did to be something people would buy or be interested in. So in a weird sense it was kind of liberating because I always did whatever I liked, it was for me, it served a purpose and at some point usually ended up in the bin. I can’t remember anyone telling me they hated what I did, and really can’t remember many saying they liked it either, other than mates who I thought were being polite. I never really considerded what I did as art, I just found drawing shapes patterns,etc enjoyable. As one of my hobbies I make wooden surfboards and for fun I drew on a board. I sometimes take boards to shows to meet other builders and show off the boards, and with luck sell a couple. I was dumbfounded to have a couple of offers on the board with art and sold it to a buyer who told me he was stoked to buy a board from a local artist. It took me a few seconds to click that he had called me an artist. I’d never been called that, and never considered myself that. But a seed had been planted. Since that point a little over a year ago I’ve sold 10 or so boards shipping many to America, I’m Australian. The only boards I’ve ever sold have been the ones I’ve drawn on. It’s also led to me being commissioned for a few canvases and also some art for a stand up paddle.
Which leads me to why this article is great for me. Because of the success I’ve had I now have the thought that maybe I could make a living doing this. I already have a great job, primary school teacher, but I really love making boards and drawing. Which means I need to put my stuff out there more and arm myself for the negative. It’s great to read how someone as successful and whose art I’ve loved and admired dealt with the negative. Resilience has never been a strong point for me. Thanks for fountain of information you provide and for sharing your experiences so openly, and sorry for the long rambling post.
Gareth,
Love your art! I’ve seen it before, and you are a great artist. Thanks for sharing your story here and for the kind words. So good to hear from you!
Thanks Maria. It’s such an honor that people like you and Drew have even seen my boards. Keep up the great work.
Great advice and oh so true! Paint what YOU want to paint and you can be sure it will turn out better than if you paint for “anyone else”. It’s been true for me. The paintings that I REALLY want to paint, no matter how silly they may seem or how “out there” they are, are the ones that turn out the best, and that find a new home with someone else.
Maria . . . as usual, excellent insights and observations for anyone interested in a career in art, or . . . just about any profession! The stories you and Drew have shared are pertinent and relevant to anyone with a dream and a goal to be or create something different. It is not always so easy to stick true to that dream, but as your story demonstrates, you will find your place and others who value what you do. Superb reminder and a great inspiration for us all!
When I was in grade one and I played house with one of my friends from my class, I said to her I have to go to work now. My job was being a painter. Not of houses, but I created paintings. I think in many peoples hearts they have known what they wanted to do at an early age as I did. I’m now 70 and that desire is still with me. I’m a procrastinator as well, and finding your site has given me a kick in the bum to keep being creative. Maria, thank you for your inspiring words.
Hi Maria,
Every post, email and expression of love you have for Drew, for art, for artists resounds with truth. I just wanted to pass on a few words of wisdom that I heard Alan Watts, the great philosopher speak that is a little image I think of when someone is judgemental, wants to help or has what Curtis Jackson calls “A bad idea.” concerning my art. He said, “It’s like a monkey that reaches down into the water and pulls out the fish to keep it from drowning and places it safely in the tree.”
I think of this and move right past any negative energy. Thank you for your posts Maria.
Alan, thank you so much for your kind words! And, for sharing the monkey-fish-in-a-tree analogy. Love it!
Great Article 🙂
Iv been drawing seriously for about 5 years now. Never sold anything, but have never tried to sell either.
This was a great article to read at this point in my life, as I need to start selling now.
A problem I face however isnt criticism of art.
Yes I’ll be criticised by EVERYONE I know for trying to make a career out of it, but people are quite positive when responding to my artwork itself.
My main concern about “Is what I’m doing GOOD ENOUGH?” is that people often say one thing and do/believe another.
Any handy tips for artists on how to cut through the “double speak”?
Enjoyed this article:)
I’ve been drawing ever since I was a little kid, I always practiced almost everyday when I was young, and as I grew up, I said I wanted to be an artist and sell art as a career. A lot of my friends laughed at me and said that it wasn’t a real job… I didn’t stop though, in fact I started my own skateboarding apparel brand. The brand is only 2 months old, and there’s so much I need and want to learn. I don’t have a full time job anymore, and almost completely out of money due to investing in the company. What should I do to become successful in this? I always try to advertise my brand to friends and at skateparks, but I have had no success with anyone buying my shirts. What is some advice you’d give to a young entrepreneur like myself?
Thanks again,
Brandon
Hi Brandon, thanks for the question!
You asked “What should I do to become successful at this (Skateboard brand)?
There are two things to do:
1 – Make sure that you write out a general business plan. Printing and making tee-shirts without having a customer base is a quick way to run out of money fast.
Selling just tee shirts to retailers or individuals doesn’t make money, not unless you are selling thousands of units a month. And to get to that point, you have to build a great brand (see #2).
So, rethink what you are selling. Have you considered making skateboards? Or something else that skateboarders want?
2 – Built a great brand. This takes time (unless you have millions $$$ to put into marketing). Great brands are built on great ideas. They are also built on giving people what they want and what they need.
Ask yourself: What does skateboarders want? What do they need? What can I offer?
Also, a great brand is all about the buyer, not about the seller. So your brand should be about skateboarders, not about you. Does that make sense?
Hope this helped somewhat!
I just got an email with this article. Came at just the right time, I am returning to painting after a good 15 years out of it, so I feel behind my peers and not sure of my skills or style. I am trying to just be productive and paint, and trust the process. Thank you for sharing Drew’s story, it was very encouraging.
Thanks again Maria for a another insightful email. Talk about testing yourself! I recently ran into one of my High School Art Teachers at a bar gathering of old school friends. I never really clicked with this teacher and she’s not much older than me. She always made me feel incompetent as an artist. So this night I told myself that I would be really nice and objective with her. I proceeded to say hello and asked how she was doing and if she was creating any art. Of course she was and showed me pics of her starfish sculptures that she recently created for her bathroom wall. I applauded her talent. Then she asked me if I had done anything with my art. I said yes, I’m illustrating dogs. She said “Oh that’s nice”. I then proceeded to take out my new business card. Maria, the one you said make it so they will want to keep it around! It was a 4″x6″ postcard with the main side having 3 of my best dogs and the other with another single dog and my contact info and what I do. She looked at it, studied it and said, “Oh, it’s watercolor?” I said yes, and marker and pencil. She said nothing more and proceeded to fold the card in half in front of me. I would not have been surprised if she tossed it in the garbage on her way out.
So was she jealous, or just didn’t give a crap? I would think as a teacher the response should have been, that’s great, wow, so glad you did something with it, I knew you would! No, that’s what my other HS Art Teacher said to me and follows me on my social media! And he’s 3x her age. He taught me so much that I carry through all my work. Yes, she taught me some basic techniques, but she also was the teacher that took the brush out of your hand to demonstrate on your painting how it should be done.
Gosh, it did sting a bit when she folded the card in front of me. But I have to feel sorry for her, that she can’t be happy for a former student.
Suzanne, thanks for sharing your story! Your former HS art teacher is not a strong leader or teacher. My kids and I are always amazed at how some teachers just aren’t very good at their job but yet they continue to do it.
Your other teacher, the one that uplifts you, and encourages you, is the person that deserves your attention! He sounds like a true teacher, one that brings out the best in his students.
There will always be people who uplift, and then others who bring us down. We have to focus on those that make us feel good and let the others go!
Maria…. Good Advice
BUT———–this does not guarantee anything. I believe that is what most people expect – Something. Mainly Success. Like taking a pill and feeling better.
I love your article because I know it is just a mindset and that is all. It is a good mindset to always have – in everything.
So thank you for pointing that out.
The Texas Artist – P.McNally
I know this is an older article, and I wish I’d seen it when it was written! This is fantastic, Maria! I know this kind of thing happens to a lot of us, but I didn’t really know a lot of other artists until just recently. To know we all struggle and face this well-meant discouragement, sometimes daily, is daunting – but I am HUGELY inspired by your, and Drew’s, words. THANK YOU!!! I’ve been an artist/graphic designer for decades, and it’s only now that my Mom, doesn’t have that tone of disappointment in her voice. The catalyst? She finally went to an art store with me when I was shopping for a new airbrush and when one of the sales folks asked me about them and their use. We chatted for about 40 minutes as I gave him some pointers and my card if he had any questions. She was looking at me with new eyes, and proceeded to buy the Badger I’d selected. I will forever have this enshrined as the “Buying the Badger” moment! Thanks again for being there Maria – you are essential to my path:)!
Hi Maria, I really needed that article. Just call me Drew!
Thank you for this post! I don’t think there is an artist who don’t need this ! This means a lot to me!
“But as artists, we see the world differently. We are the people who invent new solutions and show visual representations to help the rest of the world see what we see. Bringing new ideas to life is not always welcome by others, and often is discouraged.”
That is the key statement. It`s not just what we do, but it`s our job to do it. The current situation shows how important art is. There are so many people now who do not know who to believe or what to believe. Artists have the ability to dive deep into the subconscious wisdom of mankind and then show in pictures what is yet unknown. It is essential for an artist to believe in himself or herself and not let others who don`t have taht genetic heritance make us doubt ourselves. Thank you Maria, for the great work you are doing!
Love this post, so encouraging 🥰
I am 100% in this boat! People tell me all the time that my work is amazing and so unique but my collectors and buyers are few and far between. I’m waiting for the day that my audience reaches critical mass and the sales flow like a waterfall after the snowmelt!