Frustration and Art

Many artists face frustration in several ways. Whether it's working on a new technique or dealing with self criticism, the end result is often self defeating and negative. I speak with experience as I used to stack up my unwanted, unloved pieces and would set them on fire. Yes, on fire, it's that point of no return behavior that really negatively impacted my growth as an artist. I was always very shy and didn't consider my artwork to be "good". So why did I stop the bonfires? Well, I'd like to say that being an artist is no longer frustrating to me. I can assure you, I still get as frustrated and aggravated as ever. The difference is that I have managed to create realistic expectations in my artwork. When I have a failed project, I try to leave those feelings there and at least try to find a few things within the work that were a success. Recycling projects can be a wonderful way to reuse your materials and it can reinforce the idea that the "failure" was not a finished work, but the spark behind a new creation. That being said, it seems that most artists have a deep personal connection with their art and those feelings are hard to separate. Also, remember as an artist, you will see "flaws" in your work. You will see them and they will glare out at you, don't get hung up on what you perceive as a "mistake".
 Also, it seems that my artwork elicits very different emotions from what was intended in the piece. What I mean by that is I generally try to convey my emotions to a work. A good friend suggested to me, to start drawing and painting what I am feeling. This greatly reduced my need for prompts or outside influences. But the reactions to these works are different than my own. I'm not sure how much empathy is out there, but you can tell by the look in people's faces whether my emotions were conveyed to them.
Finally, most folks don't know what to say when they see a piece, for the first time. Subsequent views by the public can really reflect the quality of the "emotional" vehicle. At the end of the day, it's very important to realize that people enjoy art for many different reasons. It's been my experience that most view artwork as decorations. So the next time someone gives you a negative criticism, take it with a grain of salt, and ask them..."But how does it make you feel?"

Peace be with you and happy creating to you!!!